Paid internships in USA for international students
It is most common among students to do their internships with an organization that is geographically close and easily accessible such that they can operate from the comfort of their homes.
This can be because leaving the comfort of your home and moving to a different country isn’t such an easy task. In as much as it isn’t an easy choice, the rewards are worth it.
Internships abroad help immerse you into a new culture and traditions of that city, your career prospects are boosted and you are able to have a new perspective on life, quite different from what you are used to.
Below are some benefits of interning in the USA and why you should look out for paid internships in USA for international students.
Benefits of interning abroad
It is a fact that the happier we are, the better our life goes in all rubrics – and who would not be happy to travel and work overseas? It can be for a short period, like a month, or as long as a year.
You’ll meet new people practically every day, and there will always be things to visit or get acquainted with after you leave the office. It may be exhausting at first – but rest assured, you’ll always be excited to go to work.
Here are some of the reasons why you should go for paid internships in USA for international students:
- You get to develop some soft skills
- Boosts your Resume
- Ability to network internationally
- Learn a new Language
- Puts you out of your comfort zone
- Grows your global understanding
You get to develop some soft skills
One of the benefits of the paid internships in USA for international students is the soft skills which you will be able to acquire at the end of your internship.
Soft skills have been proven to give students a successful transition into the workforce. Some of these skills can include communication skills, cultural skills as well as language proficiency.
By taking part in an internship abroad, you have the opportunity to improve your awareness of the world and your ability to interact confidently with colleagues on a day-to-day basis.
These soft skills are in demand as most employers are looking for graduates who will be able to integrate into a working environment.
With that being said, there can be no better solution than looking for paid internships in USA for international students in an international office where your communication skills can grow to exceed those expected of a new graduate.
Boosts your Resume
There are a lot of graduates out there, therefore your resume has to be unique in some way in order to land that dream job of yours.
There has to be something about your certificate that stands out.
Since a large majority of students now complete internships during their degrees, having experience working abroad will help to set you apart from the rest of the competition.
Employers find it very impressive when their employees interned in another country. Therefore showing you can handle working with international colleagues and a language change is, therefore, a very handy addition to your CV.
Ability to network internationally
One of the reasons to go for paid internships in USA for international students is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to develop a global network of colleagues and mentors.
The benefit of having international peers is that you have the chance to learn an abundance of knowledge and information from your surrounding network.
This network will comprise of like-minded peers, mentors and professors who will form your community of international colleagues and professionals that you can reach out to in the nearby future.
Working with people from around the world significantly opens up your opportunities to travel and discover new countries.
With friends in Paris, Sydney and Berlin, you will have reasons to explore the globe and the chance to see these great cities.
Learn a new Language
The united states is a home for so many individuals from different countries of the world. Interning in the united states gives you the opportunity to therefore improve your language skills.
You will be totally immersed in the local culture, giving you the best opportunity to kickstart your speaking abilities.
To add to this, you’ll have colleagues you can practice with during your working hours.
In the United States, there are free language courses and if you have spare time in the evenings and weekends, it, therefore, gives you the opportunity to fully get along with the language.
Furthermore, taking a language course is one of the best ways to make new friends from outside of your working environment. These friends are sure to be there for you, especially when you are not at the office.
Puts you out of your comfort zone
Going for one of the paid internships in USA for international students moves you away from the regular routine that you have followed for years.
You will be exposed to different cultures, different points of view and different ways of communicating.
This can make your internship experience more intense but will open your eyes to the various problems and trends that companies around the world have. It will broaden your mind and make your internship as exciting as a new adventure, possibly putting you two steps ahead of your colleagues.
Grows your global understanding
Before you must have decided to apply for one of the paid internships in USA for international students, you must have set out your career goals and you must have set out some strategies with which you can project yourself to that professional level which you desire.
A law student may prefer to learn the ropes of their own legal system before going abroad to an internship, whereas an economics student might want to learn more about the stock market in a world capital like London, while a tech student might want to go to the new “Silicon Valley” in Bangalore where applications are being made for worldwide use every day.
