This is one situation in which it’s better to be proactive.  Rather than waiting to hear from your employer, reach out to the organization where you accepted an internship and ask them about their plans for your position.  You can say something like:

 
Hi Director Fury,

I am reaching out because I am scheduled to begin working with you this summer as an Espionage Intern.  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to make sure you were still planning on moving forward with this internship, either in person or remotely.  I am so excited for the experience, and I really hope we’ll be able to make it work.
 
I know your position must be very demanding right now, and I appreciate you taking the time to confirm my plans for the summer.  If you don’t have a chance to follow up with me by [date rough 3 days-1 week in the future], I will give you a call.
 
Stay safe, and please let me know if there is anything you need from me.

Thanks,

Natasha Romanov
 

Additional Resources for How to Handle Newly Uncertain Internships:

• What to Do if the Coronavirus Cancels Your Summer Internship
• Class of COVID-19 Struggling to Figure Out What’s Next
• What to Do about Internships in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

That’s great!  While the exact shape of the internship will differ, working a previously in-person internship remotely allows you to still gain relevant experience in your desired field while also learning what it’s like to collaborate with a team from a distance.  To set yourself up for success, make sure you speak with your supervisor to get a sense of what kind of communication they’ll be looking for from you.
 

Additional Resources to Help Make Your Remote Work a Success

• 330 Remote Work Tools (article listing online resources to help you manage your time, stay on top of tasks, and communicate clearly)
• 6 Must-Have Skills for Remote Job Seekers (article detailing important skills for remote work)

First thing’s first: this is really hard news to get.  Allow yourself to be sad about it.
 

Importantly: don’t ghost your employer!  Let them know that, even though you’re disappointed you won’t be working with them right now, you understand their decision.  And take this chance to ask them whether it’s possible to honor your internship in a future summer or semester instead.  The answer may be no, but it’s perfectly acceptable to ask.
 

While it would be great to find a paid opportunity in your desired field to replace the internship that was canceled – and you should definitely continue looking for those types of positions – the reality is that you may need to expand your search to include other types of opportunities, as well. 

• 7 Tips to Transform a Cancelled Summer Internship due to Coronavirus into a Career-Building Opportunity (article sharing strategies for how to continue to develop your skills if your internships has been canceled) 

If it’s imperative that you earn some income during this time, jobs classified as essential and jobs in industries that already have robust telework systems in place are good places to start (such as health care, software, shipping and delivery, e-commerce, online education and training, grocery retail, and customer service).  If you have skills or training that transfer to these industries, you may be in a good position to find work.  And remember – even if the job you find isn’t in your immediate field, you will still be learning and gaining skills that can be useful across the board. 

• ThinkKC (employers hiring for temporary & permanent positions in the KC Metro Area) 
• LinkedIn Who's Hiring 
• FlexJobs Company Guide (directory of companies hiring for remote jobs)
• TakeLessons and OutSchool (online teaching platforms that allows users to offer lessons directly to students)

Companies also continue to use major job search sites to list internship opportunities, both paid and unpaid, on a daily basis.  Depending on what you’re looking for, you can search by internship, part-time employment, or other criteria.

• HireJayhawks (job database for KU students and graduates) 
• Idealist.org (job database focused on public service opportunities) 
• VirtualInternships (for-fee website that connects students to remote internships worldwide) 

Micro-internships are another way to earn income remotely.  Rather than a single summer-long internship, consider looking for multiple project-based micro-internships, which will allow you to continue building your skills and connect you to multiple companies/organizations.

• Parker Dewey (micro-internships for recent graduates and current students) 
• UpWork (site for freelancers)

If you’re in a position to spend your time volunteering, there are numerous opportunities available across a variety of fields. 

• If you’d like to gain more content-area knowledge, try contacting professors at KU who work in the area that interests you to see if they have any need for volunteer research assistants to help them with new or ongoing projects. 
• If you’d like to support a cause that you care about, try reaching out directly to a nonprofit or other organization that does work in that space and offer your time; make sure you let them know about any specialized skills you have that might make you a good fit for certain kinds of positions.  One great resource is Nonprofit Connect, a website that specializes in nonprofits in the greater Kansas City area.
   

Additional Ways to Find Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer Match (Website with both remote & local opportunities)
• The University Network Volunteer Page (Website with both remote & local opportunities) 
• How to Get Involved with Virtual Volunteering (Idealist article with numerous suggestions of organizations and types of volunteer opportunities)
• How to Become a Virtual Volunteer:  Describes virtual volunteering opportunities in public service.  From becoming a text or phone hotline volunteer to providing online tutoring or translation services, there are so many ways we can all still make a difference. 

And don’t forget that you can volunteer outside an organization, too!  If you’ve got a skill, the chances are high that you can use it to do some good right now.  (Delivering groceries, creating masks for healthcare workers and individuals, or walking dogs for at-risk neighbors are all ways to make a difference during this tough time.)

Taking the time to build relationships with your future colleagues is a crucial part of the job search process.  Networking helps you get to know people with similar career interests and grows your knowledge of the field by letting you learn what it’s like from someone actually doing the work. 

• UCC Job Search Presentation (video with tips about how to conduct networking as part of the job search process)
• KU Mentoring (KU Alumni Association's platform to connect with KU alumni mentors, all of whom have already agreed to be contacted)
• LinkedIn Alumni Tool (research KU alumni by locations, majors, keywords, skills, or type of work; connect with KU alumni)

77% of employers say they either currently research or will soon start researching job candidates via social media.  If you haven’t yet created a LinkedIn profile (or if yours is significantly out of date), now is the time to update your online presence so that you’ll have control of what employers see in the future. 

• UCC LinkedIn and Personal Branding Presentation (video with tips about how to create an online presence that reflects your professional interests) 
• LinkedIn for Students

Depending on your field, it may also make sense to create an online portfolio or personal website, or to create a Twitter account that you use to follow major players in your area of interest and to engage with them. 

• How to Make a Portfolio (article describing what you should include in a digital portfolio and why it’s important)
• 9 Free Portfolio Websites for Creating an Impressive Digital Portfolio (article with links to sites that allow you to create online portfolios for your work)
• 7 Tips on How to Use Twitter Effectively for Your Career (article providing examples of how and why Twitter can be a career-builder)

There are thousands of free online courses that will allow you to build skills you can use in all kinds of professional settings.  Whether you want to pick up a new language, learn basic coding, take a public speaking course, or practice an instrument, the chances are good that you can find an online forum that will allow you to develop your skillset remotely.

• LinkedIn Learning Professional Development Courses
• FutureLearn (website offering numerous free courses taught by experts across a wide range of subjects)
• Best Online Certifications and Courses for 2020 (list of 20 free online resources for earning certifications or taking courses in a variety of fields) 
• Free Language Learning Websites (list of 49 online resources for language learners at various levels)