5 Ways to Stand Out During a Remote Internship

Standing out from the crowd becomes a more onerous task each year. Everybody races on the same track, all with distinct originality and uniqueness. So even being ‘the best at what you do’ can often go unnoticed by the audience. 

But don’t let this discourage you if you are still searching for your own style and voice. There are many ways to escape convention without being too extra and retaining that tasty pinch of ‘me’. 

In a remote internship, though, it can be even harder to stand out from the crowd. And since it could be cumbersome to frame all of your many talents, we’ve outlined a few. Here are some personal traits you can energise to win over your potential employers on a remote internship or role. 

This is a new company you’re entering. A new edifice of ethics, views, values and office politics awaits you. Therefore, erase everything you previously knew, and be prepared to start from scratch.  

Even when your supervisor introduces familiar material, restrain from any presuppositions you may have. Instead, pay attention to what’s going on in front of you. 

While problems may look the same, based on their setting and context, they may require two different solutions. Follow everything with an open eye, ear and mind, and you’ll quickly entrench yourself in the company’s culture.  

Don’t be closed off to certain areas of the company just because they don’t lie within your province. Stay inquisitive and curious about the skeleton of your environment. In such a way you’ll not only prove your diligence, but facilitate an easier workflow. If you utilise an open mind policy and ask questions, your employer will remember you.

Back in 1995, Jeff Bezos and his employees were running Amazon alongside day jobs. They worked long hours and spent much of their working day packing up orders on their knees on a cold, concrete floor. 

One day, according to Nicholas Lovejoy (one of the original employees who now owns his own philanthropic organisation), Bezos excitedly exclaimed: “What we need is….kneepads!”. To which, Lovejoy replied, “What we need, Jeff, are a few packing tables.”

It highlights the commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of Bezos. He was content to work on the floor! The beginnings of the hugely successful business we know today were tough. For Bezos, Lovejoy and those founding employees, it was demanding, painful and exhausting. But there’s no denying it paid off.

The story of Jeff Bezos and his employees’ battered knees is still an inspiring anecdote for young entrepreneurs. Because there’s something satisfying about working hard. And employers will appreciate a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Thankfully, no decent employer will ask you to undertake such gruelling, intense work. Nor will they expect you to risk your health – or knees!

However, starting each day with the same zeal as you did on your first day will go a long way. So stay alert and try to balance a routine of habits that will benefit both you and the company. 

It’s quite natural that over time your enthusiasm and ambition will fall by the wayside. Or at least dip a little after you get the hang of your job. 

Nevertheless, being positive, enthusiastic, willing to work hard and maintaining a routine demonstrates your discipline; a highly valued skill in any industry. 

Socially anxious or not, don’t nosedive into the crowd of that office party you decided to join. 

Always apply a filter if you want to navigate yourself out of office politics… alive. Also, keep in mind that you are an intern and your youthful, inexperienced air will have your colleagues spare your follies. 

Reality hits differently once you’re contracted or employed long-term. You’ll be expected to be part of the team and attend social events. So navigating through the minefield of social interaction preemptively will train your muscle memory for the future.

On the other hand, this is your internship. Soak in everything you can get your hands on and keep relentlessly expanding your network. Build both primary and secondary bridges every time you get the opportunity.

The main objective of any internship is to equip you with career-saving skills and valuable feedback is part of that.   

Without feedback, your skills will never develop and you will not grow as an employee or a person. Ask for feedback and analyse any you receive. It can be hard not to take feedback to heart if you’re new to the working world. But no matter the industry, feedback, critiques and amendments are all part of the process. 

For instance, on a photography internship you’ll likely be responsible for taking photographs for publication. The feedback you receive will shape you into a better photographer. And the employee or manager giving you that feedback was likely in your position early on in their career. 

Throughout your internship, you’ll face unassumed obstacles that you’ll need to overcome. After all, you are doing real work, with real people, and real reputations are at stake. 

With the help of your supervisor and some ingenuity on your side, you’ll confidently embrace new challenges and be ready for new experiences. 

While daunting at first, the dopamine hit of completed tasks and the lessons you learn from them will incite you to test the limits of your abilities! 

Aren’t you forgetting one key aspect of your internship? It’s remote! A new culture, new set of rules, and a new location are simultaneously a source of inspiration. But they can also be challenges. 

Before you start, research the habits and social codes that dictate the flow of your future workplace.  

How do people prefer to be addressed? Are there any rules that will need special attention? What is considered as ‘casual clothing’ at your company and in its location? Even working from home, you still need to be presentable and prepared for impromptu video meetings. 

Of course, even though you will be interning remotely, your new company might be situated elsewhere around the globe too.

As such, getting to grips with the minutiae of your new company, its society and culture will impress your colleagues.  

For some, it’s simple courtesy, but indulging in this sort of background research is the first step to building strong cross-cultural skills. 

Not only that, you can imagine the ease with which you’ll tackle tasks and settle in if you arrive fluent in the social language and customs of your new company.

Beyond Academy can help you to stand out, whether you’re interning virtually on our amazing remote internship program or interning abroad.

Travelling and mingling with new faces, characters and opinions is welcomed by every ambitious, young professional. 

But even the most jovial events require preparation and meticulous planning. From navigating a remote internship to finding the right internship in another country.

Beyond Academy will listen to every detail of your vision to help you find the remote or international internship that suits your hearts desires. From support with your application to helping you craft the perfect CV. When we’ve found the right internship for you, we’ll still continue to work hard for you. 

While you’re busy daydreaming about your dream role, Beyond will ensure that the essentials are set in order – preparing your accommodation, notifying our welcoming team about your departure, arranging your induction and much more.

Beyond Academy is right beside you in every step of your career journey abroad and remotely. Get in contact today and let us kickstart your career pursuits!