One of the challenges of being an online student is finding internship opportunities, especially if you’re not near a major city or can’t take time off from your current job. The good news: remote internships have grown massively and are now a legitimate and well-respected way to gain experience.
Handshake: A popular job board for college students. Many listings are remote. If your school partners with Handshake, you get access to opportunities specifically posted for your institution.
LinkedIn: Use filters to search for remote internships in your field. Set up alerts so you get notified when new ones are posted.
Indeed and Glassdoor: Both have remote filters. Search for “remote internship” plus your field.
Chegg Internships (formerly Internships.com): Another student-focused platform.
Parker Dewey: Specialises in “micro-internships” — short-term, project-based professional assignments that you can do remotely. Great for building experience without a huge time commitment.
Virtual Internships: A platform that connects students with companies globally for remote internship placements.
Industry-specific job boards: Whatever your field, there’s probably a job board for it. Marketing? Check the AMA job board. Tech? Try AngelList or Wellfound.
Build something to show. A portfolio, a personal website, a GitHub profile, a blog about your field — anything that demonstrates your skills and interest.
Get certifications. Google, HubSpot, Salesforce, and many others offer free or affordable certifications that look great on internship applications.
Write a strong cover letter. For internships especially, enthusiasm and a clear connection between your studies and the role matters more than experience.
Highlight transferable skills from your current or previous jobs. Project management, customer service, data analysis, communication — these all translate.
PAID VS. UNPAID
Prioritise paid internships when possible. Many remote internships do pay, especially in tech, business, and marketing. Unpaid internships can be valuable for experience but be wary of companies that use interns as free labour without providing real learning opportunities.
Check the legal requirements. In many jurisdictions, unpaid internships must meet specific criteria to be legal.
Treat it like a real job. Show up on time for virtual meetings. Meet deadlines. Be professional.
Ask for feedback regularly. Don’t wait until the end to find out how you’re doing.
Network within the organisation. A remote internship can lead to a full-time job offer, but only if people know who you are and what you can do.
Document your accomplishments. Keep a running list of what you worked on, what you achieved, and any skills you developed. This will be gold for your resume.
Have you done a remote internship while studying online? Share your experience and any tips below.
WHERE TO FIND REMOTE INTERNSHIPS
Your school’s career services: Start here. Many online schools have partnerships with employers who specifically offer remote positions.Handshake: A popular job board for college students. Many listings are remote. If your school partners with Handshake, you get access to opportunities specifically posted for your institution.
LinkedIn: Use filters to search for remote internships in your field. Set up alerts so you get notified when new ones are posted.
Indeed and Glassdoor: Both have remote filters. Search for “remote internship” plus your field.
Chegg Internships (formerly Internships.com): Another student-focused platform.
Parker Dewey: Specialises in “micro-internships” — short-term, project-based professional assignments that you can do remotely. Great for building experience without a huge time commitment.
Virtual Internships: A platform that connects students with companies globally for remote internship placements.
Industry-specific job boards: Whatever your field, there’s probably a job board for it. Marketing? Check the AMA job board. Tech? Try AngelList or Wellfound.
MAKING YOURSELF A STRONG CANDIDATE
Tailor your resume for each application. Generic resumes get ignored.Build something to show. A portfolio, a personal website, a GitHub profile, a blog about your field — anything that demonstrates your skills and interest.
Get certifications. Google, HubSpot, Salesforce, and many others offer free or affordable certifications that look great on internship applications.
Write a strong cover letter. For internships especially, enthusiasm and a clear connection between your studies and the role matters more than experience.
Highlight transferable skills from your current or previous jobs. Project management, customer service, data analysis, communication — these all translate.
PAID VS. UNPAID
Prioritise paid internships when possible. Many remote internships do pay, especially in tech, business, and marketing. Unpaid internships can be valuable for experience but be wary of companies that use interns as free labour without providing real learning opportunities.
Check the legal requirements. In many jurisdictions, unpaid internships must meet specific criteria to be legal.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN A REMOTE INTERNSHIP
Communicate proactively. Don’t wait to be asked. Send regular updates, ask questions early, and be responsive.Treat it like a real job. Show up on time for virtual meetings. Meet deadlines. Be professional.
Ask for feedback regularly. Don’t wait until the end to find out how you’re doing.
Network within the organisation. A remote internship can lead to a full-time job offer, but only if people know who you are and what you can do.
Document your accomplishments. Keep a running list of what you worked on, what you achieved, and any skills you developed. This will be gold for your resume.
Have you done a remote internship while studying online? Share your experience and any tips below.