We’ve seen a strong shift from in-person offices to remote work due to COVID-19. While this change may feel temporary, it will have lasting effects with hybrid work schedules, more online learning opportunities, and virtual internships. We met up with Alex Genao, IFS Start Intern at PwC, to hear about his experience working in a remote internship and his advice for Fellows who are new to working from home. Here are five tips to help you make the most of your remote internship experience.
Be prepared
It’s important to prepare for your remote internship just as you would for an in-person role. To ensure you start off on the right foot, make sure you:
- Read through and complete any paperwork provided by your company–training materials, documents that require e-signatures, IT support guides, etc.
- Test your technology and internet access; set up a meeting with your company’s IT department if you need assistance.
- Design a workspace that has any necessary gadgets you need and is free of distractions. Have fun customizing and making it your own!
Alex G’s advice:
“Take the skills and experiences you gained from the Braven course and apply them to prepare for your internship. Aside from educating me on how to stand out in the application process, Braven helped me strengthen my social and management skills. My experience facilitating Braven meetings as a Project Manager virtually and creating an environment that cultivated diversity has benefited me in my remote internship.”
Master communication
When working from home, we can’t turn to the person next to us to bounce ideas off of or to seek advice. This is where overcommunication becomes a key component for a successful internship.
- Set clear expectations from the beginning. Discuss with your manager the best communication methods to use within your team as well as cross-functionally.
- Stay engaged and active in conversations, regardless of whether they’re in instant messaging apps, email, or virtual meetings.
- Close the communication channel. When receiving communication in any form, let the sender know their message was received. And don’t be afraid to follow up if you don’t hear back from a colleague.
Alex G’s advice:
“At my PwC internship, the learning environment focused on individual digital upskilling. Most of the content involved self-learning at a fast pace due to the internship being cut short to a month because of the pandemic. Learning the different tools and programs to communicate within the firm and follow regulations took some time to get used to. Schedule a meeting with your manager or IT department early on to get one-on-one training (if your company offers it) so that you feel more comfortable using these communication tools.”
Seek feedback
One of the biggest mistakes an intern can make is waiting until the end of the internship to ask for feedback. In order to maximize your experience, make sure you:
- Be clear with your manager about your desire for feedback. Ask to schedule regular check-ins with your manager about your performance and areas for growth.
- Act like a sponge and soak it all up: actively listen, take time to analyze, and find strategies for improving your performance. And if you need clarification, ask follow-up questions!
- Ask your colleagues what it’s like to work with you as a team member and collaborator. Use this time to learn how you can improve your performance as a teammate.
Alex G’s advice:
“Braven taught me the importance of a growth mindset. I began to seek feedback from my cohort and Leadership Coach on my resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills. Carry this growth mindset into your remote internship so you can improve your performance, stay motivated, and continue to learn.”
Connect with mentors
You may not get that face-to-face interaction that you desire in a remote internship, but you can still utilize digital communication to connect with colleagues and learn from mentors. Try these methods of communication:
- Schedule 15-minute video chats or walk-and-talk phone calls with your manager or colleagues you’d like to learn from.
- At the end of your internship, thank your mentors for their dedication to your professional development and request a referral for future job applications.
Alex G’s advice:
“In my PwC Internship, I was able to network with professionals ranging from associates to partners. My experience opened my eyes to how welcoming and friendly employers are to incoming interns. Working from home has really impacted the way I collaborate with others and has helped me meet with more individuals due to the increase in time availability. I recommend that Fellows who are just starting their remote internships learn and network as much as they can. Focus on networking with individuals you admire and find a mentor who will guide you whenever you are stuck.”
Exceed expectations
While you may not get to sit with your team in an office space, you can still make the most of your remote internship. To go above and beyond, and exceed expectations:
- Take initiative. Don’t wait for your manager to give you another project after finishing a task–be proactive and reach out before they do.
- Volunteer for projects–even if they’re not in your job description. These projects can help you develop new skills and strengthen your network by collaborating with teams from other departments. (This also shows that you’re willing to contribute more than your expected tasks.)
- Be innovative. Offer new ideas for improving projects and streamlining existing processes. Question the way things are and ask yourself “How can this be done better?”
Alex G’s advice:
“Employers want to see your excitement and desire to learn new skills and build meaningful relationships. From my experience in the business sector, once you have attained the internship, the hard part is over. Take time to learn both hard and soft skills and practice them in your projects to stand out in your remote internship.”