Field Notes: The Media School Travel Blog

As a first-time virtual intern, there are some things I had to learn very quickly, things I wish I had thought about beforehand and advice I would have liked to hear before I had my first day: 

#1 Five hours in front of a computer screen is a lot longer than you think. 

I was used to studying and doing schoolwork for as long as I needed to get the job done, and I thought this internship would be the same. Sitting down for five hours without doing any sort of movement is just not feasible. If we were in person and you were attending a job physically, there would be little ways to break up your day: a chat with a coworker, a trip to the staff room, running out to lunch with new friends. You should treat virtual work the same way. Discuss your deadlines with your manager and schedule out a day that fulfills all your time requirements but allows you to stretch your legs and get away from the computer. 

#2 Schedule your week in advance. 

This may seem like basic knowledge, but if you’re home and it’s summer, it often feels like you have all the time in the world. Before you know it, it’s Friday and that time is gone. Make deadlines for yourself if your manager gives you a larger project. That way you can complete what you scheduled for the day and then enjoy any sort of leisure activity you want. You don’t want to spend your morning thinking you have all day to finish something and then get invited to dinner that you have to turn down. If you schedule your week, you start to find a balance. 

#3 Be overly communicative. 

Personally, operating virtually has been a little hard for me. I connect with my manager exclusively via email and sometimes, communication slips. This is why it’s so important to be overly communicative. If you’re struggling with an assignment it’s always better to email your manager and seek an opinion. If something’s not clear, speak up. I’m not saying you should throw your critical thinking skills out the window; I’m saying that some things get lost in virtual translation.  

#4 Be aware of the time difference. 

As mentioned above, I communicate with my manager solely through email. My manager is across the Atlantic and five hours ahead. This means that if I send an email after noon, I’ll likely have to wait until the next day for a response. This also means that you wake up to emails, which can be a stressful way to start the day, but better to answer them then than reply later and have to wait even longer for a response. 

#5 Keep calm and keep at it. 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when everyone you’re talking to is behind a black screen and blue light. It can be isolating, and after working long hours, it can be frustrating. If you don’t understand something or receive some constructive criticism, remember it’s all part of the process. I promise it’s worth putting in the work now, and you’ll eventually find your rhythm and, hopefully, your passion.