Where to Find Internships: A Practical Guide for Students

Looking for internships can feel like a job in itself, especially when you don’t know where to begin. Luckily, there are platforms that make the search easier and way faster. Here are the five best internship websites: 

1. LinkedIn
2. Handshake
3. USAJobs.gov
4. WayUp
5. Idealist.org

In this article, we’ll break down where to find internships and share 20 websites that will help you along the way. 

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20 Best Websites to Find Internships

An internship search is a starting point of a long and sometimes overwhelming journey. To help you with this process, we’ve put together a list of the 20 most helpful platforms to find internships that match your interests and career goals.

1. Indeed: Your Go-To for Diverse Internship Opportunities

If you're not sure where to start looking, start here. Indeed might seem like it’s just for full-time jobs, but it’s actually packed with internships too. You’ll find listings in everything from marketing and healthcare to federal government internships with places like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Social Security Administration. It’s all about how you search. You can save listings you like, set up job alerts, and scroll through company reviews when you’re not sure what you’re walking into.

• Link to Website: Indeed
• Best For: Students figuring things out. Whether you know what you want or are just testing the waters, there’s something here for you.
• Why It’s Great: The filters make it easy to narrow things down by location, industry, or even keywords like 'entry level' or 'remote.'

2. Extern.com: Real-World Experience, One Day at a Time

Extern is built for students who want to explore careers without jumping into long-term commitments. The platform connects you with one-day externship experiences across industries like tech, finance, healthcare, and law. You get to sit in on real work, meet professionals, and see what a day in the field actually looks like. It’s a great way to test a path before fully committing.

• Link to Website: Extern.com
• Best For: High school and college students seeking short-term experiences to explore different fields.
• Why It’s Great: Extern lets you gain real world experience quickly. It’s flexible, easy to access, and designed to help students build clarity around their next steps without pressure.

3. Y Combinator Jobs: Interning at the Startups Everyone Watches

If you're serious about startups, this is where to start. Y Combinator’s job platform, Work at a Startup, connects you with companies backed by one of the most respected startup accelerators out there. You create one profile and use it to apply to internships at hundreds of YC-backed companies. These range from early-stage teams building their first product to growth-stage companies hiring full-time teams.

Internships are listed directly by the companies, often with founder contact and salary ranges included. Most roles are on-site, but you’ll also find remote options if that fits your schedule better.

• Link to Website: Y-Combinator
• Best For: Students who want hands-on startup experience, especially in tech-related fields like software engineering, product design, and marketing.
• Why It’s Great: You’re applying to real companies with real funding while reaching out to founders directly.

4. LinkedIn: Where Internships Meet Strategy

LinkedIn is where opportunity and networking meet. You’ll find listings in nearly every field, from finance and engineering to communications and government. But what sets it apart is access. You can see who works at a company, connect with them directly, and sometimes even get noticed without applying first. It’s part job board, part professional network, and it’s one of the smartest places to start your internship search.

• Link to Website: LinkedIn
• Best For: Students looking for internships in competitive fields like tech, media, finance, and marketing, especially those interested in combining job listings with professional networking.
• Why It’s Great: LinkedIn gives you access to thousands of active internships, plus direct visibility to recruiters. Many companies even allow applications through LinkedIn, which cuts down the process. With over 950 million users and special filters for students, it’s a top choice for internship seekers. 

5. Handshake: Your Campus-Connected Internship Search Engine

If your school has ever emailed you about internships, chances are they were using Handshake. This platform connects directly with over 1,500 college and university career centers, which means the internships you see are often picked with your major and experience level in mind.

Handshake is easy to use. You create a profile, select your interests, and start exploring roles. For those who want something more tailored than a general job board, this is one of the best internship sites out there.

• Link to Website: Handshake
• Best For: Students who want access to internship listings chosen by their school’s career center, especially those just starting their internship search.
• Why It’s Great: Handshake matches you with employers actively looking for students like you, based on your school, field, and interests. The result is a faster, less stressful search.

6. Glassdoor: More Than Just Company Reviews

Glassdoor is one of the few places where instead of just seeing an internship list, you get to know what it’s actually like to work there. Alongside every role, you can browse employee reviews, read about the interview process, and check salary estimates. You hear from someone who’s already been inside before you apply. You can filter jobs by location, company, and field, then explore each place and what it’s like to work there. 

• Link to Website: Glassdoor
• Best For: Students who care about company culture and want to understand the work environment before applying, especially in fields like business, technology, media, and more. 
• Why It’s Great: With reviews and salary info, there’s no guessing. Glassdoor helps you find internships that fit your goals and values. 

7. NoExperienceJobs.io: Starting Point for Entry-Level Roles

A so-called entry-level job that somehow still requires two years of experience - we’ve all seen those at least once. NoExperienceJobs.io skips that nonsense. This site is built specifically for people just starting out, whether you’re a student, a recent grad, or switching directions. You’ll find listings across all kinds of industries: IT and marketing, to customer support and data analysis.

