To find an internship, first set a specific goal (sector, tasks, dates), target a short list of companies and send personalised applications, followed by a reminder a week later. Think about the agreement from the start too: without it, an accepted offer can't go ahead.
Sending out fifty identical CVs and waiting: it's the most common method, and often the least effective. Companies receive a lot of applications, and the ones that stand out are almost always from people who show they know what they want. Here's a simple method in five steps.
Where do you start when looking for an internship?
With one sentence. Before opening a job site, try to fill in: "I'm looking for a [length] internship in [field], starting [date], to [goal]."
For example: "I'm looking for a 4-month internship in human resources, starting in March, to discover recruitment in a small business." You'll use this sentence everywhere: in your email, on LinkedIn, in interviews.
Also ask yourself three practical questions:
- How long? Beyond two months, the company must pay a stipend. So some small businesses prefer short internships, while others are specifically looking for 6-month profiles.
- Where? A city, partly remote, abroad.
- Can I get an agreement? If you're still enrolled, your school takes care of it. If not, read our article on internship agreements for adults before applying.
Where should you look for internship offers?
Don't limit yourself to the big platforms. The best leads are often elsewhere:
- job sites (general and sector-specific): useful to see who's hiring, but very competitive;
- LinkedIn: follow the companies you're interested in, and see who posts about hiring;
- company careers pages, often updated before the platforms;
- speculative applications, especially to small businesses, which post few offers but do take interns;
- your network: former colleagues, classmates, associations. A recommendation is often worth more than a CV.
A typical case: Sofia is looking for an internship in fashion. Rather than answering the three visible offers from big fashion houses, she draws up a list of 25 independent brands in her region and sends each one a speculative application, mentioning a collection she liked. Three reply, and one invites her to an interview.
How do you write an application people actually read?
Recruiters read fast. Your application should answer three questions in a few seconds: who are you, what do you want to do, and why with them?
The CV
One page. At the top, a clear title ("Management control internship, 6 months, from April"). Then your experience and projects, with action verbs and concrete results where possible. If you're coming from another field, highlight your transferable skills: project management, customer relations, organisation.
The message
Five to eight lines are enough, whether by email or in a form:
- an opening linked to the company (a project, a product, some news);
- your internship goal, with dates;
- two things from your background that prove you'll be useful;
- a simple suggestion: a 15-minute chat.
Avoid stock phrases ("dynamic and motivated"). A specific example is more convincing.
Should you follow up, and when?
Yes. If you haven't heard back after 7 to 10 days, a short, polite reminder is perfectly normal. Mention your application in one sentence and add something new if you can: a finished project, wider availability.
One reminder is usually enough. After that, move on to the next company on your list.
Keep a tracking sheet: company, contact, date sent, reminder date, response. It avoids duplicates and shows you what's working.
How do you do well in an internship interview?
Prepare three things:
- your 1-minute pitch: background, goal, why this company;
- two or three concrete examples of situations where you solved a problem;
- your questions: day-to-day tasks, supervisor, tools used.
If the interview is by video call, test your connection and microphone beforehand. And have the admin question ready: "Who will sign the agreement on your side?" Showing you've thought about it is reassuring.
Which mistakes should you avoid while searching?
The most common ones:
- Starting too late. For a 6-month internship, several months of searching isn't unusual.
- Sending the same message everywhere. It's spotted straight away.
- Forgetting the agreement. A company can't take you on without an agreement signed by all three parties before the first day.
- Accepting vague tasks. The tasks must be linked to your course. An internship can't replace a permanent position (article L124-7 of the French Education Code).
- Overlooking length and stipend. Beyond two months of presence, a stipend is mandatory (article L124-6). Get the amount confirmed before you sign.
How do you get the agreement once you've found an internship?
If you're enrolled in a school or university, it draws up the agreement with the company.
If not (you've graduated, you're changing careers, you're job hunting), you need a training provider to sign it. That's what EDU Business Institute offers: you enrol in one of our 9 online courses of 200 hours, open to all profiles, and we prepare your agreement, for an internship of up to 6 months, within 24 to 48 business hours once your file is complete. The whole thing costs €299, payable in 3 instalments with Klarna.
Ideally, choose a course close to your internship: an internship at a communications agency naturally goes with the Marketing and Communication course. You'll find the full process on our internship agreement page, and the conditions of our refund policy in our FAQ.
FAQ: finding an internship
How many applications should you send?
There's no magic number. Around twenty targeted, personalised applications often get better results than a hundred identical messages.
Can you find an internship with no experience?
Yes, that's the whole point of an internship. Highlight your projects, your coursework, your volunteering or a student job: they show what you can do.
Do speculative applications really stand a chance?
Yes, especially with small businesses, which post few offers. The key is to reach the right person (the head of the department, not a generic address) and to suggest a specific internship plan.
Should you accept the first offer?
Not necessarily. Check the tasks, supervision, dates and stipend. An offer that's vague on these points is likely to go badly.
Build your experience through an internship
Whether you are a student or already a graduate, move from theory to practice: choose your program and your internship can start within a compliant framework.
