15 Fun Online Internship Ideas, Activities, and Games

Here is our list of the best online internship ideas.

Online internship ideas are activities, games, and events to engage interns in a virtual workplace. Examples include welcome kits, career fairs, and speed networking. The purpose of these activities is to show remote interns your company’s positive and welcoming culture.

These ideas are similar to examples of online orientation ideas, remote employee engagement ideas, and team social ideas.

This list includes:

• online internship event ideas
• group games for online interns
• online intern activities
• online intern social ideas
• online intern party ideas

Here we go!

List of online internship ideas

From spirit weeks to book clubs, here are our top internship orientation ideas for remote employees.

1. Welcome Kit

If you want to get interns excited about their first day of work, then we suggest mailing welcome kits to their homes. Your welcome kit should include fun and useful items, such as T-shirts and office supplies.

Here are a few more items to include in your intern welcome kit:

• New to the Team Kit
• A Truly Great Intern is Hard to Find Coffee Mug
• Cool Intern T-Shirt
• Thanks For Being EPIC Bamboo Phone and Tablet Holder
• Full Color Note Organizer & Paragon Pen
• Growing Succeeding Plant Cube
• Together We Make a Difference Copper Keychain

We also recommend asking your CEO or another senior-level executive to write a welcome letter to interns. Be sure to include this personal message in your welcome kit to make these new hires feel extra special.

Here are more online team building kits and employee welcome gifts.

2. Breakfast Club

When working remotely, interns may not have the opportunity to connect with their peers as much as they would in the office. Therefore, we recommend scheduling recurring video chats during the breakfast hour. Be sure to schedule these chats once or twice a week around 8:30 or 9 a.m., and encourage interns to bring their breakfast.

This activity aims to give interns a chance to connect with each other before the workday begins. This meal should be a casual time for interns to unwind, network, and socialize with peers. Interns can talk to each other about personal interests, hobbies, and life outside of work. Alternatively, interns can also discuss their current work projects while seeking advice and ideas from fellow interns.

Breakfast clubs can help interns begin their day positively while building camaraderie in a virtual work environment.

3. StrengthsFinder Activity

If you are looking for insightful online intern activities, then we recommend StrengthsFinder. This activity is a personality test and career development tool that helps users discover their top strengths.

To make this activity engaging, ask interns to take the quiz independently. Then, set up a Zoom meeting to discuss the results. After taking the assessment, interns will see which of the four categories their strengths fall into. These categories include strategic thinking, relationship building, influencing, and executing. Having interns take this assessment can help them discover their areas of strength and weakness.

During the meeting, have each intern share their top three strengths as well as one result that surprised them the most. Then, start a group discussion on how all team members can make the best use of their strengths and how their results can help advance their careers.

The StrengthsFinder Activity is a great way to begin a conversation on career development and future goals.

Check out StrengthsFinder. ​

4. Spirit Week

One of the most engaging online intern activities is spirit week. Spirit week is a weeklong activity that boosts excitement and team bonding.

Here are a few themes to consider for your spirit week:

• Meeting-Free Monday: Encourage managers to hold off on meetings during this day.
• T-Shirt Tuesday: Share pictures of your favorite outfits and T-shirts.
• Wacky Wednesday: Wear unique and out-of-the-box clothing and accessories.
• Throwback Thursday: Dress up in clothing from your favorite decade, such as the 1950s, ’80s, or ’90s.
• Free Friday: Provide free giveaways to interns all day long.

Be sure to set up a Google Drive folder for interns to upload their photos from each day. You can also host daily Zoom calls for interns to get together, chat about the day’s theme, and participate in team building exercises.

Here are more online spirit week ideas.

5. Career Fair

One of the most insightful online internship event ideas is a career fair. To set up your career fair, invite full-time employees from different departments to prepare presentations. Each presentation should provide an overview of the department, exciting projects, and essential skills needed for the role.

Here are some basic guidelines for your career fair:

1. Schedule a Zoom meeting.
2. Set up breakout rooms.
3. Assign one department to each breakout room.
4. Send interns to their desired breakout rooms.
5. Have each department share their presentations.
6. Hold a quick Q&A session at the end of the event.

Career fairs can encourage students to explore different departments and career paths, such as marketing, technology, and sales.

Here are online career fair ideas.

6. Ice Cream Social

One of the best online intern social ideas is an ice cream social. The purpose of this event is to bring interns together in a casual setting. We recommend mailing ice cream care packages to each intern before your event.

Here are a few items to include in your ice cream care package:

• Two to three ice cream flavors
• Chocolate syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Sprinkles
• Cherries
• Whipped cream
• Fruit

Then, set up a Zoom call for interns to meet. During this call, have interns assemble ice cream sundaes together while catching up and chatting. Be sure to encourage casual conversations as a way to unwind and relax from work. Ice cream socials provide the perfect opportunity for socialization.

7. Learning Circle

A learning circle is an engaging way for interns to learn from each other. To host a learning circle, have each intern choose a career-related topic, such as resume writing, interview prep, or marketing strategies. Then, ask participants to prepare a two- to five-minute presentation on their topic. Be sure to encourage interns to choose a subject they are passionate about so they can teach their peers about its importance.

Learning circles are a great way to encourage skill development, goal-setting, and career growth among interns.

8. Speed Networking

Speed networking is an effective way for interns to meet employees across your company. We recommend inviting full-time employees to participate and chat with interns during this event.

Here are some rules to set up your speed networking event:

1. Set up a Zoom meeting.
2. Organize several breakout rooms.
3. Assign participants to different breakout rooms.
4. Give interns five minutes in each room.
5. Move interns to new rooms every five minutes.

