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Virtual Internship Program: Its Efficacy and Employability to Business Students in Better Normal towards Sustainability

Introduction:

In recent years, the concept of internships has undergone a significant transformation with the emergence of virtual internship programs. These programs have gained popularity among students, particularly in the field of business. With the ongoing shift towards a better normal and a growing emphasis on sustainability, virtual internships provide a unique opportunity for business students to gain practical experience while contributing to the sustainability goals of organizations. This blog explores the efficacy of virtual internship programs and their impact on employability for business students in the context of a better normal.

The Rise of Virtual Internships:

Traditional internships often required physical presence in an office environment, limiting the scope for remote work and flexibility. However, virtual internships have emerged as a viable alternative, enabling students to work from anywhere in the world. This flexibility not only provides students with an opportunity to balance their academic and personal commitments but also expands access to internships for those who may face geographical or financial constraints.

Gaining Practical Experience:

Virtual internships offer business students the chance to gain practical experience in a real-world professional setting. Through remote work, students can collaborate with professionals, participate in team projects, and develop essential skills such as communication, problem-solving, and project management. These experiences equip them with valuable skills that can be transferred to future job roles, enhancing their employability in the long run.

Contribution to Sustainability:

In the pursuit of a better normal, sustainability has become a paramount concern for businesses worldwide. Virtual internships play a crucial role in promoting sustainability by reducing the need for commuting, minimizing carbon emissions, and utilizing digital platforms for communication and collaboration. By participating in virtual internships, business students actively contribute to sustainable practices and gain insights into the role of sustainability in organizational strategies.

Adaptability and Remote Work Skills:

As businesses increasingly embrace remote work arrangements, virtual internships provide an excellent opportunity for students to develop adaptability and remote work skills. Remote collaboration, time management, and self-discipline are essential competencies for success in today's professional world. Engaging in virtual internships equips business students with these skills, making them more competitive and adaptable in the job market.

Enhanced Employability:

Virtual internships not only offer students practical experience but also enhance their employability. By successfully completing a virtual internship, students demonstrate their ability to work independently, manage projects remotely, and adapt to virtual work environments. These experiences can make a significant impact on their resumes and increase their chances of securing future employment.

Conclusion:

Virtual internships have emerged as an effective way for business students to gain practical experience and enhance their employability. In the context of a better normal and the growing emphasis on sustainability, these internships contribute to sustainable practices while providing valuable skills for students. As businesses continue to embrace remote work arrangements, the efficacy and employability of virtual internship programs are expected to increase further. For business students, seizing the opportunities offered by virtual internships can be a stepping stone towards a successful career in the modern workplace.

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what is the most attractive feature of virtual internship

Virtual internships have become increasingly popular in recent years, with companies and organizations of all sizes utilizing this new way of working. Virtual internships allow individuals to gain valuable work experience from anywhere in the world, without the need to physically attend an office. With the rise of remote work, virtual internships have become even more popular, as companies look for ways to provide meaningful experiences for their interns while keeping everyone safe.

One of the most attractive features of virtual internships is the flexibility they offer. With no need to commute to an office or work set hours, virtual interns can work around their other commitments. This makes virtual internships ideal for students who are studying full-time or individuals who are juggling work and family responsibilities. Virtual internships allow individuals to gain valuable work experience without sacrificing their other commitments.

Another attractive feature of virtual internships is the ability to work with a global company. With no need to be in the same physical location as the company, virtual interns can work with companies from all over the world. This allows individuals to gain international experience, which can be invaluable for those looking to work in a global economy. Virtual internships also offer the opportunity to work with diverse teams, which can broaden an individual's perspective and understanding of different cultures.

Virtual internships also offer individuals the opportunity to develop important technical skills. As virtual internships rely heavily on technology and online communication, individuals will have the chance to develop skills such as online collaboration, project management, and time management. These skills are highly sought after by employers, and virtual internships offer a great way to develop them.

Another attractive feature of virtual internships is the ability to work on real projects. Unlike traditional internships, virtual internships often give interns the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that have a real impact on the company. This can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and motivation, as they are able to see the results of their work. Working on real projects can also provide valuable experience that can be used to demonstrate skills and achievements to future employers.

