Where to Find Actual Good Internships
Internshala, Hello Intern: 1000+ listings but quality varies. Filter aggressively.
LinkedIn: Search 'marketing intern' + your city.
Direct outreach: message 30 marketing heads at brands you admire. Higher hit rate than job boards.
Twitter/X: follow Indian marketers. They post intern openings before LinkedIn.
The Cold Outreach Template That Works
Subject: '[Brand], I built [X] for fun — can I help with your performance marketing?'
Body: 50 words. (1) one specific compliment about their recent campaign, (2) what you built (link), (3) ask for a 15-min call. No resume attached.
Follow up once after 5 days. Then move on.
Portfolio: What Founders Actually Want
3 short case studies (300 words each). Real campaigns. Honest results — failures count.
One viral content piece you made (a thread, a reel, a long-form article).
A public LinkedIn profile that looks like a marketer, not a student.
Stipends in 2026 (Honest Numbers)
₹5K-₹10K: most early-stage startup internships.
₹10K-₹20K: established agencies + Series A-B D2C brands.
₹20K-₹35K: top-tier MNCs + senior internship programmes.
Money matters less than quality of mentor + scope of work.
Converting Internship to Full-Time
Months 1-2: prove reliability. Hit every deadline. Don't drop balls.
Month 3: own one campaign end-to-end. Document results.
Month 4: ask explicitly about full-time conversion + show your campaign case study.
Conversion rates at good agencies: 30-60% if you perform.
Red Flags in Internship Offers
'Stipend after performance' — usually a way to extract free labour.
No mentor named explicitly in the offer.
No clarity on which tools, accounts, campaigns you'll work on.
Trial period longer than 30 days unpaid.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do digital marketing interns earn in India?
Range: ₹5K-₹35K per month. Most realistic range for quality internships: ₹8K-₹15K/month. Top-tier agencies and MNCs pay ₹20K-₹35K. Don't accept unpaid internships — they're exploitative.
Do I need a portfolio for a marketing internship?
Yes — but 'portfolio' can be small: one campaign, one viral post, one well-researched analysis. Founders care about evidence of execution, not polish.
How long are digital marketing internships in India?
Typically 3-6 months. Some are 6-week summer internships during college breaks. Longer internships (6+ months) have higher full-time conversion rates.
Can I get a digital marketing internship without a marketing degree?
Yes — most interns are not marketing majors. Show you've done some work (a blog, a campaign for a friend's business, a viral thread) and you'll be ahead of 80% of applicants.