Founders of startups may often find themselves overwhelmed by the countless tasks required during the early stages. However, resource constraints can make things even more challenging, often leaving a small team to shoulder the workload and wear multiple hats.
Schooly, an emerging online tutoring platform, found one way to successfully navigate these challenges by embracing remote internships to expand its capabilities and team capacity.
Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Mojdeh Deris, the founder of Schooly. Join us as we explore how Schooly overcame initial operational hurdles and set up an internship program that continues to nurture the next generation of workforce talent.
Tell us about yourself and what Schooly does.
My name is Mojdeh Deris. I am the founder of Schooly, an online tutoring platform led by qualified science and maths teachers for students aged 11 to 18. I launched Schooly last year because I noticed that during COVID-19, education plummeted due to a lack of teachers and the pressure on the school environment. The structure changed, and there was a growing demand for online teaching.
Are you remote-first, or are you office-based?
The business is online, and my team is all over London and some in different countries. We use Slack as our main communication channel, which is a great tool that I discovered during my founder journey. I have also introduced it to all of my interns and the people I mentor.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you came across Virtual Internships and came to partner with us?
A friend of mine who has been using Virtual Internships with his own business for many years recommended it to me. After eight months of trying to run everything and wearing all the hats in my business while teaching 24 hours a week online, I was struggling and exhausting all my resources. I needed extra help. As an educator, I loved the philosophy of supporting students and giving them opportunities, so I signed up, had my intern interview, and the rest is history.
Tell us a little bit about your experience working with interns.
My very first intern was from Virtual Internships, and he was fantastic. He is still helping me today and is still on board, despite being in another country. That speaks volumes. We built a great rapport, and he found the training beneficial and enjoyable. He worked on front-end and back-end development, involved our new interns, and acted as a co-manager with me.
Did you have a specific project in mind, or were there specific tasks you were looking to get done? What were your aims with partnering?
I created a web development portfolio for a web developer, and we kept altering it over time. My intern taught me about the differences between front-end and back-end development, so it was a learning journey for both of us. As time progressed, I learned about UX/UI design and created an application for that. I am always looking for more talent to work on the projects because more ideas and diversity make a huge impact.
What was your approach to hosting remote internships?
Initially, I reached out to my consultants at Virtual Internships and said I needed help with job descriptions. My mentor from Virtual Internships guided me and gave me documents to look at. The platform itself had dropdown options that were super helpful. These options facilitated the creation of job descriptions, and I used them to assign tasks to UI/UX designers.
When we talk to companies about hosting virtual interns at zero fees, they often ask about the catch. There is no catch, but there is the expectation to mentor and lead. How did you find that side of things?
As a teacher, mentoring came naturally to me. We had meetings almost every day, which was special because my intern was in India, and our time difference was three to four hours. Despite the late hours for him, he was passionate and dedicated. Having done everything by myself for so long, I was humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated person.
What role do you think companies like yours or startups play in enhancing outcomes for people early in their careers?
Being an early-stage company, we have the flexibility to be molded and to give more control to our team members. I don't see them as interns but as integral parts of the team—my web developer, UX/UI designer, and digital marketer. We operate in a fast-paced environment, so interns may take on more responsibilities outside their job description. It's a great opportunity to gain exposure to different aspects of a business.
Would you recommend Virtual Internships to other founders like you?
Absolutely. I recommended it to my very first intern, who then got a job in his field. He asked me many questions about how it works and for advice on the onboarding process. I shared all the tips and what I learned along the way. So, yes, I would recommend it.
Resource constraints and time management issues often hinder growing businesses from expanding their teams and finding the right talent efficiently.
At Virtual Internships, we offer a solution by providing seamless integration and robust support systems. Our program enables startups like Schooly to effectively host interns, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the team without adding administrative burdens. This support offers companies of all sizes the flexibility to nurture talent, enhance capabilities, and foster a diverse, innovative work environment.
By leveraging Virtual Internships, startups can not only address immediate resource gaps but also lay the foundation for long-term growth and success.
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