Student Voices - A Day in the Life of a Virtual International Intern

Internships come in many forms. Whether it's working under a professor on campus, interning for a firm in your home town, heading to the big city—or even abroad—for a corporate gig, or going remote and completing an internship virtually—everyone's in it for the same reason, right? To gain experience, to make connections, and to get ahead. At IES Abroad, we decided to combine "virtual" and "abroad" to create a new experience for interns when (or for whom) an in-person, on-site program isn't the right option. Enter the Virtual Internship Program (VIP). 

To give you a better idea of what this looks like, we checked in with one of the VIP participants to see what a day in the life virtually interning 'in' London looks like. Jessica F.—a Lehigh University student who's majoring in Finance and Mechanical Engineering—shared her day with us. 

A Day in Jessica's Life

This winter I interned with a private wealth management firm in London, England. It was a part-time, remote internship, and I was expected to work approximately 20 hours each week for my six-week break. My schedule each day varied depending on my tasks and scheduled meetings, but there were some things I tried to keep constant so I could form a routine. I outlined and photographed an example of what my day might look like from my point of view. This day was a big one because I gave a large final presentation, but other days were much more relaxed.

While the UK may seem culturally similar to the United States, their method and manner of communication is very different. I was not used to taking the time to exchange pleasantries and catch up on personal matters in emails or on calls before getting down to business. However, I think this is a very valuable habit to incorporate into my future interactions and I am happy to have learned more about UK culture even though I could not be there in person.

Before interning through IES Abroad, I already had an interest in working abroad or working for a large company with an international presence. I have a passion for travel and would love the opportunity to experience new countries and cultures throughout my professional career. My international internship experience through IES Abroad, though remote, reaffirmed these goals and made me even more excited to pursue a career that takes me to other countries! Though I do not plan to pursue a career in finance or private wealth management, sustainable value-based investing is a big interest of mine that I will use in my personal life and apply where I can in my future career.