Loh Xin Sheng, 22, who used to intern at National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health would have never imagined that she would feel socially isolated from her colleagues. "After a while it feels as if you are alone. Even though they [supervisors] did make an effort to get us together, it is only once in a month and does not do much," Xin Sheng said as she reflected on her work from home experience.

 

What Xin Sheng has gone through is a common experience faced by interns who work from home. While many internships have gone remote due to the pandemic, more companies are resuming physical work and interaction while abiding by the Covid-19 measures.

 

As internships are a vital way to learn and gain experience, Mr Eugene Ang, 40, an Education and Career Guidance Counsellor, a former intern and a current intern share some problems, solutions and tips on how students can make the most out of their internship experience, be it virtual or in real life.

 

Here are five tips for you to get the best out of your internship experience, regardless of the field you are or will be working in:​

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1. Reset your goals and expectations

 

Jamie Chong, 19, an intern at Raffles Hospital was disappointed that her goal of counselling patients “could not come true due to the changes implemented by Covid-19”. Instead, she could only role-play with her supervisor.

 

Working in current circumstances poses a new set of challenges to all interns due to uncertainties. This is when you need to recognise what is possible to manage your goals and expectations for your new working environment, especially for those transitioning back to real life workplaces.

 

Knowing your supervisor’s expectations helps too. “Expectations need to be met on both sides. There needs to be open communication with yourself and the supervisor to determine exactly what he or she is expecting from you,” Mr Ang said.

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2. Set up your conducive working space

 

One’s working environment can affect his or her productivity and happiness. In an online poll conducted, 113 (94.9 per cent) out of 119 respondents agreed that having a clean and conducive workplace would increase their motivation to do work.

 

“Sit yourself down and really create that conducive workspace, you are responsible for that,” Mr Ang said.

 

Since Covid-19 happened, Xin Sheng’s family has redecorated their living room into their home office and the family of four has been doing work together ever since to motivate one another.

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3. Build your professional network

 

You may feel awkward initiating conversations with your supervisors and colleagues, especially in an online setting. Xin Sheng, who experienced it firsthand, mentioned that “people won’t really initiate to talk” to her.

 

Take the initiative and break that silence. “If you’re not going to be happy with them, you’re not going to have as fun of a time working there as you’d like to,” Jamie said.

 

Potential job opportunities may also await you upon building your network. “If you go to work for an internship and you don’t come back out with a network, then I would say that it’s quite sad because you have not set yourself up for success,” Mr Ang said.​

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4. Keep communication channels open 

 

According to Strada Education Network, 13 per cent of over 4,000 undergraduates report that staff are much less available for mentoring and advice for internships while 42 per cent report that they are somewhat less available.

 

“Create a social white space. For instance, everyday at four o’clock, there should be a short 15 minutes where colleagues can come together to ask for any help that they need,” Mr Ang said. This helps to clear any misunderstandings and bonds the group.

 

To conclude, be contactable when your colleagues and supervisors need support to establish a mutual understanding.​

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5. Show initiative

 

Be proactive and step up whenever help is needed without having to be asked. Add value by doing more than what is required of you.

 

Xin Sheng mentioned that a colleague stood out to her by volunteering to help her by finding relevant resources for her research.

 

“Just deliver beyond and above what you have been tasked to do, which is basically putting in more initiative,” Mr Ang says.