Amid the chaos of the year 2020, for most college students like myself, going into this summer was a mad scramble to re-arrange schedules, fill calendars, and make decisions on how to use this time productively. Although many internships have been cancelled, some companies (including Eleven Eleven!) moved their interns online for a virtual experience instead. Sometimes going with the flow and diving into the unknown can reap the best benefits, and I want to share with you how I’ve been making the most of my virtual internship experience.
Open lines of communication over everything
Not being in an office where you have constant access to your co-workers and fellow interns for advice, help, or just conversation, can be extremely challenging. At home, it's super important to identify your supervisor or main point of contact that can be your go-to whenever! I’m extremely grateful to have such an amazing supervisor who I have weekly check-up calls with and I’m not afraid to come to her with any questions or concerns I have. I also have found it beneficial to be in close communication with any other interns that are working for the company! They can be an easy support system since you’re both in it together, and a nice person to bounce ideas off of.
Organize your life
I have three forms of organization that have become my staples in day-to-day organization. First is my dry erase monthly calendar. This is perfect for writing in bigger-picture deadlines on the horizon to keep in mind. Second is Google Calendar, which most companies use pretty religiously! Here I can keep track of any meetings I have, as well as calendar blocking time in my schedule to complete specific tasks. Lastly, is my paper planner, which is on my desk at all times. This is where I keep my running list of tasks to be completed throughout the day, organized by work and personal, and ordered from most to least time-sensitive.
This might be complete overkill for you, so pick and choose a method that works best for you! This is how I’ve mastered my time management skills and not feel overwhelmed when a busy work day rolls around. It's easy to get distracted working from home, so setting parameters and keeping track of obligations can help you stay on task.
Create your WFH sanctuary
We are definitely all guilty at some point of just rolling straight out of bed to grab our laptop and lay back down to listen in to whatever work call we have. But creating a dedicated space in your house that is reserved for work makes a much more productive environment. I prefer to be near a window for natural light to keep me alert, and a clear desk helps me focus. Maybe even light a candle or play some music in the background— whatever ‘sanctuary’ means for you!
Don’t be afraid to take some ‘me time’
This is something I definitely struggle with, especially once I get in the zone doing my work. But I try my best everyday to take at least an hour out of my work day to take some ‘me time’. I don’t always take a consecutive hour, sometimes it's 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. Whether that’s watching some TV, reading a book, grabbing a cup of coffee with a friend, getting outside for some exercise, or just hanging out with my family. It’s a great way to recharge your brain after being stuck in the house staring at your computer screen for hours!
Bond with your team!
As cliche as it is now, a classic Zoom happy hour is a fool-proof way to get connected with your team ‘outside’ of the office. If you’re in an industry like PR where there is a constant flow of email chains with your coworkers, it can be such a breath of fresh air to hear some voices and see some faces every once in a while! I’ve found those Zoom calls to be some of my favorite so far this summer and have made me feel like an integral member of the team; it’s nice to just chat about non-work things sometimes.
Even though this is not the summer that many of us hoped for, virtual internship experiences can still provide real value to our resume and build confidence in our own abilities to work remotely and still be successful! I’ve been loving every part of my internship so far— how have you been making the most of your virtual internship?