SideScholar
Career

Explore Free Online Internships at Forage with Certifications

Boost your resume with free job simulation internships and employer-backed certificates on Forage.

·
Free Online Internships at Forage with Certifications

The Forage Virtual Internship Program offers students, recent graduates, and career changers worldwide a free, self-paced pathway to build practical work experience with top global employers, through interactive job simulations designed by industry leaders, including Microsoft, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, and Citi.

Participants complete real-world projects, earn verified certificates, and gain direct visibility with corporate hiring teams.

Program At a Glance

Feature

Details

Platform Host

Forage (theforage.com)

Partner Corporations

Microsoft, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, BCG, Accenture, and more

Program Format

100% Online & Self-Paced (Virtual Job Simulations)

Cost

Completely Free

Target Audience

University Students, Fresh Graduates, & Career Changers

Eligibility

Open to All Nationalities (No prior experience required)

Accreditation

Free Downloadable Certificate of Completion

Application Deadline

Open Year-Round (Rolling Enrollment)

What Are Forage Virtual Work Experience Programs?

Forage operates as an open-access career platform that bridges the gap between traditional academic study and modern workplace demands. Instead of passive video lectures, Forage provides job simulations, interactive, project-based training modules created directly by talent acquisition teams at global companies.

Participants tackle everyday challenges faced by entry-level analysts, developers, and consultants. Whether you are analyzing financial data for JPMorgan Chase or solving a cybersecurity scenario for Deloitte, each simulation provides hands-on familiarity with professional workflows.

Key Benefits of Participating

  • Zero Financial Barrier: Access top-tier company training materials completely free of charge.

  • Flexible Learning: Programs are self-paced (typically taking 4 to 6 hours to complete), allowing you to fit them around academic schedules or existing jobs.

  • Verified Resume Boost: Receive an official certificate of completion signed by the partner organization.

  • Recruiter Pipeline: Partner companies use Forage to discover talent, frequently inviting high-performing participants to early-stage interview rounds.

  • Broad Career Exploration: Test-drive multiple fields—from investment banking to software development—before committing to a career path.

Available Career Tracks & Disciplines

Forage hosts virtual internships across a wide spectrum of industries:

  • Technology & Data: Software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, UX/UI design, and cloud architecture.

  • Finance & Accounting: Commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management, audit, and tax consulting.

  • Consulting & Strategy: Management consulting, risk advisory, and business transformation.

  • Law & Public Policy: Corporate law, intellectual property, litigation, and regulatory compliance.

  • Marketing & Media: Digital strategy, brand management, content production, and market research.

Eligibility & Technical Requirements

The Forage platform is designed for universal accessibility:

  • Who Can Apply: Students at any level (high school, undergraduate, postgraduate), recent graduates, and professionals changing careers.

  • Geographic Eligibility: Open globally to candidates of all nationalities.

  • Prerequisites: None. No prior work experience, GPA minimums, or technical backgrounds are required.

  • Technical Setup: A computer or laptop with a stable internet connection.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Getting started takes only a few minutes:

  1. Browse the Directory: Visit the official Forage Application Portal and explore available virtual internship tracks.

  2. Create a Free Account: Register using your email address or sign in via your existing Google or LinkedIn accounts.

  3. Select Your Program: Choose a simulation aligned with your target field and click Enroll.

  4. Complete the Modules: Work through the self-paced tasks, submit your work, and review model answer keys provided by company experts.

  5. Download Your Certificate: Upon completing all tasks, download your digital certificate of completion.

How to Convert Your Forage Certificate into a Real Paid Internship

Completing a simulation builds your skills, but taking strategic post-completion steps is what converts that certificate into a paid job offer:

1. Enable Recruiter Visibility

When setting up your Forage account, opt-in to share your profile and work samples with hiring managers. Partner companies regularly filter the Forage candidate database to invite proactive students directly to fast-track interviews and exclusive networking events.

2. Format the Experience Correctly on Your Resume

Feature your completion under a dedicated section titled Virtual Work Experience or Job Simulations rather than basic coursework.

Resume Formatting Example:

Deloitte - Technology Consulting Job Simulation | Forage

Completed July 2026

  • Analyzed client requirements to design a cloud-migration strategy for a legacy enterprise system.

  • Formulated data visualization dashboards using Excel and Tableau to present key performance metrics to stakeholders.

3. Apply via Dedicated Completion Portals

Most simulations include direct application links on the final dashboard page. When submitting formal job applications on the company's official career site, make sure to check the box indicating you have completed their Forage Virtual Work Experience.

4. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

  • Add your certificate under the Licenses & Certifications section.

  • Publish a brief LinkedIn post detailing 2-3 practical insights you gained from the simulation, tagging the host company (e.g., Microsoft or JPMorganChase) and using Forageo increase recruiter visibility.

5. Leverage Your Experience in Interviews

Use your completed tasks to answer behavioral and technical interview questions via the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Referencing specific project challenges solved during your simulation demonstrates practical competence and genuine initiative to hiring managers.

Certifications