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