• Link to Website: NoExperienceJobs.io
• Best For: Students and recent grads looking for internships or entry-level jobs without needing past experience just to apply.
• Why It’s Great: Every listing is beginner-friendly. You won’t waste time scrolling through jobs labeled ‘entry-level’ that expect a packed résumé. It’s practical and honest. 

8. TrueUp: Home to Tech Internship

TrueUp is a place to find internships if you’re looking to break into tech. The site focuses entirely on roles in tech, like software, data, product, and design, and it pulls listings from both startups and big-name companies. You won’t waste time with random jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with your interests. One of the best features is that you can filter internships by company size, location, and role type. Plus, they include layoff data and growth insights for companies. 

• Link to Website: TrueUp
• Best For: Students serious about an internship in tech who want access to both startup and big company options.
• Why It’s Great: It’s designed for tech careers only. You save time and get better-targeted results. 

9. H1BVisaJobs.com: Internships for International Students

If you’re an international student in the U.S., you already know how hard it can be to find internships or entry-level jobs that offer visa sponsorship. H1BVisaJobs.com makes that search way easier. It focuses only on companies open to sponsoring H-1B visas, so you don’t waste time applying where your application won’t go anywhere. You’ll find listings in tech, healthcare, finance, engineering, and more. Each job is marked with whether it offers sponsorship.

• Link to Website: H1BVisaJobs.com
• Best For: International students and recent grads looking for internships or entry-level roles in the U.S. that offer real visa sponsorship options.
• Why It’s Great: Every job listed is upfront about sponsorship.

10. USAJOBS: A Starting Point of Public Service

USAJOBS is the best place to look if you’re thinking about getting into public service. It’s the official job site for the federal government, where internships and entry-level roles are offered at agencies like NASA, the EPA, and the Department of Education. You’ll find positions in engineering, public health, communications, policy, and more. 

The search filters take some time to learn, though, but once you get the hang of it, you can narrow your search by location, agency, or job type. Don’t forget to check out the Pathways Program, too. Its goal is to help students and recent grads get a foot in the door.

• Link to Website: USAJobs.gov
• Best For: Students and recent graduates looking for paid government internships with agencies that offer long-term career potential.
• Why It’s Great: Every job here is legit, well-documented, and part of a larger system.

11. Idealist.org: Nonprofit & Social Impact Internships

If you're the kind of student who wants to spend your time doing work that feels meaningful, Idealist.org is one of the best places to start. This site offers mission-driven internships. It could be helping with climate action, supporting education projects, or getting involved with international nonprofits. 

You can search by issue, job type, and location. Here, you can find small and large nonprofits, community organizations, and something bigger, like a UN-backed initiative. 

• Link to Website: Idealist.org
• Best For: Students who want to gain experience in public policy, environmental science, or social work.
• Why It’s Great: Every listing is values-driven and teaches you how to contribute. 

12. SimplyHired: Simplified Internship Search

Simplified gets to the point right away. It gives you a big, searchable collection of internships from all over the internet. You’ll find options in tech, business, healthcare, media, and more. Filters are simple and helpful here. You can search by pay, location, or job type. 

• Link to Website: SimplyHired
• Best For: Students who want a fast way to see what’s out there, straight to the point. 
• Why It’s Great: It pulls from tons of sources and cuts the noise so that it’s easier to spot what you’re actually looking for.

13. Generation Hired: A Virtual Campus Career Platform 

Generation Hired is like someone took your college career center and gave it a major upgrade. It’s built especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll find internship opportunities, resume guides, networking events, and career advice on this single platform. 

• Link to Website: Generation Hired
• Best For: Students and grads who want internship support and inclusive opportunities
• Why It’s Great: It helps you prep your resume, apply, connect, and offers career coaching. 

14. CoolWorks: Internships With a View

If sitting at a desk all summer sounds like a nightmare, CoolWorks might be exactly what you’re looking for. This site offers you a chance to work in wild, beautiful places like national parks, outdoor camps, and remote lodges. Imagine working in Yellowstone, Denali, or a beach town in Maine during the summer, getting the work done and waking up to mountain views. Most of the jobs here are in hospitality, guest services, trail work, and more. Plus, housing is often included. 

• Link to Website: CoolWorks
• Best For: Students who want an internship that gets them outside, working in national parks, resorts, or conservation spaces.
• Why It’s Great: You gain hands-on experience in unforgettable settings

15. Absolute Internship: The World As Your Workplace

Absolute Internship gives students who want to build their careers abroad a great opportunity. They set students up with internships in global cities like Tokyo, Barcelona, and Stockholm. With a wide range of fields, you can find options for internships in business, fashion, engineering, media, and many more. Additionally, these programs include housing, local support, and career coaching. 