Virtual internships also offer individuals the opportunity to network with professionals in their field. While networking events and conferences can be great opportunities to meet people, virtual internships provide a more direct way to connect with individuals who work in the same field. Virtual interns can communicate with professionals in their field through online collaboration tools, email, and video conferencing. This can be a great way to build relationships and gain insights into different career paths.

Finally, virtual internships offer individuals the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of industries. With no need to be in the same physical location as the company, virtual interns can work with companies from all over the world, in a variety of different industries. This allows individuals to explore different career paths and gain valuable experience in different fields. This can be particularly beneficial for those who are unsure of their career path, as it allows them to gain a broader understanding of different industries.

In conclusion, virtual internships offer a range of attractive features, including flexibility, the ability to work with a global company, the opportunity to develop technical skills, the ability to work on real projects, the opportunity to network with professionals, and the chance to gain experience in a variety of industries. As more companies move towards remote work, virtual internships are likely to become even more popular, offering individuals the chance to gain valuable work experience from anywhere in the world.

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Types of Internships

Paid Internships:

are common in professional fields including medicine, architecture, science, engineering, law, business (especially accounting and finance), technology, and advertising. Work experience internships usually occur during the second or third year of schooling. This type of internship is to expand an intern's knowledge both in their school studies and also at the company. The intern is expected to bring ideas and knowledge from school into the company.

Work Research, Virtual Research (graduation) or Dissertation

This is mostly done by students who are in their final year of school. With this kind of internship, a student does research for a particular company. The company can have something that they feel they need to improve, or the student can choose a topic in the company themselves. The results of the research study will be put in a report and often will have to be presented. 

Unpaid Internships:

are typically through non-profit charities and think tanks which often have unpaid or volunteer positions. State law and state enforcement agencies may impose requirements on unpaid internship programs under Minimum Wage Act. A program must meet criteria to be properly classified as an unpaid internship.

Partially-Paid:

Internships are when students are paid in the form of a stipend. Stipends are typically a fixed amount of money that is paid out on a regular basis. Usually, interns that are paid with stipends are paid on a set schedule associated with the organization.

Virtual Internship:

Another type of internship growing in popularity is the virtual internship, in which the intern works remotely, and is not physically present at the job location. It provides the capacity to gain job experience without the conventional requirement of being physically present in an office. The internship is conducted via virtual means, such as phone, email, and web communication. Virtual interns generally have the opportunity to work at their own pace.

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 What is most important to get a summer internship?

Thanks for the A2A. I am a Computer Science graduate student and I have interned at 3 different companies (Cisco, Citrix and Bank of America) and I have attended loads of interviews. The main thing the interviewer looks for are as follows,

1.  STRONG FUNDAMENTALS: I cannot emphasize this enough. Your concepts in data structures and algorithms must be extremely strong.

2.  Do not lie on your resume. Your resume should reflect only the concepts you are confident about. I had an internship interview at Microsoft and I was at the last round of interviews and I was so close to getting it . Prior to the interview I had worked a little with databases like simple SQL queries but I had not learnt the concepts behind database design yet (relationships, ER diagram, etc.). I had put databases a skill on my resume and my interviewer asked me questions about 1:1, 1:n and n:n relationships and I seriously had no clue what he was talking about. For people who aren't familiar with database design, the above question is the most fundamental question anyone can ask about database design. He assumed I lied on my resume despite my attempts to make him understand that I just knew basic SQL. Naturally I did not get the internship. I still wonder to this day weather I would have gotten the internship if i hadn't put database as a skill on my resume.

3.  If you don't have sufficient knowledge about any concept, inform the interviewer that you are not familiar with it. Nobody expects you to know everything.

4.  Look at the requirements of the job before applying. Most of the job postings have a list of technologies that they expect their candidates to be familiar with. For example if you do not have any Web design or Web development experience DO NOT apply for a Web Developer internship.

5.  Try to maintain a good GPA. Academic scores are the first level of screening. Some companies do not even look at your resume if your GPA is below 3.2.

