Remote Internships Offer Challenges & Opportunities

Junior marketing major, Ava Nachman overcomes challenges and learns how to convey her best self during a remote internship last summer.

In an instant, the world changed last spring. And so did the way of doing business. Corporations shut their doors and sent their non-essential employees home to conduct their work remotely.

Though some things have returned to normal over the past 11 months, many businesses continue to operate virtually, with employees deemed non-critical still working from home. For a seasoned professional, this transition caused by the pandemic has not been easy, but for most has been manageable.

But what about the impact this shift has had on new employees or college interns trying to gain real-world experience? This was the very situation Ava Nachman, a junior marketing major at the College of Business, found herself in last summer. Understanding the importance of building her skillset, Ava secured an eight-week remote internship at T-Mobile in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.

As an intern reporting to the Indirect Sales Manager, Ava had an important role. To prepare, she set-up a home office in her bedroom where she would spend eight hours a day fulfilling her responsibilities. She made warm and cold calls; did “mystery shopping”; participated in online trainings preparing for COVID and the Sprint merge; and attended WebEx calls with executives, former interns, and other peer interns. “It was an interesting time at the company given T-Mobile and Sprint were merging and there was a global pandemic, but I made the most of it.”

Like many others in this position, Ava faced some challenges working remotely. “Coming in as an intern, I didn’t know anyone. I struggled to make connections with the people I was working with.” A natural people person, she struggled to convey her best self over the phone and WebEx, but eventually found ways to stand out and make an impression. Additionally, Ava did not have a proper workspace at home. “With a full house of people, no desk, and shaky WiFi it was a tough onboarding process. I had to use my bedroom as my professional and personal space, which required changing my mindset daily.”

Despite the initial challenges, Ava’s internship was filled with opportunities to learn and grow. “One of my favorite parts of the internship was being able to attend an event that featured a lineup of executives from T-Mobile and other companies speaking about their personal experiences. I heard from people like the CEO of Clorox and CTO of Starbucks, and even a panel of past interns. Having access to this line up of people was unforgettable and I ended up getting advice that I was unaware that I even needed.”

A remote internship can seem intimidating, but the result can ultimately be rewarding. “I am extremely thankful to have been given the opportunity considering the environment we are living in. I not only gained valuable business skills, but also learned how to make the best out of a difficult, and often uncomfortable situation. I learned how to go above and beyond and make myself standout, even when it was not easy. I just tried to be the best version of myself.”