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Internships and other work experiences
Internships and other work experiences

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4 Would working remotely suit me?

Watch this short video to hear from an intern about how a virtual internship worked for him.

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Video 4
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Take the time now to consider whether working remotely and doing a virtual internship could work for you.

Activity 2 Could I work remotely?

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes for this activity

In the box below, summarise the potential pros and cons for you of working from home.

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Discussion

Even if you’ve never worked at home in an employment context, the experience could be very similar to time spent writing a dissertation or other piece of academic work. Dorsey (2017) outlines the following pros and cons, many of which chime with the pros and cons of virtual internships outlined earlier:

Pros

  • flexible working hours
  • no commute
  • better work–life balance
  • home comforts
  • no office politics.

Cons

  • social isolation
  • fewer work friends
  • lack of group brainstorming and colleague support
  • distractions
  • IT issues.

If you are early on in your career, you might decide that an internship that bases you in an office or similar environment surrounded by people will suit you better. This will certainly develop and enhance your face-to-face communication skills and familiarise you with office etiquette etc.

However, if you have already experienced the world of work, and had opportunities to develop your communications skills, the option of a virtual internship could work very well for you. It might also allow you to develop different kinds of communication skills, e.g. using digital skills, that could become increasingly useful in the future.

Also, if you are already in full-time work or education, a virtual internship might be the most convenient option for you.

In the next section, you’ll look at how to make a success of working from a distance.