If you caught out last blog, you’ll be fully clued up on why a virtual or remote work placement could be a good idea!
Also known by the acrony VWEX, virtual work experience isn’t for every one – but there can be a lot of value found in them when they’re delivered well … and when you know how to maximise your participation!
Continuing the VWEX theme, we thought it would be a great idea to explore how you can make sure you get the most out of your remote placement.
5 Ways to Maximise Your VWEX Placement
Below are our top tips for maximising virtual placements so you can showcase your skills and walk away feeling like you got a lot out of the experience:
1. Show up!
Planning and managing your time is crucial in a virtual work world. Make sure you log on to your computer on time, attend meetings on time, ask questions and request catch-ups to talk about your work and progress throughout.
Try sending an all-team message saying good morning when you’re online and goodbye when you’re logging off. It’s a great habit to stay connected.
2. Be Professional at all times.
It can be tempting to stay in your PJs, work from the couch, or have your fav Netflix show on in the background, but try to use this opportunity to develop professional work habits.
Dress comfortably for work, plan regular little breaks to stretch your legs, and make sure you have a good workspace set up.
3. Show some initiative during meetings.
Attend meetings with questions or ideas and try to speak up where appropriate. Be engaged and curious, and really make the most of having access to a team who can help you on your career journey.
See someone doing a job or project you’re interested in? Send them a meeting request and prepare some questions to learn more about them and how they got there!
4. Take ownership of your placement.
A good employer will have projects and work planned out for you, but it’s also a good idea to have some ideas of your own for what you’d like to get out of the placement (within reason).
Make sure you chat with your line manager throughout and share your ideas. You might not be able to get stuck right in, but we guarantee they’ll love your enthusiasm and do what they can to add some more of what interests you into your work.
This also applies to enquiring about any in-house training or short courses you can take advantage of.
5. Plan an end-of-placement farewell.
If possible, you might be able to do this in person, but if not what not ask if it’s okay to get the team together for one final meeting, general chat, and even some online games.
Use this opportunity to thank everyone for their time and ask if you can stay connected on LinkedIn. It’s just a nice way to say thanks and end your placement on a high!
Where Can You Find Virtual Work Placements and Internships
There are few options to find suitable placements and it’s worth spending some time investigating the ones that might be right for you.
Some ways to get started:
- A Google search: It sounds obvious but a great starting point is to do a quick google search! Try to use specific keywords to help you find the best options for you. For example, virtual work placement in IT.
- Dedicated virtual placement providers: There are some great organisations doing the work of developing placement that connect students with a range of employers with the purpose of completing a virtual placement. Try Springpod and SpeakersforSchools to see what’s on offer – but there are others.
- Chat with your careers advisor: Have a meeting with your careers advisor and ee what options they know about or get their help reaching out to different employers to learn about their work experience programs.
It All Counts
Despite the different set-up, remote placements definitely still count towards developing your overall knowledge of a workplace and industry, and your professional skills!
This is a great learning opportunity to challenge yourself in a new way and demonstrate that you’re ready for the transition from school to work. Being able to talk confidently about how you managed yourself in a remote work placement will definitely come in handy in future interviews.
Want to explore some local employers and see what they to offer in terms of work experience (virtual or otherwise!)?
Head to our employer partner profiles now!