Three things to take note of
—82% of graduates who worked or studied abroad for 1-4 weeks are in a graduate-level job within 6 months.
—60% of hiring managers and CEOs value an international study experience.
—44% of interns noted increased confidence in familiarity with the social norms of their program location showing cultural agility.
how to get Paid internships in USA for international students
Internships can be one of the best ways to gain valuable work experience. Finding and getting one at the same time is hard. Here are some tips for landing a good opportunity.
- Write a resume
- Decide on the position you want
- Search programs
- Use professional organizations or associations for your field
- Use specialized websites
- Cold-calling
Write a resume:
This should be one of the things to get ready while searching for paid internships in USA for international students.
This will speed up the process of applying when you find something you like or something that matches your resume.
You will also need to have a copy of your resume when doing certain types of searches, such as if you go to a job fair. Be sure that your resume is appropriately structured and looks professional.
Months before the IT proper, try building your work experience, you can decide to volunteer to some organizations.
Decide on the position you want:
What are your career goals? what are your past experiences? what are the skills which you will like to acquire? These questions will help you filter through some internship opportunities as an international student.
Search programs:
With Steps 1 and 2 in mind, it’ll be super easy narrowing down the options.
GoAbroad’s special page for paid internships in USA for international students and their Online Advisor are great places to start!
Ensure to check if the internship has legal sponsorships and if they are paid or unpaid.
Try reading some reviews from previous participants and see what their testimonials are like. Reading further, you will discover some of the ways in which you can search for paid internships in USA for international students.
Use professional organizations or associations for your field:
Many career fields will have professional organizations or associations or regionalized branches of those groups.
These will often have online job postings or postings in their offices. Call the organization appropriate for your field and ask if they provide any information regarding internship openings.
Use specialized websites:
Recently, most of the information we need is on the internet. Once you search for these paid internships in USA for international students, there are many websites out there designed to help people get internships.
During your search, you however have to be very careful not to fall into websites that might want to scam you.
Cold-calling:
Sometimes landing those paid internships in USA for international students might prove to be a little hard.
If you have searched and couldn’t find what you desire, you can decide to take the bull by the horns and schedule a meeting with that company which you want and eventually propose an internship.
Be aware, however, that if you are taking this approach, you will need to be very well prepared.
Most popular USA cities with internships for international students
when it comes to internships, the following cities tend to have higher opportunities for their students:
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Washington D.C
- Chicago
- San Francisco
why intern in New York City ?
There is no better city for international internship opportunities. On the world stage, NYC is influential in commerce, finance, fashion, art, technology, and much more.
An internship in NYC will set you apart from the crowd. No matter your interests, there are endless opportunities for internships in New York.
Many of the most successful companies in the world have set up their headquarters in NYC, confirming its strategic importance.
Home to Wall Street and two global stock exchanges, New York is the place to be for business and finance and a zone of paid internships in USA for international students.
If your passions are in the creative industries, New York’s culture will allow you to experience an elite fashion scene along with a top-notch theatre and other arts.
Why intern in Los Angeles ?
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west, and mountains to the north and east, California is one of the most diverse states in the US.
Now home to the headquarters of some of the world’s largest companies like Google, Apple, Facebook and Netflix to name a few, it comes as no surprise that California attracts visitors from the world over thanks to its entrepreneurial vibe.
You can accomplish anything here since there are also a lot of paid internships in USA for international students.
Situated on the west coast of the US, California is home to majestic national parks, like Yosemite and the Redwoods Forest, and TV-famous beaches.
There is no better place for your internship, whatever your interests are. There is truly something for everyone
Gain hands-on experience in business, technology, communications, marketing and finance fields.
Internships in Los Angeles offer interns interested in art, film, television and public relations the perfect chance to not only gain experience but to simultaneously grow their network.
Why intern in Washington D.C ?
Washington DC is the political nerve centre of the world and the HQ of US power.
