Who Said You Cannot Score an Internship During COVID-19?

Coronavirus has brought changes no one could anticipate. Industries and corporate houses have been significantly impacted and have been forced to make harsh decisions. A recent survey found that many employers have canceled internship programs while others are making drastic changes to them. As such, the hopes of several young individuals have taken a hit.

Unsplash | Tips to land an internship during COVID-19

If you’re a hopeful intern who wants to ensure you don’t miss out on your chance, here are a few excellent ways you can still land that dream internship:

Networking

Start networking; ASAP. LinkedIn is a great place to start. Reach out to your professors and seniors at your college and build your network. This will help you build up your reach, and you’re sure to come across multiple opportunities that are perfect. 

Remote Work Opportunities

Look for remote work opportunities. A remote internship has far lesser chances of being canceled. Remote interns usually get good exposure to new tools and techniques while also being able to network and meet new people.

Micro-internships

Yes, micro-internships are a thing now! These are project-based internships. With them, instead of working with companies for 3 – 6 months, you work with them till the end of a project. Thus, you get the opportunity to work with multiple companies and strengthen your portfolio.

Unsplash | Micro-internships are great for working with several companies

Look for industries hiring right now

Not every industry is suffering a backlash due to COVID-19. Some need so many resources that they are hiring interns and even full-time workers. Try to reach out to the HR teams of such companies to see if they have any opportunities that you could fit into.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a good idea, as well. A drawback is that you may not get paid, but you will get a lot of experience. This will prove to be invaluable when you’re looking for full-time roles later. Some colleges have tie-ups with companies, and you will find it easier to get in.

Career Centre

Every college or university is bound to have a career center. There’s an extensive amount of resources that you can use to up-skill and find opportunities. For instance, you can get access to virtual career fairs, webinars, online classes, and more. This is also the place where you can find about companies offering internships and jobs.

Online Courses

With colleges closed at the moment, you may have a lot of time in your hand. Put in an hour or two every day to complete an online course of your choice. This will help in landing an internship at your ideal company. Some popular platforms offering online courses include edX, Coursera, Udemy, and more.

Unsplash | Take an online course to increase your chances

To finish up

You can showcase the experiences you gain using the techniques mentioned above on your public profile. LinkedIn makes for a great platform to share your professional journey and connect with other like-minded individuals. Till the pandemic ends, we can use our time to improve our skills and gain experience.