7 Ways a Remote Internship Can Help Your Career

In the midst of a global pandemic, we’ve all taken stock of how we live our lives. We’ve been thinking about our health, our sleeping habits, our environmental impact, our relationships, and our careers.

And like all of us, businesses have had to adapt too. Today, many office workers are still working entirely from home. In fact, the percentage of employed adults in the UK working remotely is currently 49.2%. 

Not to mention, large corporations like Google and Facebook have pledged to carry on home working through to Summer 2021. And, it’s likely that this new habit will become widespread as we continue to adapt to a post-COVID world. 

Going forward, there are sure to be plenty of remote internships on the market. 

A remote internship differs from a regular internship abroad because it’s conducted entirely online; you’ll be at home the whole time. 

This means communicating through email and video calls, keeping to your own schedule and managing your workload effectively. 

While this is quite different to a traditional work experience, it’s a rewarding and challenging style of working. 

And one that is sure to improve your skill-set.

Online working and working from home is becoming increasingly common. So, it’s a great way to add new skills to your CV and get the experience you need. Here are just a few of the ways a virtual internship can boost your career.

In the past, your internship prospects depended on your proximity to a company. You might even have had to suffer through an unending, cramped commute to get there. 

But today, you can intern anywhere, for any company, in any country. And there are no unnecessary complications – no rent or bills in a foreign city, no commuting fees, no complex visa applications. 

This means that you can easily pick the perfect internship, based anywhere in the world. 

From high-end New York publishers to high-tech Seoul-based electronic companies.

And interning for a foreign company can give you a great level of cultural awareness; learning to communicate effectively with those in a different country is an invaluable skill in today’s interconnected world. 

In the past, your internship prospects depended on your proximity to a company. You might even have had to suffer through an unending, cramped commute to get there. 

But today, you can intern anywhere, for any company, in any country. And there are no unnecessary complications – no rent or bills in a foreign city, no commuting fees, no complex visa applications. 

This means that you can easily pick the perfect internship, based anywhere in the world. 

From high-end New York publishers to high-tech Seoul-based electronic companies.

And interning for a foreign company can give you a great level of cultural awareness; learning to communicate effectively with those in a different country is an invaluable skill in today’s interconnected world. 

Networking has always been a key aspect of getting ahead in your career. And this has never been easier than in the days of remote working. 

A lot of companies organise online social sessions to allow everyone to chat in a casual setting. There, you can build valuable relationships and maybe learn a thing or two from the old hands. 

And you won’t just be building relationships within your own company: with video calling you could meet anyone from anywhere in the world. Therefore, selling yourself and building an impressive list of contacts that you can draw on in the future. 

This is certain to help you in your day-to-day career. But beyond that, you might even get roles offered directly to you as a result of these new relationships. Ultimately, taking all the stress out of countless job applications and interviews.

One of the best things about working remotely is being able to set your own schedule for your day. This doesn’t mean slacking off all day and rushing to finish your work in the last hour. Instead, it means that you’re trusted enough to be flexible. And that your employer knows that your work will come in on time. 

Achieving this can mean keeping a diary or a spreadsheet of your work in order to keep track of your projects. But it can also mean starting or finishing early.

For instance, you can adjust your meal times to fit around work, ensuring that you eat well and at the right time. No more rushed trips to the local supermarket to hunt for a meal deal. Or searching a new city for somewhere to eat! 

This level of autonomy allows you to ensure you’re always at your most productive. And time management is always a great skill to have on your CV. 

And once you’ve learned to work truly independently, you’ll be an invaluable asset to any company.

With all the distractions of your home life focus is a key skill to master. Whether it’s a quick browse of the news or social media, replying to a friend, or spending some time with a pet. One thing’s for sure, learning to focus is sure to help you in any future career. 

But it’s important to remember that we’re not robots either! In an office environment or while interning abroad, you might have a quick chat with a colleague. Or you take a short break to reset yourself. So there’s no reason why you should have to be constantly laser-focused at home too. 

Whether this means going for a short walk or listening to some music, you can always take a break. Learning how to recharge your batteries will actually help you to stay focused for longer. 

Thus, improving your productivity and overall wellbeing. 

We’re more aware than ever of the importance of mindfulness and a healthy work-life balance. This is why a remote internship gives you a great opportunity to indulge in habits that will keep you balanced and healthy. 

Maybe you can go for a run on your lunch break, or use the time you would have spent commuting to learn a new skill or connect with friends and family. 

It might even be something like creating a blog or taking an evening language class. 

Whatever you choose, you can put your extra time to good use and boost your CV in the meantime. 

And, by having a healthier work-life balance, you’ll be more productive and happier at work.

Whether you’re at university or working full-time, it’s easy to become stuck in a rut. 

You might feel that you’re trapped in your position with no way out. Or that your education and skills have limited you to a certain area. 

But with the amount and variety of sectors that offer remote internships, you can take control.

You can easily take your skills and reinvent yourself in your new sector of choice. The key thing about internships is that you’ll be learning new skills on the job. 

From marketing and media to IT or journalism, you’ll be able to find something that inspires you. Helping you to break into a whole new career path. 

With more companies looking to increase working from home, virtual internships are only going to become more popular.

Undertaking one will equip you with beneficial skills that will make you marketable to any company. These include a vast array of digital skills, communication, and time management, to name a few. 

But the biggest benefit of an online internship is the truly global access you have to the best companies in the world. An internship for one of these global companies will look great on any CV, and you’ll be able to draw on your experiences to ace future interviews and set yourself on the path to success. 

Our online program has been designed to give you many of the benefits of a traditional internship abroad. With comprehensive support and mentorship along the way, you can get the most out of your experience. And you can choose to work remotely across 18 industries and 14 locations.  

So whether you want to kickstart your career in architecture with a Parisian firm. Or you want to experience a fast paced remote marketing internship with a digital marketing agency in New York…we’ve got you covered. 

We’ll also keep you engaged with an international community of interns, so that you can build lasting connections from all over the world. 

Learn more about our remote program here or check out our guide to go Beyond!