One of the many recent changes to the workplace is that many employees and their supervisors will continue to work remotely even after the COVID- 19 pandemic has passed. This change is facilitating the rise of virtual internships rather than the traditional in-person internships.  

What is a Virtual Internship? 

Virtual Internships are short term (1 day to 6 months) student positions that work remotely at a company and typically focus on one or more project(s). Students typically are completing a high school diploma, college degree, certificate or diploma program.  

Like traditional interns, virtual interns are supervised by an employee who serves as a mentor and checks in often through video call, phone call, email and/or instant message apps.  

In addition to the intern’s work being beneficial to the employer, it should also be beneficial to the student’s academic and professional development.  

Perks of Virtual Interns

• Larger talent pool: Companies can choose students from any college or university, not just students who live in our region.  
• Flexible timelines: Instead of having an intern for one semester or summer, you can now set the beginning and end dates based on the project, not the school year. Working virtually also offers students more flexibility since they are not coming to the office  
• Cost savings: With the high unemployment rates, students are more willing to consider unpaid internships just to gain the needed work experience. If your company can provide a wage or stipend, please remember that unemployment is affecting high school and college students the most.  
• Productivity: Millennials and Generations Y and Z already live and work digitally so the jump to a virtual internship comes easily to them.  

Planning for your Virtual Intern 

Know what you want them to do before you bring them on as an intern. Develop a written work plan including training materials, activities and tools needed for the intern to be successful. The benefit to the student is an opportunity to experience work-based learning and practice communication, team building, problem solving and critical thinking skills in a non-school environment. 

Onboarding a Virtual Intern

This should be different from an in-person onboarding experience. You, as the employer, should make sure the student has the resources needed to complete the project and communicate with their supervisor. Decide the schedule, goals and expectations in advance and provide training materials that will give the student a sense of your company’s history and culture. The intern will not have everyday workplace interactions, so regular check-ins and easy access to task instructions will keep your student intern engaged and better emulate a workplace environment.

Incorporate group projects and activities to build practical experience

Prepare other employees to interact and work with the intern. They can provide additional support and give opportunities for the intern to learn how to collaborate in a team environment.

Help them feel valued throughout the entire process

Even though the interns are not in an in-person work environment, you can still offer them perks to help them feel welcomed into your company. Along with supportive messages from other employees, give away some of your swag! A company hat, cup or branded office accessory is a great way to acknowledge them and thank them for their work. If you are satisfied with their work, provide your intern a recommendation letter and permission to use the supervisor as a reference.

Additional Resources

• Learn how to be a good internship mentor
• See the pros and cons of a virtual internship
• Learn more about companies embracing virtual internships
• Need Interns: Get to Know Generation Z
• 18 Practical Task Ideas for Interns
• Creative ways to make your virtual internship a success
• How to Boost Your Resume Through an Online Internship

Virtual Tools

• Virtual meetings: GoToMeeting, Zoom, FaceTime, WebEx  
• Communication tools: Slack, Email, Instant Messenger 
• Free Project Management Tools: Asana, OpenProject, nTask, Monday  
• Online File Sharing: Google, DropBox, Box