DePaul University Launches Virtual Internship Program

Are you reading this in the comfort of your own home sipping a latte, getting ready to walk across the hall to begin your workday?

An estimated 45 million Americans work from home, so why not interns?

DePaul University announced that they are joining the growing number of universities offering virtual internship programs as a way to reach small business owners and internet companies. “These days with smart phones and tablets you can work from anywhere, so we figured our interns could have an additional way to gain real world experience from professional settings that are remote,” says Graciela Kenig, Director of Internships at the College of Communication.
I’ve been working from home for a little over six years. It’s something that has allowed me to find a work/life balance while having children.

And as it turns out, I am a perfect candidate for working with remote interns.

The virtual internship program allows the same mentoring experiences but encourages you to use skype in lieu of face-to-face meetings.

This is the first time DePaul has offered this program, which will take place initially for one semester as a trial. “We are starting with our communications students and if it goes well we will begin to offer it for other students, but right now we want to see how it goes,” says Kening. DePaul has grown the internship program and currently has 20 interns ready to begin this March.

In order for the program to benefit both the employer and the intern, employers need to be structured enough and have a point person who can give students daily guidance and feedback on assignments, whether communications are conducted via Skype, video conferencing, or e-mail. “We will be very selective about the types of internships our students apply for,” says Kenig. She is requiring employers to fill out an additional survey, provide weekly feedback to students and assign weekly tasks throughout the ten week program.

According to Businessweek.com, virtual internship listings are up 30% since last year alone, which is helping to expand the options available to interns and employers.

Working from home means interns will be unavailable to get your coffee. That's fine, but now if only we could have virtual calories in that latte?

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Christine Garcia is founder and president of Plan It PR, a public relations and marketing firm. She dishes tips and survival stories in “Play Dates and Power Lunches.” Ms. Garcia started working public relations after a long career in broadcast journalism, which included work as a television anchor, reporter and producer.