As part of the Virtual Internships Program, all interns are invited to two mandatory coaching calls, one mid-way through the internship and one just before the end. These sessions are designed to better prepare interns for the working world by giving them the tools and knowledge to map out their career path, as well as navigate any hurdles they face during their internship.
For emerging professionals, gaining experience in their field is vital. However, experience alone will not enhance employability, just like a university degree alone is insufficient. The Virtual Internships program is designed to provide learners with holistic career preparedness through several elements, and in this article, we’re diving into what interns get from their coaching calls with one of our experienced coaches.
With seven years of experience in career and executive coaching, Mojisola Olurotimi has guided over 2,000 professionals worldwide in crafting successful careers. She specializes in personal and career development strategies and is dedicated to helping individuals build thriving and fulfilling professional paths.
We sat down with Mojisola to gain further insight into the coach-intern relationship and the value these calls bring.
So, tell us, what is one key way you support interns in developing their career readiness skills during the coaching calls?
Most importantly, I help interns reflect on how their internship experience impacts their career readiness skills, particularly around the NACE competencies. I emphasize the advantage of developing these skills to stand out to future employers.
Can you share a particular time when you helped an intern overcome a challenge they had during their internship?
I had one learner from the University of Salford who initially struggled to adjust to the program in the first few weeks due to a "work culture" shock. We discussed this during her first call (the mid-point coaching call). We explored how she could make the most of the remaining weeks by proactively engaging her supervisor to align expectations and add value to the company.
During our second call, she shared that she had a better understanding of her host company and an improved rapport with her supervisor. She finished the program feeling more confident and ready to take on new opportunities.
What are some common challenges interns face in the professional world, and how do you help them navigate these?
The most challenging issue is confidence. Some interns start the program feeling inadequate or experienced enough to add value to the host company. I help them overcome this limiting mindset by making them aware of their strengths, which I call "superpowers," and showing how these strengths are transferable skills that will always give them leverage to add value to their host companies.
From your perspective as a coach, how do you see the future of work-based learning evolving?
I think work-based learning is the future of skill-based employment rather than degree-based recruiting. I see work-based learning as a nurturing environment where young people can flourish professionally through internships, giving them an early start and a competitive advantage in the job market.
Mentoring and coaching are crucial in helping interns navigate their initial foray into the professional world or transition into new industries. At Virtual Internships, we understand that real-world experience is just one part of the equation. That's why our interns benefit from comprehensive support, including guidance from mentors and industry leaders. This support helps them gain clarity, overcome challenges, and maximize their experience.
By integrating our scalable and customizable program into your academic offerings, you can provide students with valuable work experience and the mentorship necessary to excel in their careers.
Schedule a meeting with us to learn how our experiential learning program can enhance your curriculum and support career development for your learners.