Internships can be an intimidating experience. For many college students, it’s their first exposure to the corporate world, and they must learn both the ins and outs of a new job as well as get a crash course in workplace etiquette. For interns during the summer of COVID-19, the challenges have been, perhaps, even greater, since they have to do many of the of the same things required of a traditional internship, but without the benefit of a helpful mentor just a few cubicles away.

ASI intern Eloisa Gutierrez

Still, thanks to advances in videoconferencing and other technology, it’s not an impossible task, and a remote internship can have benefits for both the interns and the company that hired them. In this episode of Promo Insiders, Theresa Hegel, executive editor of digital content, talks with Eloisa Gutierrez about her experiences working in ASI’s editorial department so far.

Podcast Chapters
1:01: The challenges and benefits of a remote internship
4:02: The most interesting thing Eloisa has learned about the industry
6:40: Is this the new normal for internships?
9:15: Why internships are vital for promo companies

Gutierrez, a senior at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, has been working as an intern from her home in the San Francisco Bay area since early June. She’s reported on industry trends – like tents for outdoor dining and comfort footwear – and has had a hand in putting together upcoming issues of Counselor and Advantages. She participates in weekly videoconferences, online learning and virtual happy hours with the team at ASI.

I graduated yesterday - not from college, but from the @DJNF business reporting program! Pomp, circumstance, and all. Thanks @PaulGlader for a great week and for making me a part of this program! @asicentral here I come#DJNFBiz20 #graduate #journalism #letsdothis pic.twitter.com/J0AKCBir2r

— Eloisa Gutierrez (@eloisa_gutz) June 8, 2020

Though there are challenges involved with a remote internship, Gutierrez has adapted quickly and has learned a lot about the promotional products industry in a short time. Her biggest surprise? The genuine care suppliers and distributors have for their employees and clients and how they’ve had each other’s backs during the COVID-19 crisis. As promo pros often say: The industry is about so much more than just logos on stuff.

Remote internships have many benefits. They allow companies to cast a wider net, finding candidates from across the country, rather than just locally. Plus, the students themselves can perhaps save money by living at home and not having to find temporary housing or commute to a city center.

Internships are a great way to expose young people to the industry – a fact that many already know: More than 100 suppliers and distributors signed up for ASI’s internship program this year, despite the restrictions and challenges the coronavirus pandemic has placed on the industry.