As we all know, COVID-19 has changed the way we learn, work and socialize with those around us. During the first few months of the pandemic, we saw many companies canceling their summer internship programs or rescinding offers to interns. Although many internship programs have now adapted to a virtual environment, there’s still some concern about the quality of education and experience given in these settings.

In 2020, Yello conducted a survey of interns working remotely and found that 22% of those surveyed were worried about the experience not being as valuable as an in-person internship. Another 12% of respondents were worried they would not be able to prove themselves as capable of holding a full-time position at the company. Lastly, 9% were disappointed that they couldn’t meet their new teammates in person. In order to provide a meaningful and educational experience for remote interns, it’s important to address these concerns directly to ensure that your company can adapt your remote program to better suit interns’ needs, learning styles and set them up for success.

Giving Interns Valuable Experience

Internships are some of the most valuable experiences that college students can have. Internships prepare students for their future career, so it's no surprise that this is a big concern for interns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a company, reflect on the job description and responsibilities listed on the internship application. Are your interns carrying out the day-to-day assignments outlined in the job description? Giving interns these work assignments rather than random side tasks allows them to practice their craft and gain real-world experience that they can apply to their careers later. As interns are learning and growing, their assigned work will contribute to the overall value and goals of the company.

As an intern at Curator, I’m assigned different tasks related to my future career every day. Every morning, I email our team to let them know what I will be working on that day. If I don’t have a lot on my plate, they reach out with additional projects I can work on, which furthers my education.

Stay In-Touch, Safely

With remote work, many people are worried about not being able to bond or work collaboratively with their team. It’s easy to get caught up with your workload every day and not have time to see your interns as much as you’d like. Consider using alternate forms of daily communication like emails or video calls to promote an open communication line between you and your interns.

Sending daily emails to your interns is a great way to touch base and keep them in the loop on upcoming tasks or assignments. As I mentioned before, I exchange emails with the team at Curator every morning. These emails are a great way to start the day because they let everyone know what I’ve already been assigned and they can assign me more or less as needed.

Another method of communication that many interns (myself included) prefer are video calls. Video calls are a faster, more efficient way to communicate expectations and directions on assignments in real-time rather than having to wait for an email response. Setting aside time every week to meet with your interns through a call can help them feel more connected to you and your team. Although it’s not in-person, it feels a lot more personable.

At Curator, multiple video calls have been incorporated into the company to make sure everyone (not just interns) are staying connected. As an intern, I meet with my supervisor once a week to check-in and ask any questions I have. Additionally, at the end of every workday, the Curator team meets over a video call to discuss what they’ve worked on that day, what projects are coming up, and if they need help with anything. Having this constant line of communication helps me feel more connected to everyone on the team, even if I’m 1,300 miles away.

Listen to your Interns

The truth is there’s no “one size fits all” solution to providing the best remote internship program. Every intern learns differently and prefers different forms of communication. When conducting check-ins, ask interns for feedback and if they have suggestions on how the program can improve. If an intern expresses specific concerns like they want to learn about something new or that they want to connect more often, you can easily tailor solutions that address them head-on.

Getting this feedback and incorporating that into your internship program can help interns feel connected and valued within your company. Building this connection can also help boost morale and productivity from your interns. Remember, no remote internship program is perfect, so try to adapt the program based on specific needs or feedback you’re receiving.

At Curator, I am always encouraged in my weekly check-in to provide feedback and to give my honest opinion on how educational my internship experience has been thus far. In one meeting, I expressed that I wanted to learn more about client-relationship building, and now I am going to have the opportunity to sit in on client meetings!

Overall, creating a remote internship experience that is as valuable as one in-person is definitely possible. Providing meaningful work, staying connected and listening to your interns concerns are just some ways to give them the best experience possible. As you manage your internship program, commit to adapting your program in a way that best suits the needs of both your company and your interns. Remember, when your interns succeed, you succeed.