Internships in California: How to Find One
The fastest way to find an internship in California is to email companies directly. California is strong in tech, entertainment, and biotech, with the most opportunities around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Most internships there are never posted publicly, so direct outreach reaches roles job boards never show.
Where the internships are in California
The biggest hubs are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and the strongest fields are tech, entertainment, and biotech. You're not limited to local roles either — many companies offer remote internships, so a good cold email works from anywhere in California.
How to reach California companies
- List 20–50 companies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego (plus remote-friendly ones).
- Email each with one specific reason you're interested.
- Attach your resume and send from your own email.
- Follow up once after five days.
FirstInternships gives you 16,000+ company recruiting inboxes — filter to California and remote roles and email each one personally. Free to start.
Find California companies →Frequently asked questions
How do I find internships in California?
Email California companies directly instead of only applying online. California is strong in tech, entertainment, and biotech, with hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Reach out with a short, specific note — and remember remote internships are open to you too.
What internships are common in California?
California is especially strong in tech, entertainment, and biotech, but companies across every industry hire interns there.