DS's vac scheme is now online

[TakeTwoTwice]

DS was delighted to get a vac scheme this summer with his top choice firm and is distraught that it's going to be online.
He was given the option to not attend with the suggestion that it could be deferred but felt that he'd look inflexible.
Rightly or wrongly he thinks that the firm won't get to know him via Skype.
Has he scuppered his chances of a TC?

No. Everybody else is in the same situation. It’s worth practising interacting on Skype if he hasn’t done it much before - so set up some Skype video calls with groups of friends/family, and then he should just make the best of it.

someone will still get the TC, he isn't competing with other hopefuls who are able to be there in person. it won't be ideal but there won't be anything he misses out on that other participants have access to. he will need to put in the effort to always be prompt, prepared and perky at the zoom meetings and take every opportunity to impress.

Thanks for the replies.
Practicing Skype and trying to engage as much as possible are good tips.

He will still have plenty of opportunities to impress and as others say, he's in the same boat as everyone else.

It's probably easier to make a good impression this way as he can concentrate on turning in great work without having to contend with hangovers from all the socialising! (Obviously sucks for him that he doesn't get to do the socialising too, though).

Also, doing things this way will be new to the firm and to everyone else involved, so if he spots a better way to do things or any opportunities for online interaction that they haven't thought of, he shouldn't be afraid to make suggestions.

I think the key with this will be to politely reach out by email to the people whose departments he's interested in rather than waiting for them to reach out to him. He'd obviously get plenty of opportunity for networking and for making an impression on people during a normal vac scheme, but participants will likely need to take a bit more initiative this time around to make connections with the right people.