Okay, Class of “When Will This End,” let’s address the brutally honest truth: The virtual internship is now America’s greatest shared experience, just behind stress-eating and arguing with your family at Thanksgiving. In this brave new world, your living room doubles as a corner office, and the only thing more unstable than your Wi-Fi connection is your faith in the traditional job market. So you want a virtual internship? Of course you do—there’s no commute, pants are optional, and you might actually get work experience instead of just making copies and pretending to like batch-brew coffee.
But which platform is worth your login gloom and doom? Allow me to introduce the definitive, savage roundup of the top U.S. virtual internship platforms in 2025, so you can chase resume sparkle without changing out of sleepwear.
Internships.com: The “We Own Your Summer” Platform
Welcome to Internships.com, the OG digital internship cartel that’s been “connecting students and desperate companies” since Zoom was just that weird iPad app.
What’s hot here?
- Search thousands of virtual internships in every field—from “Viral Media Guru” to “Junior Spreadsheet Enthusiast.”
- Automated spammy emails about openings you’ll never actually get. Glorious.
- Application process is one click away—and then fifty more clicks after that.
Bonus perk: Job-pocalypse survivors unite here to swap tales of ghosted cover letters and HR managers who swear you’ll “definitely hear back.” You will not.
Handshake: Where College Dreams (and Data) Go to Live
Ever wish your college career center stalked you on the internet? Good news! With Handshake, your university is always watching, coaching, and occasionally—accidentally—inspiring you to get a virtual internship.
Why Handshake feels… unavoidable:
- Auto-synced with your student record, so you’ll “forget” you already applied for that Amazon remote gig.
- Recommends roles based on your major (read: the AI keeps suggesting you “try sales” if your GPA isn’t “investment banking” approved).
- Networking events, minus the awkward pizza.
Sarcastic insight: Best place to realize that everyone on your floor is also applying for the exact same 12 positions at Google.
Parker Dewey: The Gig Economy of Virtual Internships
Freelance but make it Gen Z, and throw in a resume builder. Parker Dewey is the home of the “micro-internship”—because why do a six-month slog if you can race through a project in two weeks?
Here’s the pitch:
- Short-term projects with sometimes shocking specificity: “Rank our TikToks by meme potential.”
- Get paid per gig, so you can finally afford Starbucks pink drinks… for one day.
- Networking is replaced with “just finish the Google Sheet, thanks.”
Side comment: If side hustles are your vibe, or long-term commitment is your nightmare, a virtual internship here equals career ADHD with side of Venmo income.
LinkedIn: If It’s Not Posted, Did You Even Intern?
Virtual internships live and die on the altar of LinkedIn approval. If you want coworkers to “celebrate your work anniversary” for a job that lasted eight weeks, post here.
- Vault of unpaid, underpaid, and don’t-ask-what-you’ll-be-paid remote gigs.
- Biggest perk: flex your #OpenToWork banner and accumulate “endorsements” for skills you googled at 2AM.
- DM recruiters and get left on read, like every true professional.
Pro tip: Make sure to update your bio to “Aspiring Remote Intern” every time you switch majors or follow a new TED talk channel.
WayUp: For When You Want to “Go Corporate” Without Wearing Pants
WayUp is practically the Hinge of virtual internships—filled with impossible-to-please employers and an interface that constantly pesters, “Did you update your resume?”
Fun facts:
- Offers personality quizzes that promise to find your perfect job match (spoiler: you get “Marketing Assistant” every time).
- Lists mostly-ridiculous requirements for “entry-level” positions (“We prefer you already have five years of experience, a drone license, and psychic abilities.”)
- Video interview feature, so you can perfect your “I’m definitely not in bed right now” face.
Prediction: You’ll apply to the same job at least twice, then rage-quit and update your story with “#grind.”
Cheeky Alternatives: TikTok and Remote OK
Not feeling the classics? Why not…
- Make a viral TikTok to get noticed (“Internship #GRWM but make it WFH chaos!”)
- Browse Remote OK for “global” gigs (translation: arguing over time zones with people in eight countries)
Little known fact: “Non-traditional” is just code for “Please, anyone, pay me to work from my couch.”
Things the Platforms Wish You Didn’t Know
- Yes, “virtual internship” means “unpaid” 60% of the time—read the fine print!
- “Exposure” isn’t a currency, last we checked.
- If a recruiter invites you to a “quick call,” clear two hours and cue the ring light.
Conclusion: The Virtual Internship Olympics—No Torch, Just Wi-Fi
Congrats, you’ve now toured the modern circus of U.S. virtual internship platforms—the only gameshow where the prize is a LinkedIn badge, bragging rights, and maybe, MAYBE, a job next summer. Will you get ghosted? Absolutely. Will you learn something? If you count “optimizing the mute button” as a skill, YES.
May your bandwidth be stable, your emails be answered, and your interview attire forever be business up top, chicken-nugget party below. Virtual internships—old world pain, new world pajamas, and a future best navigated with maximum sarcasm.