how to find an internship
Internships are a great way to help you gain real-world working experience, opportunities to build your professional network and to learn new skills. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

“How to find an internship as an international student?”

This is a common question most of us  studying abroad would ask, but do not get good answers for.

If you’re a student looking to spruce up your CV, internships are a great way to start. Not only will you gain real-world working experience, you will also get opportunities to build your professional network as well as learn new skills.

According to the State of Millennial Hiring Report, 81.1% of US graduates say that working as an intern has helped them significantly improve their career prospects. 

This is further backed up by a one-year study done by ProPublica in 2012 – results showed applicants who have prior internship experience are 60% more likely to be hired.

The benefits of an intership are many and clear.

But before you apply for one, it’s always best to check if you have the appropriate visa to legally intern there. If you’re on a student visa, it’s worth discussing internship opportunities with your International Student office.

Once you’ve narrowed down the internship programmes you’re interested in, here are some points to increase your chances of landing them: 

  • Keep your resume updated, clear and concise. Avoid any basic errors such as in formatting, grammar and typos. You can use free grammar checkers
  • Use your network. It’s always a good idea to reach out to family, friends and professors for this. 
  • Have your transcripts and relevant documents ready. 
  • Start building on your professional contacts. If you have none, ask your professors if they’d be happy to write you a recommendation letter.

Figuring out how to find an internship? Here are four websites to check out: 

how to get an internship

Internships are a great way to spruce up your CV and increase your career prospects. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

1. Intern Abroad HQ

When looking at websites on how to find an internship, Intern Abroad HQ is among the more popular sites students  use.

It organises international internships for students through global work experience and also offers remote internships with host organisations around the world.

Destinations range from Bali, Guatemala, Japan and the US. 

Whether you choose to intern abroad or choose to intern remotely, Intern Abroad HQ will coordinate everything from airport pick-up to accommodation and meals.

However, there is a fee that you’re required to pay to secure your internship.

Did you know you can also intern to gain class credit? Read more about how that works here

Apply online for free.

2. Way Up

Way Up is perfect for students or recent graduates. You can find internships to entry-level positions at start-ups or even Fortune 500 companies. Some of these companies include Visa, BlackStone, Unilever and L’Oréal. 

Looking for tips and tricks to guide you on how to apply for an internship? This guide can help.

Sign up for free on Way Up to start applying!

3. Wellfound (formerly known as AngelList Talent)

how to find an internship

Way Up offers job opportunities to those keen on working in the tech industry. Photo: Ian Tuttle/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

With over 130,000 tech jobs available and six million job matches made in the community, Wellfound offers unique jobs at startups and tech companies you can’t find anywhere else.

Companies include big names such as Roblox, Airtable, Doordash and Nerdwallet. 

If you’re curious about salary for various roles in different industries, feel free to check out their salary calculator too.

Start applying for internships to multiple companies in just one single application here

4. LinkedIn

If you’re thinking of where else to go to to look for internships, LinkedIn will answer your question of how to find an internship.

LinkedIn remains one of the best websites to find jobs and internships due to its large professional network where you can connect with industry leaders in their field. 

The best part? While you’re looking for an internship, recruiters and companies are constantly on a lookout for fresh talent to join their teams.

They search for people based on their knowledge, skill and previous experiences to see if they would be a good fit for the organisation.

If you aren’t on LinkedIn, you’re missing out on a valuable resource for job opportunities and career advancement.

Read here to learn more about how to maximise your use on LinkedIn.