Internships used to be one of those quaint things that were a “nice to have” on a resume. Proud parents often had connections in town to help get their children “work” experience the last summer before the graduation ceremony.
Times have changed. The expectation is that students have had several, if not more, quality internships prior to entering the workforce. We now live in a global economy, and it’s unlikely mom and dad’s business connections are going to secure just the right work opportunity for their kids. Along with these escalating internship one-upmanships, the costs of higher education are soaring as well. Students are competing academically and professionally. The one with the best resume wins.
There are many costs associated with doing an internship far from home. There are the transportation costs to the city of the company offering the internship. If that location is international, the student might be required to get visas, which might be both expensive and difficult. The expenses don’t stop with just the travel costs, of course. If the student doesn’t have a local support network in the location of the internship, then there are housing, transportation, food, medical, and other expenses to consider. All this is in addition to the cost of giving up any home-bound opportunities—part-time jobs, family responsibilities, sports teams, school work, extracurricular classes, and even personal relationships. There are hidden costs to internships. The timing and location of traditional internships often become barriers to participation. It’s a difficult puzzle.
Virtual internships are a new breed of internships where students work from their home bases. A virtual internship is a good choice for a young adult who recognizes the need for real work experience and yet lacks the opportunity to get it…in person. A virtual internship is a “doable” alternative. It allows students to work from home and set their own hours. The work is available year-long. There are no costs to relocating, and yet it’s possible to get that Silicon Valley experience. Visas are no longer an issue. All that’s required are a will to work and a good internet connection.
Virtual internships also have a surprising additional benefit. Some students like to take time off between school and the start of their work life. While virtual internships could be done from home, they could also be done from anywhere in the world! With a virtual internship, a student can literally travel the globe, experience other cultures, all the while gaining valuable work experience. What can be better than that?
If this sounds like a good path forward, GEOinterns can help. We work with fast-growing tech companies that actually prefer to have remote workers. Many of these companies allow a week or so for their virtual interns to visit their HQ location in person to kick-off a project. GEOinterns make such visits possible, but the choice is yours—does this fit your life plans?
GEOinterns wants you to take advantage of our corporate relationships. We can kick the doors open for you.
