As a result of the pandemic the world is facing, many internships and jobs have been moved to virtual spaces in an effort to encourage social distancing. Don’t worry,it is possible to have a rewarding, meaningful experience while working remotely. If you find yourself in a newly appointed remote situation, consider the tips below to make the most of your experience. This list may also be helpful as you navigate your summer options at companies that are planning to host remote interns.

1. Communicate clearly and often. While communication is a key part of any position, in remote situations you do not have the luxury of being in the same space as everyone else. Dropping by to chat with your co-workers or supervisor whenever you feel like it won't be as easy. Make sure you set up clear lines of communication, or even schedule more frequent check-ins.
   
   

2. Master your technology. While most people have some technological capabilities these days, that does not mean we are experts. You will likely find yourself being challenged to use technology in new ways while working remotely. As you are exposed to new online platforms and programs, take the time to make notes, figure things out, and ask questions. It is okay not to know how something works, and you will benefit from seeking guidance either from manuals or help from co-workers/supervisors.
   
   

3. Consider your work environment. When working remotely, try to find a space where you can comfortably work, but away from where you might conduct leisure activities. This can help break up your day and distinguish between your working hours and your personal time. For those with family or roommates around, consider a discussion on how to share the space and time in your homes to allow everyone to work effectively.
   
   

4. Follow a schedule. Another way to keep on track is to set a daily/weekly schedule for yourself. Especially on days where other items can compete for time and attention, you can set yourself up for success by focusing on work during  times when you are less likely to be interrupted. 

Princeton is hosting a GradFUTURES virtual webinar series! This series is aimed specifically at graduate students and forging deeper connections between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and leaders from a variety of fields. The series is from April 29th to May 1st and it is completely free for graduate students.

Follow this link to register for the any or all of the sessions below. https://gradfutures.princeton.edu/overview

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

12-1:30 PM Data Transparency, the Ph.D. Labor Market and Diverse Career Pathways

Join Matt Sigelman ’94, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies for an in-depth look at the Ph.D. labor market, the professional skills and competencies of high-value across diverse industries, and the potential impact of economic uncertainty related to COVID-19 on the landscape of opportunities. Introduction by Eva Kubu, Associate Dean and Director of Professional Development.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 30

9-9:45 AM  Ali Nouri *06, President of FAS

Join Ali Nouri *06, President of the Federation of American Scientists for a conversation about his career journey, and the role of graduate education, public policy, and PhD-trained scientists in our current moment.

12-1:30 Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Graduate Education

Join Rodney Priestley, the inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation for an overview of his vision for ways graduate students across all divisions can transform their research into solutions for society via immersion in Princeton's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem as part of their professional development. Introduction by Sarah-Jane Leslie, Dean of the Graduate School.  From 1:00-1:30 pm, Dr. Priestley will be joined by Udit Batra *96, CEO of Millipore Sigma, for a fireside chat. They will discuss Dr. Batra's leadership of MilliporeSigma in finding a treatment for COVID-19, as well as his career journey, and advice for current graduate students.

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FRIDAY, MAY 1

12-1:15 PM Hi-Phi Nation Podcast with Barry Lam *06

Join Philosophy Ph.D. alumnus Barry Lam *06 for his Hi-Phi Nation podcast. Introduction by Sarah-Jane Leslie, Dean of the Graduate School.

1:30-2:30 PM Podcasting 101 Panel

Podcasting Panel (moderated by Wright Seneres, the host of Princeton Spark.) Join us for a discussion of how graduate students can translate research, commentary, and community-sourced narratives into podcast episodes.

Panelist include:

Barry Lam *06, host of Hi Phi Nation

Margaret Koval, Director of Special Projects, Office of Communications-- SheRoars, WeRoar

Tiger Gao '21, Host of Policy Punchline podcast

4- 5 PM Closing Keynote: Fireside Chat with Ann Kirschner *78 and Sree Sreenivasan

Introduction by Sarah-Jane Leslie, Dean of the Graduate School.  Two leading thinkers on the future of academia share their thoughts on what we’ve learned and where we go from here. Ann Kirschner is University Professor at The City University of New York, and Faculty Fellow at the Futures Initiative. She is a Princeton Trustee and co-chairs Dean’s Leadership Council for the Graduate School at Princeton University.  Sree Sreenivasan is Marshall R. Loeb Visiting Professor of Digital Innovation, Stony Brook School of Journalism and former Chief Digital Officer of New York City; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Columbia University.

With all the craziness going on with COVID-19, job searching is a challenge. For now, everything has been moved online, and it’s harder to make a real human connection with other people who may want to hire you when there’s a screen between the two of you. Today, I wanted to talk about the virtual interview and how to perform the best you can. For further tips, check out the Career Center website.

1. Practice your interviewing skills using Big Interview, our mock interviewing platform. You can get advice on how to answer tricky questions and how interviews are conducted, and you can record yourself answering sample questions and have others rate your answers! If you would like the Career Center to review your interview answers, send a note to interviews@umbc.edu and a Career Peer will watch your video and rate it.

2. Test your equipment! Make sure your camera and microphone are working before the interview, that way if you need to make a new purchase, you have time to do so.

3. Dress professionally! Wear appropriate business attire for your virtual interview. Not only can your interviewers see your professionalism based on what you are wearing, but it’ll give you a little confidence boost too.

4. Pick a neutral background! Make sure the background in view of your camera is neutral and not distracting.

5. Do your research! As with all interviews, be prepared for the questions they might ask, as well as have the knowledge about the company that you need. It is okay to have notes for your interview, just don’t make a script. Organize your notes according to your skill sets with corresponding anecdotes that exemplify those skills.

6. Sit up straight and smile! You can’t shake the interviewer’s hand, so you need to show enthusiasm and attentiveness through your body language. Sit up straight, but be sure to appear relaxed enough that you don’t seem nervous or tense. Smile at your interviewers when greeting them and at appropriate times throughout the interview.

7. Finally, look in the direction of the camera, rather than to the side, above it, or below at the interviewers face. That is the best way to simulate eye contact when you can’t be in the room with someone yourself.

These are unprecedented and challenging times we live in, but that doesn’t mean that life should be put on hold. You can still job search and interview during COVID-19, it’ll just all be online! The Career Center is here to help you with every step of the process.

Makayla Gleeson, UMBC Graduate Student and Career Center Career Peer