Internships in Illinois: How to Find One
The fastest way to find an internship in Illinois is to email companies directly. Illinois is strong in finance, consulting, and manufacturing, with the most opportunities around Chicago and its suburbs. Most internships there are never posted publicly, so direct outreach reaches roles job boards never show.
Where the internships are in Illinois
The biggest hubs are Chicago and its suburbs, and the strongest fields are finance, consulting, and manufacturing. You're not limited to local roles either — many companies offer remote internships, so a good cold email works from anywhere in Illinois.
How to reach Illinois companies
- List 20–50 companies in Chicago and its suburbs (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 Illinois and remote roles and email each one personally. Free to start.
Find Illinois companies →Frequently asked questions
How do I find internships in Illinois?
Email Illinois companies directly instead of only applying online. Illinois is strong in finance, consulting, and manufacturing, with hubs in Chicago and its suburbs. Reach out with a short, specific note — and remember remote internships are open to you too.
What internships are common in Illinois?
Illinois is especially strong in finance, consulting, and manufacturing, but companies across every industry hire interns there.