6 Ways to Shine from Online During a Remote Internship

So, your internship was transitioned to a remote format. Hey, at least you won’t spend your day delivering coffees. On a serious note, there are some challenges that come with working remotely. If you’re looking to improve on the work ethic you displayed during online classes (for some of us, yikes!), here are 6 tips to slay your remote summer internship.

Stick to a Schedule

The first rule of success when working remotely is a solid schedule, even if you have flexible hours. Be honest with yourself—rolling out of bed to turn on your laptop just isn’t the same vibe. Make your favorite cup of coffee, avocado toast, skincare routine, or whatever you need to get ready for the day. And don’t forget to schedule breaks!Research shows that breaks are super important for productivity. Find a routine that works for you and stick to it to maximize productivity during the day and satisfaction when it’s (your version of) 5 o’clock.

Practice Being a Professional

Keep it classy, even if you’re wearing patterned pajama pants and furry slippers. In fact, unprofessional behavior via email, Zoom, or phone call might even be more obvious. A good rule of thumb is to match your supervisor’s tone and communication style. Also, dress to impress if you have a Zoom meeting. It’s always better to be a little over dressed rather than underdressed (because a lot of times an internship is like one long interview). Pro tip: dress like a mullet—professional on the top, party on the bottom.

Ditch the Distractions

Tik Tok might’ve been your best friend during quarantine boredom, but it’s the enemy of work success. In fact, you might’ve learned the hard way during online spring classes. If you can’t get “Say So” out of your head, try scheduling 10-minute breaks to look at your phone. Or, if your addiction is getting pretty severe (we’ve all been there), have a family member hide it for a few hours.

Communicate Consistently

Communication looks a lot different when your supervisor is working in a different city, state, or even country. Online communication can be a challenge, but it’s also a great way to prove your skills and work ethic. Make a great impression with timely and effective communication to show your dedication and attention to detail. Most importantly, communicate about your responsibilities and always speak up when you’re available for more work.

Make Connections

You’ve put in the work to earn this position and now it’s time to reap the rewards. Networking is one of the most important parts of career development, and now it’s your time to shine! Don’t let this internship opportunity pass you by without making some valuable connections. Reach out to coworkers and supervisors with roles or career journeys that interest you. Virtual events like a coffee hours or meet and greets are great chances to show up and speak up!

Go the Extra Mile

Make the effort to stand out in the crowd. Actively look for opportunities to take initiative and go the extra mile. Depending on your role, this might look like asking questions, pitching ideas, offering to help out a coworker, taking on an extra project, etc. Your industry might be ultra-competitive, or you might be stressed about your next steps, but remember that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard!

No matter when your internship looks like, make the most out of the opportunity. Setting a schedule, communicating effectively, and taking initiative are some simple steps you can take at home to get big opportunities out in the world.