Best Practices While Interning Remotely

Finding an internship during the time of social distancing can be a little tricky.  The process for finding one is pretty much the same, and companies are even changing their internship opportunities to say “remote” or “virtual” in their postings, which is great.

So now that you have one, here are some adjustment strategies that would help you navigate the experience a little smoother:

Set a Schedule and Stick with It

Set a work schedule for your internship and commit to it. This allows your site supervisor to know when to expect your work. A schedule will also help you balance the demands of school and your internship, without sacrificing sleep or personal time.

Use a task list

Write down what you need to accomplish before you start working for the day, then refer back to your list often as you get things done.

Limit Distractions

Working remotely means dealing with a lot of distractions, especially from social media. If you allow yourself to be sidetracked by your friends’ photos, instant messages, online games, and interesting news articles, it will take you twice as long to finish your tasks.

Check-In with Your Supervisor Regularly

Internships are unique because they are designed to help students learn and grow, as well as network with people in their desired field. Interns should be in continual communication with their employers.

Stay in a Professional Mindset

Certainly, the perk of a remote internship is working in your pajamas, but try not to get too comfortable.  Sometimes that extra flexibility can take you off your A-game.

Take breaks

If you’ve never worked remotely, you may find yourself getting sucked into a project and working for long stretches without a break.

Consider a change of scenery

You may also find that working in the same room (especially your bedroom) all day is making you a bit sluggish, maybe a bit stir crazy.  Try different parts of the house.

Other Resources

Virtual Internship Search Websites:

• https://www.internships.com/paid/virtual
• https://weworkremotely.com/
• https://www.parkerdewey.com/career-launchers

If you are looking for an internship in Franklin County this Summer, the Jim Rabideau Scholarship can provide 1-2 students with a $2,500 stipend. Students applying for the stipend must meet the following criteria:

1. Have Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing.
2. Interested in pursuing a career in public service in city government.
3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher.
4. Attending full-time at Eastern Washington University during the 2024-2025 academic year.
5. Willing to intern in Franklin County, WA

Apply by 5:00pm on Friday, June 13th, 2025

In order to apply for the stipend, the following materials must be submitted. We will conduct an application review and select one recipient, who will be contacted by Friday, June 20, 2025. Students must turn in the following documents in order to be eligible:

1. The signed application form – Click Here.
2. A one-to-two-page essay outlining your career interest and how this internship will assist you in the pursuit of your goal.
3. Include your desired department in your essay, and why you would like to intern there. You can find potential internship opportunities below.

Please Email Application Materials To:
Romeal Watson
Associate Director: Employer Relations
EWU Career Center
PUB 332
rjwatson@ewu.edu

Application Here

Potential Internship Sites

Consider contacting the following organizations in the Tri-Cities area (Franklin County, WA)

City of Pasco.
This would be for any city offices, ie Planning, Police, Finance, Clerk, Fire etc.

Franklin County Commissioners,
This would be for Planning, HR, Public Works, ie engineering, contract administration etc.

County Auditor
For students interested in voting registration, licensing of various functions, accounting and finance.

County Clerk
This is court administration, records, filing court proceedings

County Assessor
This has outside work in appraising properties, surveying, calculating land values for tax calculating

County Treasurer
Work on calculating taxes, collecting taxes, identifying taxpayers, doing foreclosures

County Sheriff
Law enforcement, serving process/jury summons, runs jail.  Students in criminal justice etc. would be appropriate here.

County Prosecuting Attorney
Pre law students would be good here, as well as other counseling types, and criminal justice students.

County Coroner
Pre-med, pre-dental, biology students.