The best internship platforms depend on your industry: Handshake dominates for on-campus recruiting, LinkedIn works for networking, and industry-specific boards often have the best signal-to-noise ratio. The real strategy? Use multiple platforms systematically rather than checking ten sites randomly.
- Which platforms actually lead to internship offers (by industry)
- Hidden internship sites most students don't know about
- How to use company career pages strategically
- University resources you're probably not using
- A daily search routine that doesn't take hours
- When aggregation tools make sense vs. manual searching
Quick Answers
What are the best websites to find internships in 2026?
The best internship sites depend on your target industry, but a strong baseline is: company career pages + a few focused boards (university portals, niche communities, and major aggregators). The key is consistent sourcing + fast, high-quality applying.
Is it better to apply on job boards or company websites?
Company websites often reduce duplication and ensure your application lands in the official ATS, but job boards can help discovery. A good strategy is discover on boards, then apply on the company site when possible.
How early should I start applying for internships?
Start as early as the recruiting cycle allows—many competitive internships open months in advance. Applying early increases the odds you're reviewed before pipelines fill.
How many internship applications should I send?
Enough to create multiple interview opportunities, but prioritize quality: match, keyword alignment, and fast turnaround. Track interviews per applications to calibrate volume.
Finding internships feels impossible because you're competing against thousands of other students, many of whom seem to have insider knowledge about where the good opportunities are posted. The truth? There's no single "best" platform—but there is a smart strategy for using multiple platforms efficiently.
Why finding internships feels impossible
Before diving into platforms, let's understand the landscape:
The competition is real. But much of the difficulty comes from inefficient searching—checking the same generic sites as everyone else, missing industry-specific boards, and not leveraging university resources.
Tier 1: Major platforms (start here)
These are the high-volume platforms where most students begin. They're worth using, but they're also where you'll face the most competition.
Handshake
Best for: Students at universities that partner with Handshake (most do)
Handshake is essentially LinkedIn for college students, but with a key advantage: employers specifically use it for campus recruiting. Many companies post internships exclusively on Handshake before anywhere else.
Complete your profile fully—employers filter candidates by major, GPA, and skills. An incomplete profile means you won't show up in searches, even for roles you're qualified for.
Pros:
- Employers are specifically looking for students/new grads
- On-campus interview scheduling
- Many exclusive postings not on other sites
- Free for students
Cons:
- Quality varies by university partnership
- Some smaller companies don't use it
- Can feel overwhelming without filters
URL: handshake.com (access through your university)
Best for: Networking, larger companies, building professional presence
LinkedIn is essential, but not primarily as a job board. Its real value is for networking and being discoverable by recruiters.
Optimize your profile for internship searches
Use a professional headshot, write a headline that includes your target role ("Computer Science Student | Seeking Summer 2026 Software Engineering Internship"), and fill out your experience section with relevant projects and coursework.
Use LinkedIn Jobs strategically
Filter by "Entry level" and "Internship." Set up job alerts for your target roles. Apply within the first 48 hours of a posting—early applications get more attention.
Connect with recruiters and alumni
Search for "[Your University] + [Target Company]" to find alumni. Send personalized connection requests mentioning the shared connection.
LinkedIn Easy Apply is convenient but competitive. When possible, also apply directly on the company website—some recruiters prioritize direct applications.
URL: linkedin.com/jobs
Indeed
Best for: High volume of listings, smaller/mid-size companies
Indeed aggregates postings from many sources, giving you the widest net. However, quality control is lower—you'll see more spam and outdated listings.
Pros:
- Massive volume of listings
- Good for local/regional internships
- Company reviews and salary data included
Cons:
- More noise (duplicate/expired postings)
- Easy Apply means more competition per listing
- Some "ghost jobs" that aren't being actively filled
URL: indeed.com/q-internship-jobs.html
Tier 2: Industry-specific boards
This is where smart students gain an edge. Industry-specific boards have less competition and often better-quality postings.
Tech & Software Engineering
The Pitt CSC internship repository on GitHub maintains a crowdsourced list of open internships that's updated in real-time. Search "Summer 2026 Internships" on GitHub.
Finance & Business
Marketing & Communications
Nonprofits & Government
Healthcare & Sciences
Tier 3: Hidden gems most students miss
80% of students use the same 5 platforms. The students who land internships faster often find them on lesser-known sites or through direct company outreach.
Chegg Internships (formerly Internships.com)
One of the largest internship-specific databases. Less noise than Indeed because it's exclusively internships.
