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Find Your First Internship: Top Websites & Tips for Beginners

It can be an uphill battle to score your first internship when every listing demands experience. The good news: thousands of employers develop internships for beginners—including students, recent grads, and career changers. The trick is to know where to look and how to position any experience you do have (projects, class work, volunteer work) in a way that makes it stand out.

I’ve also listed the five best websites to find internships without experience (or with very little) below, along with actual tactics to build up your profile, search more effectively, and get interviews faster.

1) LinkedIn

LinkedIn: The Most Effective Site to Find Internships and Referrals Simultaneously
LinkedIn is by far the best source of internships, along with referrals.

How to use it:

• Search: Jobs → Experience level: Internship; Job type: Internship; Location: Remote or your city.
• Create job alerts using keywords such as “marketing intern,” “data analyst intern,” or “software engineering intern.”
• Activate “Open to work” (Internships) and add some specific titles.
• Optimize your headline: “Computer Science student looking for Software Engineering Internship | Python, Java, SQL”
• Add 3-5 projects (class, personal, or hackathons) with results, links, and keywords.
• Engage: Follow the companies you are targeting, make comments on posts, and message alumni who work there. Request quick specifics and tips on applying.

Pro tip: Most internships get slotted in through referrals. After you apply, message a team member or recruiter with a 3–4 sentence note and the link to your resume.

2) Indeed

Indeed aggregates jobs from company sites and recruiters—ideal if you want to pile up listings in your search.

How to use it:

• Search: “internship” + your industry (i.e., “graphic design internship”) and location or “remote.”
• Filters: Job Type → Internship; Experience Level → Entry Level.
• Save searches and set up email alerts for batches posted daily.
• Look for descriptions that say “no experience required” or “training provided”—or ones in which you already have a specific skill from coursework.

Pro tip: Create specific “Job Alert” versions (e.g., “summer internship,” “paid internship,” etc.) to catch different sets of postings. Apply early—intern roles are flooded with applicants.

3) Handshake (Students and recent grads)

Handshake is a service that universities and employers sign up for to post (many times exclusive) student-friendly internships.

How to use it:

• Sign in with your school email (or alumni access, if you have it).
• Fill out your profile: major, GPA (optional), skills, courses, and clubs.
• Filters: Internships → Role → Industry → Location → Remote → Paid Only (if you’d like).
• Participate in virtual career fairs and employer info sessions; many result in interviews for those who participate and ask thoughtful questions.

Pro tip: Most employers on Handshake are looking for little experience. Highlight applicable classes, labs, capstones, and team projects with tangibles.

4) WayUp (students and new grads)

WayUp has a heavier emphasis on internships and entry-level opportunities for early-career candidates.

How to use it:

• Craft a snappy profile with your school, grad year, skills, and availability (summer, fall, or part-time).
• Select filters: Internship, Remote/Hybrid, Paid Job Location Type/Field.
• Fill out short applicant questionnaires completely—they are looking more for motivation and basic skills than experience.

Pro tip: WayUp’s curated postings often list clear requirements. If you have about 70% of them (especially the core skills), apply. In the “Why you’re a fit” tab, articulate how your courses and projects relate to the role.

5) Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)

Best for startup internships—great if you want a role with wide responsibilities and fast learning.

How to use it:

• Search: Role (e.g., “Product Management Intern,” “Growth Marketing Intern”), Location (or Remote), and Experience → Internship.
• Scrap the “fill this out like a resume” and instead ask them to fill it out like a mini-portfolio: links to their GitHub, a Notion portfolio, Figma, or writing samples.
• Focus on start-ups with seed/Series A funding (these usually have a slightly more organized intern program and are often paid).

Pro tip: If you are applying, write a short and personalized note to the founders or hiring managers. Demonstrate you “get” their product, users, and possibly even some (simple) metrics—and propose a little idea or experiment of something you would do in week one.

Quick tips to land an internship with no experience

• Lead with projects, not responsibilities: “Constructed a Python script to clean 50k rows—saved 35% processing time” is better than “Did a data project.”
• Use a one-page resume with the keywords from the posting (skills, tools, frameworks).
• Keep your cover letter to about 3 paragraphs max—why them, why you, proof (project(s)), and close.
• Make a simple portfolio: GitHub repos, Figma files, Medium/Notion posts, or a Google Drive folder.
• Network smart: Write alumni and student groups, request a 10-minute chat, and provide one tip for the application.
• Start applying to 5–10 laser-focused positions every day for two or three weeks. Track applications, follow up on leads, and prepare for interviews.
• Set alerts on every site (LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake, WayUp, and Wellfound) and be one of the first 25 applicants.
• Prefer paid internships when you can; if unpaid, have clear educational objectives and comply with laws in your area.

FAQs

Q: How am I supposed to compete if every single job posting still requires experience?
A: Show “evidence of ability.” Substitute formal experience with class projects, hackathons, volunteer work, freelancing gigs, open-source contributions, and case competitions. Quantify results and align your skills with the job description.

Q: Are remote internships worth it for newbies?
A: Yes—if they’re structured. Seek clear goals, a manager or mentor assigned to you, regular check-ins, and deliverables. Inquire about onboarding, training materials, and communication channels before you accept.


Published by Skillnomic—your source for the latest tech updates.