The purpose of this activity is to allow interns to network with employees across your company. In just five minutes, interns can talk to employees about their jobs, the company culture, and career advice. If participants wish to continue the conversation, then encourage them to exchange contact information to remain in each other’s network.

9. Show and Tell

You might remember participating in a show and tell during elementary school. However, this activity is also perfect as a team building activity for interns.

​During the show and tell, interns can build their presentation skills among their peers. Participants can talk about their passions and hobbies or interesting experiences they enjoy. For example, one participant can talk about a trip they took to California while showing pictures. Another intern can talk about their passion for painting and showcase their artwork.

Here are a few steps to help you host your show and tell:

1. Send out a sign-up sheet.
2. Set up a Zoom meeting.
3. Schedule participants for three- to five-minute presentations in the Zoom call.
4. Have interns talk through their presentations and share pictures or videos.
5. Moderate a Q&A session at the end of the call.

Show and tell allows interns to get to know each other by sharing their interests and passions. This activity is also a great way for interns to practice their public-speaking skills.

10. Book Club

Most interns are curious learners and active knowledge seekers. One of the best activities to help these employees continue to learn is a book club. To host your book club, choose a book focused on personal and professional development.

Here are a few self-help books to consider:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
• Find Your Way by Carly Fiorina
• The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
• Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
• The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

After you choose a book, give members two to three weeks to finish reading. During this time, you should also designate one intern to lead the book club. This employee will set up Zoom meetings and lead discussions with fellow members.

Choosing self-help books is a great way to motivate interns to invest time in their own development. Plus, the information from each book can help prepare interns for their future careers.​

11. Recognition Wall

If you want to show interns how important they are to the team, then we recommend creating a recognition wall. This virtual wall will showcase kind words that recognize your interns’ hard work.

You can follow these steps to set up your virtual recognition wall:

1. Open a blank Google Slides presentation.
2. Create a few slides with a decorative background and blank slots.
3. Send the collaborative link to teammates.
4. Ask employees to add photos and messages of recognition to interns.
5. Send the final link to interns.

The purpose of a recognition wall is to share positive messages of appreciation. To make sure you include all interns, ask each manager to add a photo and message for their intern. Messages should be positive and appreciative, such as: “Ana is a great addition to the team! She always steps up to the plate and helps out when we need her. She is hands-down the best intern we have ever had.”

Recognition walls can motivate interns while creating a positive team culture.

12. Round of Questions Icebreaker

If you are looking for group games for online interns, then we recommend the round of questions icebreaker. The purpose of this game is to have interns ask each other questions to get to know each other better.

To begin the game, have one intern ask a question to a coworker of their choosing. After answering the question, have that employee choose a different intern to answer a question. Continue this cycle until all interns have asked and answered at least one question.

Here are a few icebreaker questions for your game:

• What goals do you hope to accomplish during your internship?
• What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
• What is something you are proud of accomplishing?
• What are your passions, interests, and hobbies outside of work?
• What is your hidden talent?
• What is your ultimate career goal?

This icebreaker is one of the best ways for interns to get to know each other in a fun and lighthearted setting.

Here is a list of icebreaker questions.

13. Shark Tank

Shark Tank is a fun activity that allows interns to put their business acumen to the test. The purpose of this activity is to have interns pitch innovative ideas to company leaders.

You can host this activity by choosing three to five leaders or managers to act as “sharks.” The sharks serve as judges, giving each presenter insights, critiques, and questions. Then, host a Zoom meeting where each intern makes their pitch to the sharks. By the end of the activity, the judges will choose three pitches as the winners.

Be sure to encourage interns to share ideas specific to their department. For example, marketing interns may share launch plans for an upcoming product, whereas technology interns might share ideas and strategies for a new company website.

14. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great way to bring your team together. We suggest hosting an alphabet-themed scavenger hunt. For this game, you should create a list of items that follow alphabetical order.

Here are a few items to help you begin creating your list:

• Artwork
• Book
• Coffee mug
• Desk chair
• Eight paper clips
• Family member
• Garden

To begin your game, email your scavenger hunt list to all players. Then, meet all participants in a Zoom meeting, and give them 15 to 20 minutes to find as many items as possible.

Once time is up, invite players to return to the Zoom call. You can give players one point for each item. The player with the most points wins the game. Be sure to send a gift certificate to the winner.

Here are more online scavenger hunt ideas.

15. Farewell Extravaganza

One of the best online intern party ideas is a farewell extravaganza. To host this event, secure a date and time near the end of the internship program. Then, put together an agenda for the day. Your agenda should include fun and engaging activities on Zoom, such as a keynote speaker, team building exercises, lunch breaks, and networking hours.

To make this event more personal, we recommend creating a montage video featuring photos and videos of interns throughout the program. Be sure to debut this video during your farewell event so interns can remember their time at your company.

At the end of your event, make a toast to your interns. Remember to thank them for their hard work and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Conclusion

Working in a virtual setting has its advantages and disadvantages. Remote interns do not have to spend time commuting to the office, for example. However, interns may not be able to meet their peers in person when working from home. You can combat this issue by creating fun and engaging online intern orientation events and ideas.

We suggest creating a calendar of events and activities that interns can reference throughout the summer. Your calendar should include key dates, details, and Zoom links. Be sure to plan one to two activities per week to give interns plenty of opportunities to connect with coworkers.

Next, check out remote orientation ideas and remote meeting tips. You can also explore our lists of online career fair ideas, networking event ideas, and online spirit week ideas.