HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS

SOFIA DEEB

In 2019, as my Fall semester came to a close, I began looking forward to my future and the internship opportunities lying ahead for the summer. As an aspiring fashion stylist, I, of course, had my heart set on an internship in none other than New York City. I was elated to be offered a summer internship with Audree Kate Studios in the fashion capital of the world! I began making plans for what I imagined would be the most exciting summer to date. Well… no need for foreshadowing here; I think we all know how this story turns out.

Of course, It was difficult coming to terms with the fact that I would no longer be living out my dream of interning in the city, but what I didn’t know at the time was that getting the chance to intern remotely would be one of the most influential opportunities of my entire college career.

If you’re feeling slightly intimidated while navigating the world of virtual internships, trust me, I’ve been there! I’m here to share with you all the best tips to help you thrive during this new chapter!

Apply to opportunities outside your city

I like to believe that every cloud has a silver lining — despite all the hardships the pandemic has brought about within the workforce, the shift to primarily remote work has opened so many new doors! If you’ve ever felt held back because you live far from the world’s major fashion hubs, that’s all about to change! Countless companies are now offering remote positions, thus there’s never been a better time to apply to your dream internship without the added stress of relocating! While I was eager to be spending my days off galavanting around New York City, I have to admit, now that I am a recent graduate, I realize that being able to save money by living at home was actually the biggest blessing in disguise.

Take part in multiple positions if possible

Another advantage of interning remotely is that in many cases, you get to work around your own schedule, making it much easier to budget your time. You’d be surprised how much free time you gain when you no longer have to worry about getting ready and commuting to work! This summer, I used my new-found freetime to work on other resume builders like volunteering and writing for local magazines!

Work from a new location

Interning remotely allows you to take the term “out of office” to a whole new level. A virtual internship can be a great option if you’re looking to spend some time de-stressing in nature or want to experience living in a new city for a little bit!

The virtual realm opens up so many new doors for communication — use this as an opportunity to network!

Even in one of the world’s central fashion hubs, the chances of conveniently running into a recruiter from your dream job while out and about are low (unfortunately). In the virtual world, however, these connections are just a few clicks away! Chances are, people at the company you’re interning for probably have some pretty sweet connections in the industry! Conducting informational interviews with industry leaders over zoom is a great way to make authentic connections without ever leaving the couch!