URL: internships.chegg.com
WayUp
Focuses specifically on students and early-career candidates. Employers here are explicitly looking for people with limited experience.
URL: wayup.com
RippleMatch
Uses matching algorithms to connect students with opportunities. You fill out a profile and companies reach out to you.
URL: ripplematch.com
Parker Dewey
Specializes in "micro-internships"—short-term, paid projects that can lead to full internships. Great for building experience and connections.
URL: parkerdewey.com
Forage
Offers virtual work experience programs from major companies. Not paid internships, but completing them can boost your resume and lead to interview opportunities.
URL: theforage.com
Company career pages: The direct approach
Here's a strategy most students skip: going directly to company websites.
Build your target list
Create a spreadsheet of 20-30 companies you'd actually want to work for. Include company name, career page URL, and internship application deadline (many tech companies recruit August-October for summer).
Set calendar reminders
Most internship applications open on predictable schedules. Big Tech (August-September), investment banks (July-August), consulting (September-October). Set reminders to check career pages when applications open.
Apply directly + track
Many recruiters prefer direct applications over job board Easy Apply. Track every application in your spreadsheet.
- Create list of 20-30 target companies
- Find and bookmark each career page
- Research when their internship applications typically open
- Set calendar reminders for key dates
- Apply directly when applications open
- Follow up on LinkedIn after applying
University resources you're not using
Your university's career center is probably offering more than you realize:
Career services portal
Most universities have an internal job board with exclusive postings from companies that specifically recruit from your school. These often have less competition than public job boards.
Career fairs (in-person and virtual)
Yes, they're awkward. But they work. Companies that attend career fairs are actively trying to fill roles—and you can make a personal impression that an online application can't.
Alumni network
Your university's alumni network is one of the most underutilized resources. Alumni are often willing to refer students from their alma mater—it makes them look good internally.
Students who use our career center are twice as likely to secure internships before graduation. Yet only about 30% of students ever visit us.
Networking vs. online applications
Let's be honest: the most effective way to get an internship is through connections. But that doesn't mean online applications are worthless.
The optimal strategy combines both:
- Network aggressively for your top 5-10 target companies
- Apply online to 50-100+ additional opportunities
- Use referrals whenever possible (even weak connections help)
Your daily search routine (30 minutes)
Instead of checking ten sites randomly, here's a focused routine:
Check primary platforms (10 minutes)
Review new postings on Handshake and LinkedIn Jobs with your saved filters. Apply to 2-3 good-fit roles.
Check one industry-specific board (5 minutes)
Rotate through your industry-specific boards. Apply if something fits.
Direct company check (5 minutes)
Check 2-3 companies from your target list for new openings.
Networking action (10 minutes)
Send one LinkedIn message, one follow-up email, or one informational interview request.
Use a simple spreadsheet or tool to track applications. Include: company, role, date applied, source, status, and follow-up date.
When aggregation tools make sense
Checking multiple platforms daily is time-consuming. Aggregation tools can help by:
- Pulling listings from multiple sources into one dashboard
- Sending alerts when new matching roles are posted
- Helping you apply more efficiently across platforms
If you're applying to 100+ internships (which many students need to do), tools like Careery can reduce the repetitive work of searching multiple sites and filling out similar applications. The goal is spending more time on networking and interview prep, less on copy-pasting the same information.
Your internship search strategy
- 1Use Handshake as your primary platform (if your university partners)
- 2LinkedIn for networking + larger companies
- 3Add 2-3 industry-specific boards for better signal-to-noise
- 4Don't skip company career pages—direct applications often get more attention
- 5Leverage university career services and alumni networks
- 6Build a 30-minute daily routine instead of random checking
- 7Track everything in a spreadsheet
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the single best site to find internships?
There's no single best site—it depends on your industry and university. For most students, Handshake + LinkedIn + one industry-specific board is the most effective combination.
How many internship applications should I submit?
Most students who land internships apply to 50-150+ positions. The key is balancing volume with quality—don't just spray and pray, but also don't spend hours on each application.
Should I use Easy Apply on LinkedIn?
Easy Apply is fine for volume, but when possible also apply directly on the company website. Some recruiters prioritize direct applications, and you can often submit more tailored materials.
When should I start applying for summer internships?
For competitive industries (Big Tech, investment banking, consulting), applications open August-October of the previous year. For most other industries, January-March is the peak. Start early—the best internships fill fast.
Are internship sites with application fees legitimate?
Be cautious. Legitimate internship platforms don't typically charge students to apply. Fees for resume reviews or premium features are different, but never pay just to submit an application.
Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for Job Seekers since December 2020