Ways to make the most of a remote medical internship

Internships are a fantastic way to put what you've learned in the classroom into practice in the real world. However, in today's environment, your alternatives are limited, making it tough to secure an in-office internship. Virtual internship possibilities are knocking on your door right now! You may still study vital job skills from the comfort of your own home.

Whether you intend to work from home during your internship or not, there are several ways to make the most of your time as a remote medical intern in order to create the best impression and learn the most about your chosen career path.

1. Establish boundaries, even if your hours and location are flexible

Because remote medical internships are generally project-based rather than hourly, it's easy to treat them like homework, cramming a few minutes of work in between other responsibilities. Set limitations for yourself to help you get the most out of the internship opportunity. Setting aside specific time and space for your internship work will assist you in meeting deadlines while also maintaining a sense of balance in your other responsibilities.

2. Make plans to meet with mentors

A career in the medical industry requires a lot of interactions. In a remote internship, you won't have the same daily face-time with your coworkers as you would in an office setting. Consider arranging a standing video conference with your boss or 15-minute "walk and chat" phone conversations to get to know folks in other positions to augment this. In typical office settings, interns frequently ask coworkers out for informal coffee discussions, so take advantage of this opportunity to do the same from afar! You may also network with peers and other young professionals to help you make contacts and learn more about your chosen sector.

3. Exercise effective communication skill

It might be difficult to feel connected to your manager during an editorial internship remote when you don't have the luxury of physical closeness. If your boss prefers emails, consider providing a weekly email overview of lessons you've learned, projects you've made progress on, and any issues that may have arisen throughout the week. If they prefer face-to-face meetings, bring notes, questions, and ideas to your video check-ins.

4. Seek feedback

The most valuable aspect of any internship is the opportunity to get real-world experience in the industry, which may help you develop your future plans and tailor your skill set to meet your professional objectives. To get the most out of your remote medical internship, make it plain to your management that you want feedback so you can improve as a professional.

When asking for feedback from coworkers, it's important to take it politely; think of criticism as a favor that will help you better your job. The things you learn during your internship will help you land your first full-time job in your chosen area, so soak it all in!

5. Keep track of your accomplishments

Whether you spend a month at your job or slog away for an entire semester, the time typically flies by—and so may your tasks. You may look back and reflect on your improvement at the end of your internship if you keep track of significant emphasis areas and successes during your internship. This will benefit both you and your boss; a long list of actual accomplishments will help them quantify the value of their internship program, and you'll be able to use the same record to update your résumé and fill your portfolio.