Where to find...
... a virtual internship:
www.externs.com/search/virtual.cfmwww.internweb.com/tag/virtualwww.flexjobs.com
Published 20:55, October the 18th, 2009
Coffee fetching? Not in this kind of internship
Virtual internships, experiential learning programs where students can gain knowledge and exposure to the corporate world in the absence of an office setting, are the latest work place trend. Although still relatively few in number, numerous small to midsized companies are embracing this new hassle-free option — with more to follow.
Yet interns may not reap equal rewards. As career specialist Donald Asher cautions, “a tremendous amount of value comes from interacting with practicing professionals, something that simply can’t be learned over a home Internet connection. So much has to do with the culture of an organization and its unwritten rules.”
Also, despite the growing popularity, Asher notes that hands-on fields like science and medicine will always require their interns to have an active office presence.
For the student who is too busy to keep a strict schedule, Asher recommends a “blended approach,” with a portion of the work completed at home, supplemented by hours in the office. “In a virtual internship the organization gets their work, but the intern is cheated. To have a fulfilling internship. the student needs to make time for one. Face time advances your career. Virtual contributors do not get promoted,” he says.
What’s the deal?
Companies are attracted by the prospect of saving money and time through these virtual arrangements in which an intern is responsible for providing their own work supplies, including a telephone and computer. Busy interns claim benefits as well by gaining experience on their own time whether it be late at night or sandwiched within a demanding schedule.