Dos and Donts to Ace Your Virtual Internship

Dos and Donts to Ace Your Virtual InternshipDos and Donts to Ace Your Virtual InternshipTo get a job in the real world, I knew that getting an internship was a good first move. The problem was fitting one into my already hectic schedule The requirements of many internships- travel, 40 hours a week in an office, or complete relocation- just werent an option.But lucky for me- I found the solution An internship that didnt require me to move from my own desk and, yet, provides me with a world of opportunity. An internship with no office, no dress code, and no travel time- because its 100% virtual.Virtual internships are becoming mora and mora common, and theyre a great way to get hands-on experience while being able to keep a flexible schedule. But there are some tricky aspects to working online, too. So, if you want to make the most of an internship like mine, check out these tips to help you on your way.Do Get a Feel for the EnvironmentEverything I do is on the computer or over the pho ne. I dont have to show up to the office, and its possible that Ill never meet the people Im working with in person.But, that doesnt mean its leid important to get along with them. Before I even applied for my internship, I checked out the publications About pages to get a feel for the company, and I read through the staff bios to make sure they seemed like people Id enjoy working with. I also got to talk with my future bosses during a phone interview, which gave me more insight into the company and staff than merely exchanging emails would have.And Im glad I did my homework. I correspond with various members of the team on a daily basis, and if we didnt get along, then the internship- virtual or not- could very well be a disaster. Before you sign on to an online team, make sure youve done some research to make sure its a good fit for you.Do Be Timely When youre working at an office, you know exactly what days and times you need to show up. But in a virtual environment, theres no of ficial schedule, so its harder to be timely. You can easily ignore that email or put aside those assignments you promised to do until just a little bit later.But whether youre working at a cubicle or in your pajamas on your bed, its important to stay on top of deadlines. You wont necessarily have someone checking in with you every day, so keep track of important dates and assignments in your personal calendar. (This is great practice no matter what full-time job you take later.) Even if the company youre working for is easygoing like mine, you dont want to disappoint them- like with any internship, your goal should be to stand out as best you can.Dont Bite Off More Than You Can ChewBy the same token, when theres no end time to the day or week, you might be tempted to take on more than you can handle. But remember that you can only do so much. Your supervisor knows that youre enrolled in a full semester of classes and taking on extracurricular clubs and activities, too- in fact, she may have chosen you for the work you do at schoolBut, that doesnt mean she always has a good grasp of what you can reasonably balance and what is too much- especially since she doesnt see you every day. Make sure to communicate with your supervisor when youre overwhelmed and, to prevent that from even happening, only take on what you know you can handle. Chances are, shes going to prefer quality over quantity (plus, you can always take on more later).Do Take Advantage of Not Being a Coffee-Getter One of the great things about a virtual internship is that you obviously werent hired to file paperwork and get everyones morning coffee- you were hired because you have something to offer. So, take advantage of thatIn addition to staying on top of your assignments, dont be afraid to be creative, offer new ideas, and immerse yourself in the company. Being timid wont impress anyone, especially in a virtual environment, but being enthusiastic about your job and taking on new things will.Dont Be Afraid to Ask for HelpBut, while youre trying to be the intern super-hero, bear in mind this is an internship for a reason- youre learning. While you should certainly be an independent thinker, you wont be expected to know everything. And the first couple of weeks will be stressful because not only are you just starting, but youre starting in an environment youre probably not familiar with- the virtual one.But even though youre not on-site, dont be afraid to ask questions via email, Gchat, or the phone. Ive asked plenty of questions- and though at first I thought it might annoy my supervisor, it turns out that its impressed her. Plus, its made me more comfortable with my assignments and enabled me to better produce quality work.Do Be PatientThis one has been especially difficult for me. I like to have things done as soon as possible, all at once, but it doesnt always work like that in the virtual world. My supervisor has lots of other things to do besides respond to my emails or edit the article I just finished writing (this, by the way, will be true in every job you have). And online communication can make matters particularly difficult- you cant always see when your supervisor is busy, and you dont know what else might be going on. At one point, I thought I was getting fired because I hadnt received an email back over a few days- when in fact my supervisor just had my email address wrongWorking in the virtual world, your co-workers are on different schedules (sometimes even different time zones), and probably have lots on their plate. They wont always respond right away- nor do they expect you to. Working in a virtual environment lets you have a flexible schedule, but it requires to you beflexible, too. So, learn to be patient, even if it doesnt come naturally.Virtual internships are a great experience, and while they present some unique challenges, they give you flexibility and a gelegenheit to demonstrate your ability to work independently, and theyre g reat preparation for the real world. Plus- virtual and flexible jobs are on the rise, too, and your online internship might turn out to be exactly the experience you need.For more in this series, check outInternship WeekPhoto courtesy of Spirit-Fire.