Over the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has upturned how we live our lives on a truly global scale, and the world of work is no exception. The pandemic’s effect on employment processes and how businesses are now run is unprecedented. From the move out of the offices to the online world, coupled with struggling economies, finding a traditional internship has never been so tricky. However, an ever-growing number of companies are adapting and choosing to take their internships online so that students and other young adults do not miss the opportunity for professional development and first-hand experience in their industry of choice.
How has Covid 19 affected internships?
With many lockdowns in place across the world, offices were forced to close and businesses had to move to remote working. As a result of this, many internship programmes were cancelled as companies tried to adapt to this new way of working. These lockdowns, and the many global travel restrictions that were put in place, also meant that young adults have not been able to relocate to large cities or new countries for their internship. In addition, for students who have had to shield due to health conditions which makes them particularly vulnerable to Covid 19, opportunities to gain professional experience during this pandemic have been few and far between.
How do online internships solve these problems?
Online internships really have proven to be a great alternative to the traditional format. In a time where health is a bigger priority than ever, these internships afford people the chance to gain professional experience and build skills without having to leave the safety of your own home. It is of particular importance for those who are vulnerable; they have not had to choose between their health and career advancement. In addition, online internships mean that there is no need to relocate which overcomes the problem of lockdowns and travel restrictions. As a result, you can work with international companies without needing to move abroad, something which will be especially helpful for British nationals following Brexit. Furthermore, in this way they provide more equality of opportunity; students who wouldn’t normally have the funds to move to a big city hub are able to access the same professional development as anyone else.
What are the benefits of online internships?
Not only are online internships a great solution to the current obstacles of the coronavirus pandemic, they also provide a wide range of benefits. For example, working from home saves you the costs of commuting to an office everyday. In addition, there is a lot more flexibility as you can work at a pace which suits you and complete tasks outside of normal office hours, depending on how you like to work. Online internships improve motivation, self-discipline and independence; at home, you must manage your time and projects yourself, without the physical presence of colleagues and managers. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to develop and enhance your digital communication skills as you get to grips with programmes such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams which will really boost your CV in today’s digitally-focused world.
With that being said, Berlin Translate offers an online internship that could see you working in the translation industry alongside experts from the comfort of your own home. With the internship, you will gain experience across many skills, with training tailored to your needs and what you want to learn.