The past several years have seen major increases in telecommuting, especially as cloud computing and mobile technologies improve. Now, a new group of workers is reaping the benefits of working from home: interns.
A recent article on Mentor Net highlights the growing demand for virtual internships. Many major companies and government agencies are creating e-internships to reduce travel time and improve productivity of young workers.
With Internet access and a telephone, interns can do a lot more than make copies and buy coffees for office staff. Instead, they get to play a role in editing, writing, fundraising, and other key tasks. Social media campaigns and blogging are particularly popular tasks for virtual internships.
According to the article, start-ups and small businesses are using e-internships, most of which are unpaid, to improve business practices without spending extra funds.
“Most students I speak to love the idea of interning in what they perceive as a glamorous locale like New York or Chicago or Los Angeles, but the reality is the cost of living in those cities can be overwhelming,” Geni Harclerode, an assistant director at the University of Michigan’s Career Center, told Mentor Net. “I think there is an appeal with some of these virtual internships because they can still contribute to an organization while living at home for the summer and saving money.”
E-internships are particularly useful for college students, who have busy schedules and classes at all hours of the day. Virtual positions can also be more practical for non-traditional students with full-time jobs in other industries. They also pose an excellent way for students with on-site summer internships to continue interning during the school year.
Many intern search engines are reporting huge increases in the number of e-internship postings. Urban Intern, for instance, reported that 40 percent of the internships listed on its site are virtual positions. Similarly, internqueen.com estimates that the number of virtual internships has tripled in recent years. The site runs an e-internship program that provides a structured environment with daily Skype conferences and regular feedback.
Does your company currently hire interns to work from home? Have you ever had a virtual internship? Discuss the trend in the comments section below!

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