The value of internships cannot be overstated. Internships are your opportunity to step into the real working world and put what you’ve learned in school to the test. You’ll make valuable connections and perhaps set yourself up for employment after graduation.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many of the world’s top companies and organizations shifted to remote internships, and nearly a year later, many are still running their programs completely online. While remote internships cannot take the place of in-person internships, they still confer valuable work experience and networking opportunities. Additionally, with remote internships, many of the traditional barriers attached to completing a prestigious internship, such as transportation and living expenses, have been lifted.
Here are 10 of the best remote internships available in 2022.
Discovery Internships
It takes more than media personalities to run an entertainment company, and Discovery’s 12-week paid internship program reflects that. Discovery offers a variety of internships in many of its departments, including finance, ad sales, legal affairs, communications, production, software engineering, and much more. Interns shadow full-time employees, attend networking events, and receive hands-on training. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all internships will be held remotely for the foreseeable future.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount is undisclosed.
Eligibility:
- Must be a rising junior or senior, or graduate student enrolled full time at an accredited college or university
- Must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Must have the legal right to work in the United States
Google offers paid internships for students interested in all types of fields, including business, engineering, technology, sales, marketing, and more. Google moved all of its internships online in 2020 due to the pandemic and will keep them online for all of 2021. To make the experience rewarding, Google created a “development hub” full of the resources and tools that interns would need during their remote work, and Google regularly runs virtual social events to make sure that interns are able to meet as many Google employees and fellow interns as they normally would during an in-person internship. Google’s internships are typically between 12 and 14 weeks in length.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount varies by internship.
Eligibility:
- Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited college or university
- Additional criteria vary by internship
NASA
NASA offers fall, spring, and summer internships to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students over 16 years old. Upon the start of the program, interns are split up, integrated into NASA teams, and assigned to work on authentic NASA projects. That way, interns are actively contributing to NASA missions. For students pursuing careers in STEM fields, there are few more rewarding and exciting experiences than interning for NASA. Currently, all NASA internships are listed as remote.
Pay: Interns are paid a stipend that varies based on academic level and length of the internship.
Eligibility:
- Must be 16 years of age at the time of application
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must be a full-time student
- Must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NBC Universal
Each year, NBC Universal offers a wide range of internships to students pursuing careers in many different subjects, including production, marketing, development, communications, technology, and more. NBC interns are asked to contribute in hands-on ways and are placed in a program that fosters professional connections, development, and fun. For the foreseeable future, the vast majority of NBC internships will be held remotely. However, you should note that some of NBC’s remote internships still require that applicants be located in a certain city.
Pay: All internships are paid, but the amounts vary by internship.
Eligibility:
- Must be pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree at an accredited institution
- Must have completed at least 30 class credit hours
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must provide authorization to participate in an internship in the United States
- Must meet GPA requirements for some specific internships
NPR Internships
NPR’s internships are known for being very hands-on and engaging. From day one on the job, interns are given real responsibilities. They work side-by-side with full-time NPR employees and are asked to actively contribute to their respective departments. NPR hires interns to work in multiple capacities on many of its top shows, including “Morning Edition,” “Here and Now,” “Planet Money,” and others. For the foreseeable future, all internships will be held remotely. NPR’s winter/spring and fall programs are for 14 weeks while its summer program is for 12 weeks.
Pay: $15 per hour
Eligibility:
- Must be current students in an accredited degree program or have graduated no more than 12 months prior to the start of the internship
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
PayPal
PayPal offers internships for undergraduate and graduate students interested in many different subjects, including software engineering, risk management, analytics, and more. PayPal’s 12-week internships are meant to be very immersive, as students get the opportunity to work on real company projects. The internships also facilitate professional development by giving students the opportunity to participate in learning programs and networking events. The majority of PayPal’s internships are currently remote.
Pay: Unpaid
Eligibility:
- Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited college or university
- Additional criteria vary by internship
Ralph Lauren Summer Internship
Ralph Lauren’s 10-week remote internship program gives undergraduate seniors hands-on experience in the fashion retail industry. Throughout the program, interns will work side-by-side on creative projects, receive feedback from supervisors, and watch Zoom lectures led by executives. Those who stand out amongst their peers may be given full-time entry offers at the end of the internship.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount is undisclosed.
Eligibility:
- Must attend college full-time in the United States
- Must be in the final year of academic studies
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
- Must show a “demonstrated interest in the retail industry and a passion for the Ralph Lauren brand”
Salesforce Summer Internships
The global customer relationship management (CRM) software company Salesforce annually hires hundreds of interns from around the world to work on various company projects. While some of the company’s internships will be in-person in 2021, many of the U.S. based internships, including this sales internship in Virginia and this policy internship in the company’s Office of Ethical and Humane Use, will remain remote. Salesforce internships are known to provide students with hands-on experience. Finding a remote opportunity simply requires a bit of searching on the company’s job listings page.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount is undisclosed.
Eligibility:
- Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited college or university
- Additional criteria vary by internship
Simon & Schuster Summer Internship Program
The book publishing company Simon & Schuster is offering a remote summer internship program for college students who want to pursue careers in publishing. Depending on interest, experience, and academic coursework, students are placed in either the company’s editorial, marketing, publicity, or production department. However, interns are able to explore all aspects of the book publishing industry through presentations, events, programs, and networking opportunities.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount is undisclosed.
Eligibility:
- Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate (juniors and seniors are preferred) or graduate student
- Must have a “true passion for books”
WarnerMedia
The mass media and entertainment corporation WarnerMedia offers dozens of 10-week, remote internship opportunities for current college students interested in broadcasting, production, research, sales, finance, and much more. Students can gain valuable professional experience working for some of the world’s most recognized media and entertainment brands, such as CNN, HBO, and others. Interns for WarnerMedia don’t just sit back and observe. Instead, they are asked to actively contribute to the company.
Pay: Interns are paid, but the amount varies by internship and location.
Eligibility:
- Must be pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university
- Additional criteria vary by internship
Conclusion
Those fortunate enough to land any of the aforementioned internships can expect to be set up for great success in their careers. But, it is worth noting that many of the internships listed in this article are some of the most prestigious in the world. So, don’t kick yourself if you don’t get selected. There are many more virtual internship opportunities available with smaller companies that are just a few Google searches away.
