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Virtual Internships Offer Real Work Without the Cubicles

by Caleb Johnson on October 23, 2009 at 08:26 AM

During tough economic times, businesses want to tighten belts, and prospective employees clamor for any position, even if it's unpaid. Combine that with the ease of communication afforded by the Internet, and a whole new niche in the job market emerges: virtual internships.

According to CNN, businesses, particularly small ones, are tapping into new pools of employees around the world by hiring interns to work remotely via e-mail, instant messaging, and even services like Skype. At New York-based Urban Interns, which matches people with internships, 24-percent of the available positions are virtual internships. "Virtual interns allow business owners to connect with a talent pool that's not in their area," says co-founder Cari Sommer. Another London-based site called Enternships typically has around 30 virtual positions available at any time.

The trend is positive for interns, too. Working remotely via the Web offers more flexibility than a position that requires a physical presence. With such an opportunity, you could gain valuable work experience while finishing up your last semester of college, or even while working a full-time job. And that's not to mention the fact that sitting on the couch in your pajamas sure beats wearing a three-piece suit in a cubicle. You can trust us on that one. [From: CNN]

Tags: college, email, instant messaging, InstantMessaging, internet, internship, jobs, skype, top, trends, web, work

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