I started my dream internship just as the coronavirus shut down the country. Here are 8 tips I learned about how new interns can make it through the crisis in one piece.

The author, working from home during the pandemic.Kate Macchi/Business Insider

• Starting a new internship during the novel coronavirus pandemic can be overwhelming.
• I've been working since mid-March as an intern at Insider — and I've been doing it remotely.
• This has helped me pick up several essential lessons for succeeding in a virtual office, including the importance of thorough note-taking and why video check-ins with my managers and other interns are so crucial.
• Here are 8 tips I have for any interns about to embark on a similar journey.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When the novel coronavirus was deemed a pandemic in mid-March, I was halfway to New York from South Carolina to start an internship on the social media team at Insider Inc., the parent company of Business Insider. Suddenly, the concern I felt over first-day jitters and settling into my new team was superseded by questions like "How long will this crisis last?" and "Will I ever make it into the office?"

My first weeks on the job as a fellow (the title used by paid interns on a six-month program at Insider) consisted of navigating the onboarding process in a completely remote setting and doing meet-and-greets with colleagues I would possibly never get the chance to know in person. However, despite the unprecedented nature in which I started my internship, I quickly found my footing and was able to turn an otherwise jarring situation into a learning opportunity.

In the two months I've been working remotely, I've become what I consider to be an expert in operating within a work-from-home environment.

Here are eight tips I have for any other interns about to embark on a similar journey, and how they can use them to succeed at their new roles while navigating the virtual office.