In a student’s life, staying in the four corners of a room for several years can be a little boring. That is why when that moment comes for them to undergo internships in different companies, excitement is an understatement. Student internships are vital experiences that give access to real jobs, mentorships, and a look into their possible future/career.
But what happens if an unexpected crisis arrives? COVID-19 took the world by surprise. Because of this, Face – to – face classes were suddenly stopped. And internships didn’t escape this. For months, companies did not accept any applicant for their student programs. Aside from cutting costs, they are not equipped with proper knowledge and tools for remote internships. It wouldn’t also make sense to undergo training online when the main purpose of internship is to get the students out into the real world.
Despite the struggles, some businesses have found ways to continue their student internships virtually. Creative solutions and adjustments were made to deliver quality training via video calls, modules, and online courses. Let’s take a closer look on how companies managed to reinvent student internships during this pandemic.
New and Improved Programs
When everything was still normal, the HR department of every company will prepare various activities and tasks for students. Usually their first day will include getting to know the employees and familiarizing themselves with the office. Then, they will be assigned to different teams to work on specific projects. The length of student internships usually run from 3 – 6 months. Students are expected to have gained deeper knowledge and skills during this period.
However, since internships are done virtually these days, companies have adapted other ways. These may include setting up games before the actual lesson begins. Or sending out care packages to welcome the new faces in the company. Some also ship laptop computers and headsets to the new interns. Take for example Zillow Group, a real estate hub. They send out house plant to their interns to make their workspace more lively.
“It gives the interns a little bit of a sense of belonging because they all have the same items in front of them. And they\’re all kind of in it together, even though they are dispersed,” Scott Moore, Zillow’s senior manager of early-talent recruiting said in an interview with From Day One.
Another example is Biogen’s extracurricular activities. The biotech company includes weekly lunch – and – learn Zoom calls. They also utilize video – games competition to make their interactions more fun.
Moreover, some companies have expanded the whole calendar year to accept internships. This is in relation to some students having a hard time following the usual March to June schedule.
Diversity Inclusion
Recently, companies are intentionally accepting employees with diverse race. Students should feel that they are being represented equally in the workforce. And one way to do this is for them to experience first hand that the company they are in accepts diversity. This is done through hiring people with different gender, race, and color.
“If I am a black or Latina or queer child in this country, and I have not seen my story reflected in in your profession, I could never see myself having a place there. And so we\’re really trying to close those gaps so that we can grow an increasingly inclusive and diverse future workforce. This has been how the program has been designed,” Amanda Beaver, associate director of community impact at KPMG says in an interview with From Day One.
Since virtual internships have more barriers compared to the traditional one, students who have people they can look up to will make it easier for them to adjust.
Companies who still managed to come up with internships for students should be applauded. They could have just focused on making remote work adjustments for their employees. Rather, they went out of their way and helped students to make their once in a lifetime experience possible.