Remote work has almost become the new normal for start-ups and multi-national companies alike. “Telecommuting” or “offsite work” in the job market has become trendy. Similarly, virtual internships have also started to gain popularity! A virtual internship means working remotely, as in anywhere other than the office.
An internship, virtual or in-person, provides industry awareness in your selected sector by providing opportunities to interact with experienced colleagues and access tools and sometimes reports used within the industry.
What are the Advantages of the Virtual Internship?
Students like virtual internships because they gain value without needing to commute or consider the job’s physical location! Employers also gain advantages from virtual internships because they aren’t limited to only interns who live nearby, the field is open!
Many small businesses don’t have the work to support a full-time internship program, so a virtual internship makes life easier and means they only use interns on a per-project basis.
A virtual internship means no micromanaging or hand holding or needing to take sick days because assignments are done at your discretion, so long as you meet deadlines, making creating your schedule and being able to manage your time essential.
What are the Benefits of Global Virtual Internships?
A global virtual internship provides the opportunity to work with international companies, giving the intern exposure to intercultural communication and country-specific knowledge if, at a later date, they want to work abroad.
What Challenges Might Affect a Virtual Internship?
Some interns can feel disconnected and at a disadvantage if the company is in a different time zone because important company news and updates can be slower filtering through to them, especially if there is a big-time difference, leading to disorganization and miscommunication.
Communication can suffer in a remote internship; instead of face-to-face conversations, they will be via video chats, phone calls, and emails; this can cause significant difficulties because different schedules can mean people cannot communicate effectively. You might have problems with exchanging files of your projects as well, learning how to transfer large files is crucial when you want the internship to go smoothly.
Probably the biggest challenge is a lack of recognition for your hard work, which can be disheartening! But the critical thing to remember is that good work won’t go unnoticed for long – perseverance is essential!
The allotment of trivial work is also seen as a significant problem. You may see yourself as a substantial part of the organization but are only offered minor jobs by your seniors and mentors. Remember though every job is significant, nothing is trivial; each job fits somewhere into the overall picture.
Many firms hire fewer interns than they need; this means interns can feel overwhelmed with tasks. If this is the case, the first port of call is to contact your mentor or senior and talk to them about it.
How Can Firms Hire Virtual Internships?
When any company looks to take on global internships, it needs to become aware of the country’s laws. This information needs to be adhered to because a lack of knowledge can lead to fines, bad press, and the loss of prestige and credibility. So many firms will look to global PEO firms to give them the knowledge they need.
Global PEO
PEO stands for a professional employer organization. Usually, a professional PEO will have staff with extensive experience in HR, legal, tax, client services, and accounting.
If your firm is relatively small and unable to employ HR support, then hiring a global PEO would make life easier and more cost-effective. It also gives you the ability to hire international employees compliantly and, should it become necessary, terminate international employees’ employment.
Advantages of PEO
- Offer employees comprehensive, top quality benefits
- Reduce the cost of providing benefits
- HR services without hiring staff
- Reduce risk and ensure Affordable Care Act compliance
- Streamline payroll operations
- Expand to an international market
Businesses that work with a PEO enter into a co-employment arrangement, where the PEO acts as an “employer” in particular situations; this means that while businesses are still officially in control of the company, their employees are technically also working for the PEO.
PEOs operate in every state and provide numerous services and employee benefits to small and midsize businesses. A Global PEO ensures that workers are efficient by giving everything that is needed to deliver excellence.
