05/11/2020

Daily Buzz: Judging a Remote Internship Program's Success

A strong program benefits both the intern and the organization

Want to offer a remote internship program? It’s not the same as in-person experience, but there are ways to deliver an effective remote program that benefits both the intern and the organization.

“If companies thoughtfully integrate a few key principles when designing remote internship programs, these interns will likely have highly meaningful experiences that could mimic, and in some cases even be better than, an in-person environment,” said Springboard cofounder and CEO Gautam Tambay on Fast Company.

First, companies must set clear expectations for their interns. They need to know exactly what projects they’ll be working on, what responsibilities they’ll have, and what deadlines they need to meet. “[A]lso introduce relevant stakeholders and tools, and be clear on how and to whom they should communicate in case they have questions or concerns,” Tambay said.

As interns work on projects, managers should offer mentorship and feedback. Share any tips and background information that you can, and be sure to schedule regular one-on-one sessions to discuss progress and areas that can improve.

“This will help interns stay motivated, achieve their goals, and feel that they are not operating in a vacuum. Keep the conversation going until you see quality results,” Tambay said. “But keep in mind that interns are there to learn, so don’t reprimand them for making mistakes.”

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.