u/ArtAway4963

Anyone else struggle with the social aspect of remote internships/jobs as an introvert?

I’m 19F and starting my first internship next week, and even though I’m excited, I’m honestly nervous about the social side of it. I’m a massive introvert and I tend to get anxious in professional settings, especially when I don’t know anyone yet.

The internship is fully remote, which somehow feels both better and worse at the same time 😭 Like yes, I get to stay home, but I also feel like it’s harder to naturally connect with people online.

I’ve seen so much advice saying interns should schedule coffee chats, constantly reach out to coworkers, send updates to managers, etc., but all of that sounds so intimidating to me. I’d honestly feel like I’m bothering people or forcing interactions. I’m also not the type of person who’s naturally good at conversations or networking.

For other introverts:
- How did you handle the social side of remote work/internships?
- Did you ever feel pressure to be super outgoing?
- What helped you make a good impression without feeling fake or exhausted?

Would genuinely appreciate hearing from people who relate because I feel like everyone online makes networking sound effortless lol

Hey everyone! I’m 19F and about to start my first internship next week, and I’m honestly really nervous about the social aspect of it.

I’m a pretty big introvert and I tend to get anxious in social/professional settings, but I still want to make a good impression on my manager and team members. The internship is fully remote, which makes me even more worried because I feel like it’s harder to naturally connect with people online compared to in person.

I’ve been trying to look up advice for remote internships on platforms like TikTok, and a lot of people suggest things like scheduling virtual coffee chats, constantly reaching out to coworkers, or sending daily/weekly update emails to managers. I know those are probably good ideas, but if I’m being honest, they feel really intimidating to me. Part of me worries I’d just be bothering people or taking time out of their day, especially as an intern.

I also don’t think I’m naturally great at conversations, so networking feels kind of overwhelming.

For people who are introverted or have dealt with social anxiety in remote internships/jobs:
- How did you build connections without feeling awkward or forced?
- What actually helped you make a good impression?
- Are there smaller/more natural ways to communicate and be liked by your team without feeling overly pushy?

I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences :)

My mom is really talkative and a huge extrovert, and because of that I feel like she goes over the line. For context, I’m F19.

One thing we heavily disagreed on was during my senior year of high school when I committed to college, whether I should commute or live on campus. My mom wanted me to commute, and I wanted to live on campus. This turned into a serious family disagreement, and she went ahead and told all of her coworkers and friends all about it. She works at a bank, so whenever I had to go in for personal transactions, her coworkers would straight up ask me about it, and I hated it. I felt so uncomfortable. She would also tell me what she said to them, and she would paint me as immature and even mock me sometimes.

Another thing she loves to talk about is my insecurity about my height. I’m 5’1, and she always tells people that I look 10 and act like a little fucking girl. In reality, she’s the one who’s been triggering my insecurities and making me feel stuck in a fucking bubble.

The worst part is that I have an older brother, and she never talks shit about him, never. He’s 6’3, so whenever he goes to the bank or family gatherings, everyone is mesmerized by him and wants to talk to him, while everyone fucking ignores me.

I’ve tried talking to her and pleading not to talk about me. At first, it seems like she agrees, but then before you know it she comes home and starts telling my dad all the shit talking she did that day. Please tell me if my anger is normal, and offer any advice you can. And I swear to God, if someone tells me to “just move out,” IT’S NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS. GET A REALITY CHECK.