Summer internships are one of the best ways to gain real-world experience, build your resume, and figure out what kind of career might be right for you. But whether you're commuting to an office or dialing in from your bedroom, what you get out of your internship depends largely on what you put into it.

Here’s how to make the most of your summer internship—even if it’s remote.

1. Set Goals From Day One

Before your internship even begins, ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this?

• Do you want to build a new skill?
• Understand a particular industry better?
• Get a job offer at the end?

Write down 2–3 personal goals. Then, once you're onboarded, share your goals with your manager. This shows initiative and helps your supervisor support your growth.

Pro tip: Ask for a meeting in the first week to discuss expectations, responsibilities, and how success will be measured.

2. Be Proactive, Not Passive

Especially in remote internships, it’s easy to go quiet and get lost in the shuffle. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do—actively ask for tasks, updates, or feedback.

• Volunteer for new projects when your plate is light.
• Reach out to colleagues to learn about their roles.
• If you finish a task early, say so—and ask for the next challenge.

Remember: Visibility matters more when you're behind a screen.

3. Build Relationships (Yes, Even Through Zoom)

Networking isn’t just for job fairs—your fellow interns, team members, and managers can become long-term professional contacts.

• Schedule short coffee chats with people across departments.
• Join virtual team activities, Slack channels, or community events.
• Send a quick thank-you after a good meeting or helpful conversation.

Not sure what to say in a coffee chat? Ask about their career journey, biggest lessons learned, and what they enjoy most about the company.

4. Document What You Learn

Treat your internship like a mini case study.

• Keep a weekly journal of what you’re working on, what you learned, and any wins or challenges.
• Save key deliverables or screenshots (if permitted) to build your portfolio.
• Jot down skills or tools you used—these will come in handy when updating your resume or prepping for interviews.

5. Ask for Feedback (and Actually Use It)

Don’t wait for your exit interview—ask for feedback regularly.

• At the midpoint, request a check-in to ask what you’re doing well and where you could improve.
• Be open to constructive criticism and show that you’re acting on it.

Employers remember interns who take ownership of their growth.

6. Leave With a Bang (and a Recommendation)

As your internship ends, don’t quietly disappear.

• Send a thank-you message to your team and manager.
• Ask if they’d be willing to write you a recommendation or endorse you on LinkedIn.
• If you're interested in staying with the company, express your interest—and ask what steps you should take to get there.

Make It Count

Whether you're working from a cubicle, café, or kitchen table, your summer internship is more than just a line on your resume—it’s a test drive for your future. It’s a chance to learn how to navigate the professional world, understand your own strengths, and get clarity on the kind of work that energizes (or drains) you. You’ll begin to see what good leadership looks like, how teams collaborate, and how businesses solve real problems. These insights are valuable regardless of whether you end up staying in the same industry or pivoting later on.

And if your internship is remote, the skills you’ll build—like self-motivation, digital communication, and managing your own time—are the same ones that remote-first companies and global teams increasingly look for. You’ll not only walk away with experience, but with stories to tell in interviews, mentors to stay in touch with, and a clearer sense of what matters to you in a workplace.

So be curious. Be bold. Don’t just show up. Stand out. Because even a short internship, when approached with intention, can shape your career in ways that last far beyond the summer.