Things I Wish I Knew Before My Remote Internship

By: Ani Antonyan ‘24

As I scrambled through Handshake looking for a summer internship last year, I noticed a lot of job offerings were remote or hybrid. I ended up landing a fully remote internship for a company based in London. As the global pandemic has opened the doors for working remotely, many companies have shifted to the flexible, work-from-home concept. If you’re job hunting, or have a remote or hybrid job lined up for the summer, here’s my take on the unexpected challenges that come with remote work, along with tips for navigating the ins and outs of the workspace:

Create a Professional Workspace

It’s important to create a distraction-free place where you feel comfortable working. Speaking from experience, working on your couch or bed will make the job feel more like a chore rather than a professional opportunity. Don’t pick a place you like to relax ChooseB a designated place where you trust yourself not to slack in.

Pay Attention to Time Zones

Your employer may consider the different time zones for the employees located throughout the country. You might not need to adapt to a different time zone other than for occasional team meetings.  However, some companies are starting to move away from this model and require working in the office’s time zone, which will usually be noted in the job description. You might have to start work at 6 a.m. if you’re in LA working at a New York City firm.

Don’t Be Afraid to Over Communicate

Communicating with my team and feeling a sense of belonging in the company was very challenging for me in the beginning. Connecting through a screen can be hard but is crucial when working remotely. I underestimated the importance of making use of the opportunities I had to connect with my co-workers and managers. Check in with your team often. Don’t shy away from asking questions or just exchanging pleasantries.

Develop a Schedule 

Wake up as early as you would if you were going into the office. Start your day with a good breakfast, get dressed, plan your lunch, prepare your work environment, make a coffee, and get started! It’s easy to slack when you're working at home, especially when you're so close to your pets and your bed. Treat your tasks and job roles as assignments on Blackboard — no late submissions. 

Set Boundaries

Students can be very flexible with the hours and days they work during the summer, and employers might take advantage of that. Respond to Teams or Slack messages while you’re on the clock instead of addressing them during personal time. Because there is no physical boundary of an office to go to, it can be hard to separate your work and personal life. Be sure to set limits to not overwork yourself. 

The Outcome of Your Internship Is Entirely Up to You 

Working remotely comes with a lot of independence. Staying consistent with your work is key to being a great intern. It’s also important to show your employers that you really value the work you are doing, which can be especially hard in a remote internship. Sometimes, I felt like I was simply submitting my work quickly and waiting until my next assignment without learning much. 

Ask for continuous feedback, schedule evaluations of your performance, offer to contribute to other tasks, and suggest new ideas to make your employer really admire your efforts. 

The point of your internship is to develop skills and understand what you are interested in while making connections with potential future employers. The remote internship comes with a different work environment that can sometimes be harder to learn from if you don’t adjust. At the same time, be kind to yourself. 

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