How Students Feel About Internship Programs and Entry-Level Roles Taking Place Remotely
Most college students have spent the last few months of the semester finishing their classes online. Now, many of them will be launching their careers from behind a computer screen, too. According to the Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19 report released by RippleMatch last month, 46% of students said that their entry-level job or internship would be starting remotely. For most students, the switch to a remote work environment has not had a significant impact on their excitement about a new job.
According to the RippleMatch report, 21% of survey respondents who will be participating in a remote program said they are still excited for the opportunity and do not believe that a remote environment will hinder their experience. Another 48% of respondents noted that they were still excited about their new position, even if they had some concerns. Only 3% of respondents indicated that they are no longer excited about the job or internship because it will be moved remotely.
Despite their continued excitement, respondents also reported a few concerns about the switch to remote work. Unsurprisingly, most of the concerns were about developing personal relationships with managers and peers. Specifically, 69% of students indicated that they were concerned about being able to form strong connections with managers or company leaders, and 61% were concerned about a potential lack of community among their peers. Just over half (53%) were concerned that the quality of their work would not be as strong in a remote setting, while just under half (47%) were concerned about having fewer professional development opportunities.
Although students are generally excited about their new remote positions, most are still in the dark about how the remote program will be structured. Only 6% of survey respondents have received detailed information about the new structure of the remote position. By contrast, more than half (52%) noted that they have only received information about the fact that the program will be remote, without further details about the logistics or structure. In addition, 19% have received information about how and when the virtual onboarding will take place, suggesting that more details are to follow.
It’s likely that so many students are not perturbed by the thought of remote work because “working from home” has become a norm over the last few years. In fact, a 2019 study from Upwork and Inavero found that 74 percent of millennial and Gen Z managers have team members who work remotely for a significant amount of their time. The current circumstances might be challenging in getting new employees started, but remember that most are still eager to launch their careers. If your company has recent graduates or students starting their remote roles soon, consider these tips for managing first-time remote employees or some community-building ideas for your new interns.
To find out more about how entry-level roles and internships were impacted at the onset of COVID-19, download our Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19 report.