As a city populated by one million residents and visited by tourists the world over, Washington DC is dominated by institutions of international fame such as the US Capitol, the White House, countless businesses, influential lobbying organizations, and many global organizations.
The district boasts a diverse population, rich history, amazing culture, and has a lot of paid internships in USA for international students.
With countless events and things to see you’ll constantly have something new to experience during your internship.
Washington DC internships give you the chance to flourish in this city of global fame, to be immersed in dynamic work culture, and make life-long friends from every corner of the world.
why intern in Chicago ?
Chicago has stunning architecture, a portly population, and a tantalizing, glittering lake that’s always too cold to dip in.
Their Chi-Town has a very particular personality unmatched by even its bigger brother, NYC.
International students will find a cosy urban jungle with a touch of sophistication living in Chicago, where there are internships abound in its top-notch hotels, global companies, and nonprofit organizations.
why intern in San Francisco
If you’re looking to be inspired, there are many good reasons to live in San Francisco California.
From the creative centre of Los Angeles to the tech hub of Silicon Valley, there is innovation everywhere.
The Golden State is known in the U.S. for being extremely inclusive and accepting of all ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations.
San Francisco’s annual Pride Celebration, which features an enormous and colourful parade, is world-famous. They equally have a lot of paid internships in USA for international students.
Historically, California has always been a melting pot of cultures and languages and has been a welcoming home for people from around the world.
List of Paid internships in USA for international students and Domestic students
The following are paid internships in USA for international students and domestic students:
- Infosys InStep Internship
- WilkinGuttenplan Winter or Summer Internship
- Abbott Internship Program
- DreamWorks Internship Program
- Salesforce.com Futureforce Internship
- CapTech Summer Internship Program
- Frazier Deeter Internship Program
- Evercore Advisory Summer Analyst and Summer Associate Program
- Nickelodeon NICKternship Program
- The Home Depot Internship Program
- MetLife Internship
- NetApp Internship Program
Infosys Instep Internship
This internship is one of the Paid internships in USA for international students and Domestic students that is very rewarding.
Interns get to learn a lot and have the opportunity to meet with people from different backgrounds.
They have social and community-building activities where interns get to connect with people from all over the world.
Interns enjoy the leadership and career webinars that Infosys offered, as well as the internal learning site, training, and all the networking opportunities with executive leadership.
WilkinGuttenplan Winter or Summer Internship
This internship is one of the Paid internships in USA for international students and Domestic students that is very rewarding.
They invest so much time and energy in helping students succeed in their work.
Another great aspect of the internship was the virtual shadowing.
Rather than eliminate that element of the internship (since we weren’t in person), the administration worked around this obstacle by implementing video calls so that interns can see what they do on a day-to-day basis.
They are named among the 100 best internships this year.
Abbott Internship Program
Abbott Internship Program jumped two places to rank No. 12 overall, while also ranking No. 1 in Health Care and No. 1 in both Data Analytics and Engineering.
If you are looking to enhance your education with substantive internship experience, then go for an Abbott Internship.
Abbott is now hiring Nutrition Consumer Sales Intern for its Columbus, Ohio department.
The Consumer Sales internship is 12-weeks opportunity that will provide hands-on experience with broad exposure to the consumer packaged goods (CPG) disciplines within Abbott Nutrition.
To avail this lucky chance, candidates should have completed at least three years of college education before beginning internship.
DreamWorks Internship Program
DreamWorks Internship Program, ranks No. 23 overall and No. 2 in Media & Telecom.
At DreamWorks, you will get sweet benefits, and learn more about the animated feature film process.
DreamWorks internship programs are very organized and helpful for the students to get to know about the company and the industry.
DreamWorks is now granting a wonderful invitation to join its Brand Marketing Intern program for fall 2021.
This is a part-time role that will run for 12 weeks in Glendale, CA.
In this role, you will work with the marketing team on the development, creation, and execution of our television marketing campaigns.
If you are pursuing an associate, bachelor or graduate degree at a college/university or be a recent graduate, then you can apply.
