Virtual internships are internships done entirely via email, online chat, or phone. They typically offer a great deal of flexibility and remove the necessity of having to live in a certain geographical location.

Simply speaking, a virtual internship is when an intern works remotely, as in anywhere other than in an office. Virtual internships are easier to fit into a busy college schedule and offer students an opportunity to gain experience without having to commute to a specific location at a specific time. 

Many virtual internships exist in the fields of IT, sales, journalism, marketing, and software development. Jobs in those areas lend themselves to remote work, but you can find opportunities for virtual internships in other types of employment as well. Although the structure of a virtual internship may be different than that of a traditional internship, the application process is usually pretty similar. First, you will probably be asked to send in a resume and cover letter and perhaps some supporting materials, such as writing samples. If the manager likes what they see, you will be interviewed by phone.

Before you accept a virtual internship, there are some questions you should get answers to:

What tasks will you be doing and what will your responsibilities be?

Will training or supervision be offered only at the beginning or over the course of the internship?

How many hours per week are required for the internship?

Is the internship paid?

Can you receive college credit for the internship?

Will you receive an evaluation or recommendation letter at the end of the internship?

Will your supervisor be able to act as a work reference after the internship is over?

Could the internship lead to full-time employment at the company?

During the internship use the opportunity to learn from everyone. You have the opportunity to learn from everyone you interact with. Consider ways to talk with others on the team, managers, and others. Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, or even the phone are all great ways to communicate with and learn from your co workers. When you meet with individuals, prepare a few questions for them such as:

What excites you about your work?

What has been most helpful to you in this position?

What are some trends in this field?

How did your educational and career pathway prepare you for your work here?

What kind of challenges do you face in your position?

What are important skills for being successful in this field?

Before your internship ends make sure that you have fulfilled all responsibilities and tie up any loose ends. Prepare a list of your summer accomplishments that you can share with your supervisor. Make sure to say good-bye to everyone you worked with. You may also want to ask your direct supervisor for a recommendation letter or if they would be willing to serve as a reference at a later time.

Finally, don’t forget to update your resume with all of the skills and accomplishments from the summer, and be sure to connect with your colleagues on LinkedIn for future networking.

- Ravi Rajan