• Link to Website: Absolute Internship
• Best For: Students ready to take on an international internship, live and work in a new country. 
• Why It’s Great: It’s well structured and gives you real-world experience in a place completely new to you. 

16. WayUp: Big Brand Internships that Actually Fit You

WayUp makes the whole internship search feel less random. Instead of scrolling for hours and hours, you build a profile, and it matches you with roles based on your background, major, and interests. You can find internships both at a startup and a big-name company here. They also help you get ready with resume tips and interview prep. 

• Link to Website: WayUp
• Best For: Students who want internship suggestions and support in one place
• Why It’s Great: WayUp finds roles that suit you, as well as prepare you for every step of the way. 

17. Instagram: Social Media Interning

There’s more to Instagram than selfies and stories. Behind the feed is a team building features that shape how millions connect, create, and share. While Instagram doesn’t always have its own separate internship program, you can apply through Meta, its parent company. Internship roles are usually open in engineering, design, marketing, and data. If you get in, you’ll be part of a team working on actual projects used by real people, including yourself. 

• Link to Website: Instagram Careers
• Best For: Students who want to work at the intersection of tech, culture, and design.
• Why It’s Great: You’ll work on features that connect millions of people, all while learning the world’s best professionals. 

18. Google: The Internship Everyone Talks About

Of course, getting an internship at Google is as tough as you might imagine, but it’s definitely worth aiming for. You’ll spend less time sitting in on meetings. Rather, you’ll take on a hands-on role in a fast-paced environment. Whatever you’re into, be it software development, UX research, business strategy, or AI, Google has a place for you. Interning at Google means getting mentorship and access to top-notch tools. 

• Link to Website: Google Careers
• Best For: Curious and hardworking students ready to push their skills in a real-world tech environment.
• Why It’s Great: You’ll learn actual problem-solving and collaborate with teams from various fields and different parts of the world.

19. Career Contessa: Internships With Career Coaching

Career Contessa is a full resource for students and recent grads, especially women, looking to grow professionally. Their job listings include internships across a range of industries like media, design, education, and business. What makes it stand out is the career advice, downloadable guides, and mentorship support that come along with the listings.

• Link to Website: Career Contessa
• Best For: Students who want both internships and professional development resources in one place.
• Why It’s Great: You get tools to help you apply, interview, and plan your next steps with confidence.

20. Intern Queen: Internships for Students, by Students

Created by a former intern herself, Intern Queen focuses entirely on helping students land meaningful internships. The site curates listings in fields like entertainment, public relations, marketing, and more. Intern Queen, other than helping you in finding an internship, also offers video resources, resume tips, and free workshops. Many listings come directly from the founder’s network of contacts.

• Link to Website: Intern Queen
• Best For: Students interested in personalized guidance and looking for media, entertainment, or creative internships.
• Why It’s Great: The platform offers internship opportunities with advice from someone who’s already been through the same process and eventually built a brand around it. 

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How to Find Internships?

Finding internships is a lot easier when you break the process into simple steps. Here’s what to do:

• Start early and keep things organized
• Make your resume and cover letter stand out
• Talk to people, not just platforms
• Use more than one site
• Apply often and don’t forget to follow up
• Build experience, even if you're waiting

1. Start Early and Stay Organized

Don’t wait until the last minute. Good internships get snatched up fast. Make a simple spreadsheet or use your notes app to track deadlines, application links, and who you've already reached out to. Staying on top of things now saves a ton of stress later. 

2. Make Your Resume and Cover Letter Stand Out

Sending the same version of your resume to every company won’t get you anywhere. You’ll have to adjust it for each role so it speaks directly to what they’re looking for. Your cover letter should be clear and highly personal. It needs to be something that only you could’ve written.

3. Talk to People, Not Just Platforms

Although job websites help a lot, some of the best opportunities don’t show up. They come from conversations. Feel free to ask a professor, a classmate, or someone on LinkedIn and find out how they’ve found their roles. People are usually willing to help, but you are the one who needs to start the conversation first. 

4. Use More Than One Site

Different companies post in different places. That’s why it helps to search on a few platforms. You can try some of those websites we discussed, but also check the company’s website. Broaden your search and get yourself a better chance to find something right for you. 

5. Apply Often and Don’t Forget to Follow Up

Don’t wait to hear back from one place before applying to another. Keep going. The more you apply, the more confident you get. And if you don’t hear anything, send a polite follow-up. 

6. Build Experience, Even If You're Waiting

If things are slow, don’t just sit back. Do something valuable: a short course, volunteering, or starting something new, like a project. Grow your skills during your internship search. This way, you’ll keep your energy up. 

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Final Thoughts

Having a plan while trying to find the right internship takes time and effort, but following a clear plan will get you a long way. Here’s a quick recap of tips we’ve shared in our article: 

• Start early and keep your search organized
• Use multiple platforms to expand your options
• Tailor your applications to each role
• Talk to real people, not just search engines
• Build experience, even while waiting

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