Salesforce.com Futureforce Internship
Salesforce.com Futureforce Internship, ranks No. 26 overall, while also ranking No. 6 in Tech & Engineering, No. 2 in Computer Science, and No. 5 in both Software Development and Software Engineering.
Interns receive seven days of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to devote to causes they believe in.
They make sure interns get exposure to senior leaders, through their Executive Speaker Series programs, interns have unprecedented access to our Salesforce leadership team.
During your time in their program, their recruits attend sporting events, city tours, wellness activities and did I mention all the delicious food?! Yep, that too.
With Trailhead, interns can explore new Salesforce skills through guided learning paths.
CapTech Summer Internship Program
CapTech is looking for undergraduate Juniors that are passionate about technology with a desire to solve complex business and technical problems to join our internship program, Elevate.
Elevate provides meaningful immersion into the full life cycle of a typical IT consulting project.
This unique program takes place in Richmond, VA or Northern VA/Tysons Corner and simulates a client engagement where one can achieve a full understanding of the consulting experience while solving relevant client problems.
Interns work in self-led teams and are paired with full-time consultants for guidance and mentorship.
Additionally, interns enjoy weekly lunch-and-learns with our leadership team. CapTech interns are given the opportunity to build something that matters and create impactful value.
Frazier Deeter Internship Program
Want to learn what it’s like to work for Frazier & Deeter?
FD offers paid spring and summer internships at each of our locations. They treat interns as entry-level associates.
They give you real client work and working with their staff from associates up to partners.
Available internships will be listed under opportunities page, but the best way to get started is through their Summer Leadership Program.
Evercore Advisory Summer Analyst and Summer Associate Program
Evercore Advisory Summer Associate Program is open to undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in investment banking.
Positions are offered in Evercore’s Advisory, Institutional Equities, and Private Funds Group businesses.
Internships are 10 weeks in duration and include pay.
Interns receive rigorous training and ongoing mentoring.
They receive a broad range of experiences in investment banking, including acquisitions, restructurings, recapitalizations, divestitures, partnerships, joint ventures, private equity, research, and sales and trading activities.
Intern will be responsible for preparing for and attending client meetings, financial modelling, industry analysis, and execution of transactions.
They will work side by side with senior executives.
Candidates must have exceptional academic records, a strong interest in investment banking, strong communication skills, and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Evercore is an independent investment banking advisory firm founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City.
Their Investment Management business includes wealth management, institutional asset management and private equity investing.
Evercore serves clients from 28 offices in North America, Europe, South America and Asia.
Nickelodeon NICKternship Program
Nickelodeon has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does.
The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing, and feature films.
Past interns say you’ll have “the most inspiring and stimulating experience of your life” obtaining “industry knowledge and practical skills” in a company where “diversity and inclusion are top of mind.”
The Home Depot Internship Program
Internships are the beginnings of one’s professional development; so working at a company with strong professional development is beneficial.
Overall, employees at The Home Depot rate their professional development a B, ranking them in the Top 30% of similar sized companies on Comparably.
Acquiring a position in The Home Depot’s Internship Program is generally not difficult.
Why intern at The Home Depot?
Employees are very happy at The Home Depot and rate their office perks as good.
It’s summer, interning should not be only a learning experience, but also an enjoyable one. The Home Depot employees say they’re never bored at work.
Additionally, 65% have developed close friendships with their co-workers.
MetLife Internship
Being an intern at MetLife means being a member of a global, diverse community where creative ideas forge the path for MetLife’s future.
The first week comprises onboarding, orientation, networking events, trainings and guest speakers from the business.
Interns will learn about MetLife’s culture, business, and the benefits and responsibilities of being a MetLife employee.
Interns spend ten weeks collaborating on real business projects for Global Technology teams, attending professional development sessions weekly, networking, and enjoying social and philanthropic events during a robust onboarding experience.
Each intern is paired with a mentor to provide guidance and feedback.
In addition, an innovative group challenge provides the opportunity to present a technological business concept idea to senior leadership at the culmination of the program.
