Find an internship
Looking for an internship in the United States? Discover practical tips and advice to help you find opportunities, approach potential host companies, and successfully prepare your application.
Your Internship abroad
Finding an internship in the United States requires careful preparation and a search strategy adapted to the U.S. job market. This guide provides practical tips and advice to help you identify opportunities, prepare your application, and increase your chances of securing an internship in the U.S.
What Kind of Internship Are You Looking For?
Before starting your search, take the time to define your profile, including your preferences, goals, and any requirements from your university or school, if applicable. The questions below will help you refine your search criteria and better target suitable opportunities. Clearly defining your expectations will be an essential stepWhether you choose to find an internship independently or use Intrax’s placement services to secure an internship in the United States, clearly defining your expectations will be an essential step.
- Are you currently a student, a recent graduate, or a working professional?
- Are you seeking academic credit, career development, or cultural experience?
- What skills do you hope to gain?
- What are your goals for this internship?
- Which industry or field are you interested in for your internship?
- Do you have a preference for a specific role or industry?
- What study-related requirements do you need to follow?
- What type of organisation do you feel comfortable in?
- Do you prefer a small team or big company?
- Would you rather work at a start up or established place?
- Does an unpaid but learning-focused internship work for you?
- How long should your internship be?
- When can you start and when must you return home?
- How flexible are you with minimum duration?
- Would you prefer to live in a large, cosmopolitan city or experience American culture in a smaller community?
- Do you have a driver's license and the ability to travel longer distances?
- What criteria are important to you: career opportunities, cost of living, climate, lifestyle, or cultural environment?
Finding an internship in the USA
Tools & Portals
Are you ready to find your internship in the USA? With the right tools and a clear strategy, you can identify opportunities that match your goals, strengthen your application, and take the first step toward an international professional experience.
Portals for international positions
- LinkedIn Jobs: Filter by "Internship" and "United States"
- Indeed.com: Search "Internship" + industry or location
- Glassdoor.com: Job listings plus intern reviews
- Joinhandshake.com: Platform widely used by universities and students
- Idealist.org: Social, cultural, and NGO internships
US company websites
Do you have a company in mind that interests you? Then it's worth visiting its career page. Many companies advertise their internship positions directly there and welcome international applications.
You can also identify the relevant HR or recruiting contact on LinkedIn and reach out directly to express your interest and ask about potential internship opportunities.
Networks & personal contacts
In the US, networking fills many unadvertised internships. Here's how to leverage your network:
LinkedIn: Request recommendations or ask contacts about open positions.
Alumni networks: Reach out to former students who've interned in the US—they often share tips and connect you with companies.
Online events & webinars: Attend specialist events in your field for valuable contacts and insights.
Internship fairs: Connect with international program coordinators and learn about partnerships.
Pro tip: Don't hesitate to message people directly. A friendly note expressing genuine interest often works.
Graduate networking hubs and university portals
Check with your university's international office or career center. Many universities have partnerships with US institutions or internship exchange programs. Your lecturers and professors often have international contacts and can provide recommendations or connect you with opportunities.
Ask them:
- Do you know companies or institutions in the US that take interns?
- Are there exchange programs or partnerships with US universities?
- Can you write a letter of recommendation?
Your application documents
Strong documents open doors to opportunity
Build a resume that works
As more and more companies use AI and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes, here are a few tips to help ensure that your application is not filtered out by these automated systems:
- Use PDF or DOCX formats rather than image files such as PNG or JPEG.
- Use standard section headings such as “Summary,” “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills,” “Projects,” “Certifications,” and “Languages.” ATS software is better at recognizing common labels.
- Choose simple fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica, and avoid overly decorative styles.
- Include relevant skills and keywords from the job description in your resume, while remaining truthful to your background and experience.
- Avoid tables and multiple-column layouts whenever possible. Some ATS systems struggle to read two- or three-column resumes (often created with tools such as Canva).
- Keep the design simple. Limit yourself to two colors and avoid logos, graphics, skill bars, and other visual elements that may be difficult for ATS software to interpret.
- Name your file clearly. For example: "Resume-FirstName LastName.pdf".
Your cover letter tells your story
A good resume should be accompanied by a strong cover letter. This letter should be tailored to every role and company to which you are applying.
Introduction
- Mention the internship position you are applying for
- If there is no job portal where you can upload your application documents, write the letter directly in the email unless asked to attach a PDF.
