By The DeBruce Foundation

When companies cancelled their internship programs in the midst of the pandemic, I heard from student after student that their offers had been rescinded and the job opportunity they had worked for was postponed or gone. 

At The DeBruce Foundation, we quickly discovered one way to save these career-launching opportunities was through virtual internships. The employers who pivoted their internship programs to remote models and the interns who adapted this year are pioneering new ways of working. While doing so, employers and employees are finding virtual internships can help increase access and improve equity in the workforce - now and in the future. 

Recently, we at The DeBruce Foundation hosted a virtual workshop focused on helping college students find, land, and succeed in virtual internships. It featured insights from employers leading virtual internship programs, career building experts, and students who have successfully launched their careers from virtual internships. Students joined from at least 24 colleges and universities across the United States, and much valuable information was shared.

From experience, research, and leaders across the nation, here are tips to help you find, land, and succeed in a virtual internship opportunity:

First Steps

One of the first steps in building your career is better understanding yourself.

The DeBruce Foundation has developed a tool called The Agile Work Profiler that helps you discover your strengths and interests related to work. Unlike other assessments, the Agile Work Profiler takes your passions into consideration, not just your ability or aptitude. In 10 minutes, you can take the Agile Work Profiler, and the results of the assessment will show you a ranked list of those strengths and interests, or what we call Agilities.

Once you’ve identified your Agilities, you have a way to succinctly describe what you like to do and what you’re good at doing in the workforce. This can be useful in refreshing your resume and LinkedIn profile before you start applying for internships.

Finding Your Virtual Internship

Next, explore virtual internship openings, keeping in mind your Agilities. Here are a couple of resources for your search: 

Micro-Internships through Parker Dewey 

Parker Dewey offers virtual, paid, short-term professional projects open to all college students and recent graduates of U.S.-based institutions. Micro-Internships range from working directly with an entrepreneur to supporting a large enterprise.

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is an online platform where you can search and find thousands of virtual and hybrid work opportunities. Together with The DeBruce Foundation, they have a page specifically for you to search for internships.

Landing Your Virtual Internship

Once you’ve searched for internship opportunities and applied to several you thought looked helpful to your career goals, you will hopefully be asked to an interview. The ways you prepare, show up to your interview, and follow up afterward are crucial. 

Make sure you take proper time to prepare for the interview in advance. This includes researching the organization, its mission, and their people. Review the job description and think about how your Agilities, past experiences, and transferable skills align. 

For a virtual interview, check your tech in advance to address any issues you have prior to the interview and ensure you arrive on time.  Minimize distractions and have light in front of you (like a window) not behind you (which will make you hard to see).

After your interview, send thank you emails, and if applicable, send a handwritten thank you note to your interviewer(s). Even if you don’t get the job, you’ll want to leave a good impression.

Succeeding in your Virtual Internship

After the interviews, hopefully you will receive and accept an offer.  The opportunity is yours through which to learn, gain experience, and make a difference.

While navigating this new, virtual space and a new job, you can never go wrong with kindness. “I was so grateful to my employer for making the effort to move their interns to a remote work format. And, figuring out how to adjust to online work really challenged me at first,” said Ruby Ríos, senior at University of Missouri-Kansas City. “Showing compassion to each other became a necessity as everyone was working through their own struggles. Through it all, helping and encouraging others to succeed was invaluable as everyone learned to handle this together. By the end, this was one of my very favorite internships!” 

In addition to encouraging those around you, take the opportunity to get to know your co-workers.  Desiree Sharp, Recruiting Manager at U.S. Engineering, advised: “Relationship building is imperative... it’s how you maneuver throughout the world. It’s very important to take that extra step. It shows a lot of initiative and it goes a long way with people.” And, ensure your communication is clear. Sharp says, “Effective communication, at the core, is the understanding that your message is received.”

With those relationships and communication lines strong, you and your team will be best equipped to accomplish the tasks and goals at hand. While working on a project, ensure you are all on the same page: “Get super clear about the work you’re tackling. Ask the questions, ‘What are my priorities, and what does success look like in each one of them?’ and ‘How can I be valuable to them?’” said Kris Frye, Co-Executive Director of The Urban Leaders Fellowship.

 Then, always continue growing. Frye advises, “Ask for feedback. ‘Are there any ways I can improve?’ ‘What do you see me doing well?’” You’ll gain important insights about your strengths and ways you can improve your work, and it can show your supervisor you care about serving the organization well. 

Best of luck as you continue exploring, expanding, and advancing your career path! We’re grateful for the wisdom of the business leaders, employers, and interns who have shared their insights and are charting new career pathways. All of us are cheering for your success. •

Find all the resources mentioned in this article at DeBruce.org/vShips