CAROL’S SUMMARY:
Every college student needs at least two internships under their belt in order to show prospective employers their potential for future jobs. In light of today’s global competition for talent, where U.S. students not only compete with American graduates but with their counterparts in other countries, internships allow job seekers to show a proven track record of results and to model tenacity in a fiercely competitive market. Another upside to internships is that many employers consider this experience in the hiring process, and often look to their own interns as the best potential candidates for full-time positions. Employers look for analytical, creative and practical intelligence in potential hires, and internships give students the playing field to demonstrate and grow these skills.
Particularly in a recessive economy, virtual internships offer an affordable and creative way for college students to gain real-world experience about a career field. Virtual or remote internships allow students to develop professional skills and get a bird’s eye view of a career they may want to pursue without having to relocate and often with more time flexibility than traditional office hours require, as the article below iterates. And similar to traditional internships, students typically receive school credit for their work.
One of the keys to a successful remote internship is frequent and consistent communication between the intern and company or organization’s manager or supervisor. Conversely, internships give students the opportunity to receive feedback on completed assignments and mentoring from a supervisor or manager. You can read more about how to make the most of an internship in LifeBound’s book, Majoring in the Rest of Your Life: Career Secrets for College Students. Additionally, LifeBound offers a variety of internships both live and virtual throughout the academic year and in the summer. For more information, visit http://www.lifebound.com/interns.html.Â
 ARTICLE
Wall Street Journal
By Jonnelle Marte
Natalie Ann Roig completed a marketing internship last spring—while riding the bus, sitting on her parents’ couch and lounging at home in pajamas.
The internship, in which she worked 15 hours a week researching and blogging about corporate workplace benefits, was virtual—she needed only a computer and Internet access. Ms. Roig, a senior at the
“I didn’t have to dress up. I didn’t have to sit at a cubicle for hours,” says Ms. Roig, a senior studying graphic design. “It was more like work at your own pace and get the work done.”
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