Main Part
- Detail your motivation for applying for this particular role
- Explain why you are an ideal candidate based on previous work experience or academic background
- Avoid simply repeating your resume
- Mention your eligibility for the J-1 Intern or Trainee Visa and highlight the benefits of the program:
The advantages of hosting J-1 interns/trainees are:
- J-1 Visa holders are interning/training full-time and speak English fluently.
- The visa process is free for employers
- Employers do not pay FICA, Medicare, and FUTA taxes or health insurance.
- The program helps to create culturally diverse workplaces.
If you have any questions concerning the J-1 Visa, feel free to reach out to Intrax (sert the name of your Intrax coordinator)
Closing
- Keep it concise
- Thank the reader for their consideration
- Note your availability for a personal interview
Intrax Hospitality Internship Placement Service
Are you a student or recent graduate in hospitality or culinary arts? Intrax helps you take the next step in your career with exclusive internship placements in the world of luxury hotels and fine dining. Through partnerships with renowned establishments, we offer hands-on experience, cultural exchange, and the opportunity to grow your skills in some of the most prestigious settings around the globe.
Go Straight to the Source: Reaching Out to Companies
A promising tactic for uncovering internship opportunities is to make direct contact with companies that interest you. Not all companies will advertise internship openings on external job sites; some companies will post openings only on their own website, and some may not post internship announcements at all.
If you already know of companies or organizations in the USA that really interest you, try searching their website for available internship openings. If you find a position, submit your resume and cover letter as instructed by the employer. If there are multiple positions for which you'd like to apply, be sure to submit a separate resume and cover letter for each.
If you don't see a position that fits your qualifications, try to make personal contact with someone in the organization who is responsible for hiring employees (a Human Resources manager, or the manager/director of a particular department in which you'd like to work). You may be able to find individual contact information on the website, or you may need to call the main telephone number and ask to speak to someone. If your English conversation skills are not strong enough to make a telephone call, try sending an inquiry via email instead.
Remember that persistence does pay off. While you should never be aggressive or demanding with a prospective employer, you want to clearly explain your enthusiasm for the company and your desire to work there. Unless otherwise specified, it is always a good idea to follow up emails and resume submissions with a telephone call, and vice versa. And, whenever possible, try to make initial contact with more than one person in the organization to increase your chances of reaching someone who may want to hire you.
Tip: JobAlytics
Identify missing keywords in your Resume
(free Chrome extension).
This TikTok video explains how to use this tool.
Tip: Use ChatGPT
ChatGPT prompt ideas for adapting your Resume to job descriptions: Watch this TikTok video.
Budget Tip:
Check Numbeo to get an estimate of living costs in your destination and plan your budget accordingly.
Interviewing with an interested Company
Preparing for an interview is crucial to successfully securing your internship. When you have reached the stage of an interview with a company, you have already done many things just right: You have impressed a potential supervisor enough so that he or she wants to get a personal impression of you. Ensure that your professional documents match your demeanor during a video call:
Do your research beforehand. Learn about the company and the role and be sure you have plenty to talk about. Make sure you understand the ins and outs of the company, industry, clients, and competitors. Research some information on staff if possible. Show them you are interested and enthusiastic.
Prepare for some of the questions you may expect to be asked and rehearse your answers beforehand. Think about past experiences and your education as they will frequently ask you for examples of things you have done in the past. Make sure to be ready for the typical questions such as, tell us about yourself, what do you think you’ll be able to provide for us, what are you hoping to get out of this internship, and do you enjoy working with people or by yourself. Also make sure you have questions for them, since it shows interest. Good questions to ask are: who will supervise me, what can I expect in a day's work, what can I do to prepare for this internship? Questions you should not ask: How much will I be compensated, will there be long term employment opportunities, questions about what to do recreationally.
When interviewing for a position in the USA it will most likely be done via phone or video call. As this may be a new experience for you it is important you prepare yourself and your environment properly.
Dress appropriately for the interview; even though you may be on the other side of the world it is important to look the part.
Ensure you have a nice quiet environment and that the background is suitable and there are no distractions.
Test your computers Audio and Video and be sure to have your phone available (but switched off) in case you suffer any technical problems. Good luck! We would like to be your J1 visa sponsor once you have received an internship offer!
Already found your internship?
Start your J-1 Visa application with Intrax. Our team will guide you through every step, from application to arrival.