Taking your Internship Program Virtual


Communication Considerations:

  • Use communication channels to calm incoming interns’ concerns.  Letting them know you are still assessing your situation is better than saying nothing at all.
  • Remember, students may have already secured housing, insurance, or incurred other expenses related to their internship.  Keep them informed so they can plan accordingly.
  •  If you are utilizing university or other group housing for your interns, consider alternatives in the event those spaces are not open to students.  Some companies are considering apartment buildings, subleases, and AirBnB.

Tips for Virtual Internships:

  • Understand that you may need to lower expectations and provide a meaningful experience, rather than one that aligns completely with your original plan.
  • Consider a project-based or micro internship-type experience.
  • Incorporate online meetings with senior leadership, professional skills/development training, and project presentations to management.
  • Be clear about expected work hours and time zones.
  • Specify the tools and systems your interns should use for remote working.
  • Identify the preferred frequency of onlihne meetings between the supervisor and intern.
  • Note the preferred tools for online meetings.
  • Create a first-month plan with expected goals for interns to complete by the end of each week.

Keeping your Interns Engaged:

  • A private LinkedIn group moderated by the intern site coordinator, who sends out a topic idea every few weeks.
  • Host Lunch & Learns via your favorite web platform.
  • Create a private slack channel interns can use to communicate with you.
  • Communicate via a variety of channels—social media, email, phone, video chat