6.  Take part in a lot of extracurricular activities especially volunteering activities like Habitat for Humanity, etc.

7.  Develop communication and interpersonal skills. You should be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively to be highly productive in work place. In any company, you would be working in a team and will be interacting with a lot of people. A simple “Good Morning” everyday can go a long way in establishing a good relationship with your teammates and colleagues.

8.  Try to be updated with the latest developments happening in your field of interest. For example, in computer science know something about data mining, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, etc. Subscribe to blogs and newsletters (most of them are free) that provide relevant information.

9.  Network. Try to get in touch with the industry folk via LinkedIn or any other platform and get an idea about the tools and technologies their department/company uses.

10.  The virtual internship and job process are to some extent luck based. Never get dejected if you get a reject. Just brush it off and keep applying. Not obtaining an internship is not the end of the world. There are so many other things you can do and pursue if you are unable to land an internship. Try to work under a professor. Trust me the professors work on the latest stuff and the knowledge you gain while working under a professor is invaluable.

11.  Last but not the least never give up your academics to prepare or attend interviews. I have personally seen a lot of friends and classmates who have chosen easy courses so they could devote more time to interviews and job applications. Remember you are in school to study and obtain knowledge. Your school days are the best period to develop your skills as you do not have any other major responsibility such as a family or kids (most cases) and can devote more time and energy in learning.

Thsee are all the points I can think about as of now. Will update the answer if I can think of anything else.

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Virtual Internships: No Suit, No Commute, Just Skills

Virtual Internships runs a comprehensive employability program that boosts a student’s career readiness skills, enhances their employability prospects and prepares them for the future of work. Our Virtual Internship program allows students to gain global work experience from the comfort of their own home.

Our missions focuses on four key areas:

Create opportunities for career growth and enhanced employability

Prepare students and graduates for the “future of work”

Reduce cultural barriers, widen participation and provide opportunities for underserved communities.

The democratization of the global workforce through global talent pipelines and access to jobs worldwide

We are backed by some of the world’s top investors who were early investors in companies such as AirBnB, Udemy, Zoom and Apply Board. 

 Accreditations

We’re proud to be approved by the British Government & Universities funded charity JISC which has labelled Virtual Internship as one of the top 20 edtech companies to address the sector’s greatest challenges.

We were selected by HolonIQ as one of Europe’s Top 100 most promising EdTech Startups.

We are accredited in the US so that students can receive up to 9 academic credits for completing the program.

We have been featured on BBC News, BBC World, The Telegraph, The Independent, and Professionals in International Education and are the proud winners of the prestigious MassChallenge Program.

Services offered:

The VI Program

Our structured model focuses on international understanding and getting students prepared for their future careers through the framework of the NACE Career Readiness Competencies.  Students can intern for between 10-30 hours a week for a period of 1-4 months and all students are guaranteed an online internship placement in one of their chosen career fields.

The Program inclusions:

A guaranteed virtual internship across 18 Career Fields and across 70 countries worldwide.

Our award-winning online Employability Curriculum, Career Bridge, which offers various modules to help a student become career ready, including CV guidance, intercultural fluency, professional communication, project management and remote working skills.

Designated Experience Manager who is assigned to each participant throughout the program for support and guidance.

Global Employability Expert webinar series with tips and insights for professional development.

Personal Career Coaching with qualified career coaches, including a personalized Global Career Management Plan report presented upon completion.

Supervisor evaluation and program certification that is shareable on LinkedIn

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iNeuBytes is a 360° product and service solutions-based company. One of the first divisions of Ed-Tech services launched to provide a value-added internship program on emerging technologies.

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Everything Students Need to Know About Virtual Internships

Now that you’re probably becoming a little more used to studying at home, why not try a virtual internship?

Traditional in-person internships are no longer a viable option for most students, since the introduction of lockdown. As a result, virtual internships are growing in popularity as a great alternative since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

But what is a virtual internship? Which companies are offering them? Are they as highly regarded as in-person internships by employers?

What is a virtual internship?

A virtual internship is a work experience placement that students can do from home. During the internship, students communicate with their employer through a range of resources, including Skype, Microsoft Teams, email, webinars, and Slack.

