Nowadays, gaining work experience can be done in front of a screen. There’s no need to go to an office for an interview. Even as an intern, you can finish your entire program without going to an office. With a stable internet connection and a computer, anyone can gain work experience.

Here we dive into some advice on gaining work experience at the height of a pandemic.

The first thing you need to do is write a résumé. Nowadays, with a simple search for a template, numerous resources would pop up on your screen. Make sure to put your skills that are aligned to the job you are applying for. Can’t think of a skill? Write down the skills you have gained from school.

It is also worth including your organizational experience from your university in applying for an internship. These are very useful and can give applicants an upper hand in the application process.

There would be internships requiring a portfolio as well. In cases like these, you can add school works where you excelled. This applies to school work related to the role you are applying for.

When it comes to deciding what role to apply for, ask yourself about the things you enjoy doing. These can be the things you are fond of at school or other organizations. Is it helping out in webinars? Is it creating publication materials? Is it researching the different market trends? Asking yourself the following would help in finding the right internship for you.

Multitasking

As an intern, your schedule matters a lot. There are work experiences which demand your entire day. There is also work that you can fit into your daily routine. Aside from these, there is also work where you can multitask along with your online class.

Most internships nowadays are work-from-home. There are some that require their interns to work on-site as well. There are also hybrid ones.

Depending on the company you are applying to, internships can either be paid or not. Nonetheless, both can help you gain experience. There might be similarities in the different roles out there, but not every internship is created equal.

In looking for experience, social media can be your best friend. Joining various groups can be handy in looking for a job. Searching up “Internships” on social media would redirect you to numerous posts looking for applicants. With a simple search on your search engine, tons of opportunities are already listed.

Looking back, I was also confused last year about the importance of gaining work experience. I would ask myself why entry-level jobs aren’t really entry-level. In a world requiring job experience to get better job experience, internships can be a way to gain more skills for your future. —CONTRIBUTED

INQ

The author is a student at St. Paul University Quezon City.