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While remote internships give you plenty of practical experience, on a surface level, networking opportunities or other career development benefits you get in an in-person workplace still need to be included. But what if you found out there are plentiful ways to make meaningful connections with your employers even when you’re not clocking in an office? What if your work could impact a company even when you’re miles away? Technology has allowed us many communication improvements, so creating good workplace relationships has never been easier, even when you don’t see your coworkers in person! Here are a couple of ways you can network even on a remote internship:
Prioritize Communication
Employers and coworkers will always speak highly of a good communicator. Therefore, when doing a remote internship, aim to actively respond to coworkers and supervisors, whether that is through emails, texting, or any other form of communication. Being prompt in your responses will demonstrate your commitment to doing a good job and can ease employers because they know that when they need you, you will be there. Even if the task they ask you to do takes longer than a quick inquiry, letting them know you received a message also contributes to having good communication.
Ask for Feedback
As an intern, you will more likely than not make mistakes or require improvement in the area you are working on. Therefore, remember to ask your supervisor or coworkers for feedback on any projects or tasks you are doing. Not only will you get the chance to communicate with them even when remote actively, but seeking feedback lets them know you care about delivering a good performance and excelling in your job. It also shows interest in the company’s work.
Collaborate with Others
While there are only so many things you can do on a remote internship, try to engage in projects with other coworkers. This practice builds good interpersonal relationships by encouraging consistent communication, teamwork, and recognizing others’ strengths. Also, they will be appreciative to carry less of the load they initially would take on. If you’re directly working with a supervisor, once you finish working on your tasks, ask them if there are any other projects you can take on. Whether they give you more work, they will appreciate your asking anyway.
Encourage Small Talk
Though this might be the most casual advice, people rarely avoid conversing in small talk. So, shoot your shot at a casual conversation at an appropriate time! Your supervisor or other coworkers might also engage in casual conversation, so feel free to talk casually with them if they start talking about non-work-related things. (By the way, a good conversation starter that never fails is “How have you been?”)
Offer to Catch Up
Because internships can only last so long, if you enjoyed working for a company, offer to catch up and communicate consistently even after finishing work! To show more interest in working there in the future, attend events the company may be hosting, offer to visit the office so you can meet and greet your coworkers in person, and overall show interest in staying in touch.