NetApp Internship Program
The NetApp Emerging Talent (NET) Program is designed to help you grow your career, sharpen your skills, and foster meaningful relationships.
When you join the NET Program, you join a diverse, global community where innovative ideas flourish.
Other Paid internships in USA for international students and domestic students
Below are other paid internships in USA for international students:
Fashion Week Internships – New York and Los Angeles
Fashion Week Internships is dedicated to matching interested participants with their ideal placement in either New York City or Los Angeles. With this program, you can choose to work short term, for a semester, or an entire year.
Intern in Business with USEH International
USEH International covers the broad field of business with paid internships for international students in sales, marketing, human resources, and finance.
Summer Internships in New York with the Intern Group
The Big Apple has much to offer aspiring professionals from a variety of fields, especially for those seeking work in fashion, finance, media, business, and art.
Work at a Summer Camp in the USA
With Camp America, you’ll be placed in a summer camp anywhere in the USA, will work with other young people from around the world, and will get to participate in one of America’s greatest traditions through a child’s eyes.
Intern as a Ski and Snowboard Instructor with EA Ski and Snowboard Training
Interning doesn’t have to be all stress. Sometimes you just want to chill…in the snow, and EA Ski and Snowboard Training let’s you do just that. After going through training, you’ll be able to hit the slopes and get paid for it too.
Intern in a Variety of Fields with Spirit Cultural Exchange
With placements in science, engineering, communications, arts, hospitality and beyond, these paid internships for international students will have a wide range in pay depending on the host company.
Intern in the Music Industry in Los Angeles
La-La Land is more than just a Hollywood musical hit, it’s one of many nicknames of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world.
Intern in Marketing and Entrepreneurship in NYC with World Internships
More than just US summer internships for international students, these programs combine cultural excursions with workshops and networking. Explore companies through site visits and learn about top business practices through leadership meetings.
Intern in Washington DC and Earn Credit with Boston University
This program through Boston University blends coursework with a professional internship so that you’re receiving credit on top of professional experience in the workplace.
companies that offer paid internships in USA for international students
Fortunately, the companies on this list offer amazing internship opportunities that will have you doing so much more than grunt work. The following companies offer paid internships in USA for international students and domestic students as well. They empower their interns to own their projects, pick up new skills, and forge their own paths.
- Wells Fargo
- Apple
- Alcon
- Netflix
- Enterprise Holdings
- Fetch Robotics
- Thomson Reuters
- USA Today Network
- HCSC
- BMW of North America, LLC
- BAE Systems
- Clearlink
- Medidata
- TransUnion
- Duo Security
- Kendra Scott
- HP
- Epsilon
- Quantcast
- Yext
- Squarespace
- Sir Kensington’s
- The walt Disney Company
- Microsoft
Read about these companies in detail.
Top 20 companies with most prestigious internship programs and their rankings according to Vault
This past summer, Vault surveyed more than 11,000 current and former interns from more than 100 internship programs.
In addition to asking interns to rate and review their own internship experiences, we asked interns to rate the prestige of other employers to determine which paid internships in USA for international students and domestic students are the most desirable.
Interns were presented with a list of top companies and asked to rate each company on how prestigious its internship is on a scale of 1 to 10—with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.
Vault averaged the ratings for each employer, then ranked the companies in order, starting with the highest score as No. 1.