Holroyd Pearce said: “The intern will meet virtually with their supervisor to discuss projects and progress. There might also be key times that are made available for online coffee breaks or catch-ups with colleagues”.

Virtual internships (sometimes called remote internships) will look great on your resume and will give you some valuable work experience, which you can draw from when applying and interviewing for graduate roles.

“Virtual internships are for anyone and everyone,” commented Holroyd Pearce.

They offer students who are unable to complete a traditional internship “the opportunity to gain valuable employability skills.”

How long do the internships last?

“We believe that a valuable remote work experience program should consist of around 120 hours,” said Holroyd Pearce.

He said: “At Virtual Internships, we’ve curated programs that are four, eight or 12 weeks long and require 20 to 30 hours work per week. The projects set by host companies will be built with this minimum standard in mind”.

Which industries are offering them?

Virtual internships are offered by a wide variety of companies. “We partner with organizations across 18 different career fields” said Holroyd Pearce. Virtual Internships work with both entrepreneurial startups and big as well as larger well-known companies.

Holroyd Pearce explains that many people aren’t aware of the wide scope of virtual internships. He said: “When somebody thinks of sectors that might be able to offer virtual work, people will think about marketing and general business, but there are so many more.”

Examples of sectors offering virtual internships include green technology, software engineering, fashion and sports management.

The coronavirus pandemic has proved that working from home is possible for many jobs. “We can see a large proportion of traditional sectors finding their employees working at home. It can be done and is being done,” says Holroyd Pearce. Why, then, should virtual internships be any different?

What are the benefits of a remote internship?

Working remotely

“One of the best things about virtual internships is that they are flexible: there is no day-to-day, as such,” said Holroyd Pearce.

Despite this, there is still structure], even if the internship is based abroad in a country with a different time zone. The flexibility is in terms of “the hours of work, project timelines and how people connect.”

Here are a few other benefits of a remote internship:

Save money and time: Unlike traditional internships, you won’t be expected to commute, and you can work from anywhere in the world, meaning you save money on rent and travel costs.

Enhance your resume: Working from home will improve your time management and self-discipline while you gain work experience.

Broaden your cross-cultural and global perspectives: If you’re working for an international firm you will network with people all around the world.

Gain a sense of community and boost your connections: You’ll do this through online coffee breaks and weekly drop-in sessions

Are there any drawbacks?

 Drawbacks to online internships depend on several factors:

1.  How good the firm is at communicating with interns

If your boss hasn’t set you clear objectives, you don’t have access to regular feedback or you feel unable to answer a question, then the internship won’t be as straightforward as you might’ve hoped.

Outline these aspects of the role in the interview: ask how your progress will be monitored throughout the internship, and exactly what will be expected of you.

2. Your own motivation

If you struggle to stay motivated on your own, you might struggle with a virtual internship, where self-discipline and self-motivation are essential.

Your internship might give you set working hours or may simply say that they want you to complete a number of set tasks each week. Either way, establish your set working hours and stick to them, as you would if you were attending in person.

3. No experience in an office environment

For employers, one of the major advantages of in-person internships is that graduates have experience working with a team in an office environment – something that you miss out on during a virtual internship.

Despite this, you can still work in a team through various online networking sites, such as Skype and Microsoft Teams.

Are they as respected as an in-person internship?

In short, yes, they are. Employers will recognize that virtual internships prepare students for the future of work, where working from home might become the norm, according to Holroyd Peace.

He stated: “It’s likely that those who were already accustomed to remote working have fared better during the pandemic and it’s true that companies right now value employees who are able to work effectively from home.”

Will I get paid?

This ultimately depends on the company. Although many larger firms will pay students for their time, some NGOs and start-ups may not be able to afford to do this but will offer a unique experience that can jumpstart students’ careers.

Despite this, you also need to consider the fact that the traditional costs associated with an internship, such as rent, commuting, etc. aren’t a factor in a virtual internship.

“The flexibility of virtual programs allows students to gain valuable experience and build a strong resume around their current lives,” said Holroyd Pearce.

Visit Now: Virtual iNeuBytes Internship program VIIP