- NASA
- Apple
- Microsoft
- Tesla
- SpaceX
- Goldman Sachs
- Amazon
- J.P. Morgan
- Morgan Stanley
- The Walt Disney Company
- Nike
- NBA
- Deloitte
- IBM
- NFL
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Spotify
Below are their rankings:
| No. 1 | |
| NASA | No. 2 |
| Apple | No. 3 |
| Microsoft | No. 4 |
| Tesla | No. 5 |
| SpaceX | No. 6 |
| Goldman Sachs | No 5 |
| Amazon | No. 8 |
| J.P Morgan | No 9 |
| No. 10 | |
| Morgan Stanley | No. 11 |
| The Walt Disney Company | No. 12 |
| Nike | No. 13 |
| NBA | No. 14 |
| Deloitte | No.15 |
| IBM | No. 16 |
| NFL | No. 17 |
| Berkshire Hathaway | No. 18 |
| No. 19 | |
| Spotify | No. 20 |
Trends from Vault’s Internship Survey
In addition to ranking the companies with the best internship programs, Vault discovered some interesting facts about students, internships, and the internship search:
| 76.5% of internships were virtual this year, 10.9% were partially virtual, and 12.6% were entirely on-site. 38.4% of internships lasted less than 6 weeks, 24.2% lasted between 10 and 12 weeks, 12.0% lasted between 6 and 7 weeks, and 11.1% lasted between 8 and 9 weeks. 68.3% per cent of interns say the virtual aspects of their internships “exceeded their expectations,” 29.4% say the virtual aspects “met their expectations,” and just 2.3% say the virtual aspects “fell below their expectations.” Approximately 56 per cent of internships resulted in full-time job offers. “Career advancement in chosen industry” was the No. 1 deciding factor when choosing an internship. “Corporate culture” was the No. 2 deciding factor, followed by “Opportunity for a full-time job offer” at No. 3, and “Pay” at No. 4. 42.6% of respondents found their internships through campus recruiting, 13.9% through a company’s website, 8.6% through professional networking, 8.4% through referrals/friends and family, and 8.3% through career fairs. When researching internships, most interns relied on their laptops or smartphones: 91.5% of respondents frequently used laptops, 37.0% frequently used smartphones, 16.1% frequently used desktop computers, and 8.0% frequently used tablets. |
Visa Requirements for international students
International students who are entering the united states for study purposes must possess an F1 visa.
F1 Visas qualify international students to work legally in the United States.
You will be required to provide proof of sufficient financial support while you demonstrate your acceptance by the institution.
Your intent to return home must be made clear. Students on the F1 student visa can choose to do Optional Practical Training to complete an internship.
International students who attend school in their home country
International students who attend school in their home countries, but still wish to go for the paid internships in USA for international students, can apply for a J1 visa through a program sponsor.
Many structured programs that provide internship placement and amenities such as housing and insurance, will also offer legal sponsorship.
Criteria for the J-1 Visa
Applicants must be full-time students or have graduated recently (you must commence internship no later than 12 months after graduation).
The applicant must be minimum 18 years old.
The applicant must have sufficient English skills to work in a company in the US.
All applicants must demonstrate their ability to comprehend and communicate in English.
Applicants must be enrolled in an academic program lasting at least a year. The educational program must result in an educational degree.
The internship must be relevant to the applicant’s study at home.
If the applicant has taken internships
medical internship in usa for international students
Interns are essentially first-year residents, who work alongside fully qualified doctors and medical staff in a working environment, where they practice and train under direct supervision.
To be able to get the paid internships in USA for international students as a medical student:
1) Applicants must provide official documentation that certifies satisfactory completion of requirements for graduation from a medical school approved by the World Health Organization.
2) To be eligible for an internship, the applicant must be ECFMG certified and be either a US Citizen or a Permanent Resident.
They cannot accept or sponsor visas of any type.
In addition, the applicant must meet all other eligibility criteria established by the UNC Hospitals Office of Graduate Medical Education.
3) At the time of application to the program applicants must have taken and passed a series of tests offered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) including both Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, and the Clinical Skills Assessment.
40At the time of application to the program applicants also must have taken the ECFMG English Language Proficiency and passed it.
Click here for full details of the requirements.
Intern in Hospitality Anywhere in the USA with IRES
International Recruitment Exchange Services, Inc is dedicated to matching interested participants with their ideal placement with guaranteed paid internships for international students. With IRES you can choose to work up to 12 months in hospitality or up to 18 in other industries.
Check out: 10 Best colleges for social work in California
Other things we covered in this guide:
Summer internship for international students
USA internships for international students
paid internship in usa for foreigners
online internship for international students