Is it too late in the year for students to find insurance internships?

Finding an insurance internship can seem challenging for college and university students, especially as the calendar year progresses from winter to spring to summer. This article offers valuable insights from industry experts on insurance internships, even when time appears to be running out.

• Insurance Internships Available Year-Round
• Adapt Your Strategy for Late Applications
• Proactively Seek Opportunities Beyond Big Firms
• Explore Flexible and Niche Roles
• Connect Directly with Local Agencies
• Leverage Industry’s Ongoing Talent Needs
• Showcase Initiative in Your Search

Insurance Internships Available Year-Round

No. The insurance industry follows a different cadence. It runs on policy cycles, client renewals, audits, and deadlines that happen year-round. You don’t have to wait for a “better time” to apply, as can sometimes be the case with other jobs.

Also, smaller firms and regional agencies are always juggling backlogs in claims, underwriting, compliance, and many other areas. They need the help, and they’re not always advertising internship programs. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t happy to extend these programs to students who want to learn the ropes.

I’d recommend researching five local agencies and reaching out directly to the operations manager, the CFO, or even the owner if it’s a small shop. Send a short, specific message that specifies what you do and how you can help them. If you’re offering help in an area where they probably need it, they’ll likely be open to your proposal.

Paul Carlson, CPA & Managing Partner, Law Firm Velocity

Adapt Your Strategy for Late Applications

It’s not too late—because in insurance, the hiring rhythm often follows business demand, not just the academic calendar. Shifts in policy, climate events, and tech rollouts create real-time needs for fresh talent, especially in claims automation, risk analytics, and regulatory tech.

What makes a candidate stand out now isn’t perfect timing, but alignment with what insurers actually need: analytical thinking, adaptability, and some grasp of emerging tools like AI in underwriting or fraud detection. Students who lean into those areas, even mid-year, often find doors still wide open.

Anupa Rongala, CEO, Invensis Technologies

Proactively Seek Opportunities Beyond Big Firms

It’s definitely not too late. The insurance industry has ongoing needs year-round, especially in areas like customer service, claims support, and marketing. Smaller agencies like mine are often more flexible and open to bringing on interns even outside the traditional summer window.

My advice: don’t wait for listings—reach out directly to local agencies or brokerages. Show initiative, express genuine interest, and you might land an opportunity others miss. In this industry, persistence and professionalism go a long way.

Nick Schrader, Founder, Second Western Insurance Services

Explore Flexible and Niche Roles

The short answer: it’s not too late — but your strategy needs to adjust based on timing. While most large insurance firms run structured internship programs with fall or early winter deadlines, many mid-sized companies, brokerages, and specialty insurers post openings well into the summer.

Moreover, in today’s landscape, alternative internships and project-based experiences are gaining traction. Many InsurTech startups and even departments within larger carriers offer flexible internship opportunities outside the traditional cycle, particularly in areas like data analytics, digital claims, and customer experience.

If you’re entering June still seeking an internship, shift focus toward companies without formal pipelines, explore paid project roles, or consider part-time internships that run into the fall. Leverage LinkedIn and industry-specific groups to connect directly with hiring managers — many insurance leaders value proactive outreach, especially from students showing genuine interest in the field.

A client of ours, a second-year actuarial science student, came to us in late May concerned she had missed the window for summer internships. Through targeted outreach and coaching on personal branding, she secured a hybrid internship with a regional insurer in July. This led not only to valuable work experience but also to a full-time offer contingent on graduation.

We see this pattern frequently — late applicants can succeed when they adopt a more direct, relationship-driven approach rather than relying solely on posted positions.

According to a 2024 report by the Insurance Institute of Canada, over 30% of entry-level insurance hires now come through informal or off-cycle internship channels. Additionally, a Deloitte 2024 Insurance Industry Talent Trends survey highlighted that over 40% of firms are increasing flexible and rolling internship opportunities to attract digitally savvy younger talent, particularly in areas like InsurTech and data science.

It’s absolutely not too late — but success at this stage depends on adapting your approach. Expand your target list beyond the large firms, network actively, and consider hybrid or off-cycle opportunities. In the dynamic insurance industry, where talent shortages remain an ongoing challenge, there is room for motivated students year-round. At Mindful Career, we consistently see late-stage internship seekers land roles, often with outcomes just as strong as those who followed the early timeline.

Miriam Groom, CEO, Mindful Career Inc., Mindful Career Coaching

Connect Directly with Local Agencies

No! It’s only too late if you’re only looking at the big names.

Most large insurers wrap up summer internship recruiting early, but mid-sized agencies, insurtech startups, broker networks, and other insurance companies continue to hire well into June and even July. Many of them don’t advertise on job boards. They post on LinkedIn or hire from their local network.

What to do now:

1. Email local agencies directly. Be upfront. Say you’re looking to shadow or contribute part-time this summer.

2. Target niche roles. Look at claims, underwriting support, digital marketing, and compliance. These teams often have flexible short-term needs.

3. Offer remote availability. Many insurance firms now hire interns for virtual roles, especially in content, customer experience, or data cleanup.

Bottom line: Skip the HR portals. Reach out like a future peer, not just a student. The insurance industry rewards persistence. This field isn’t flashy, but it’s wide open for people who actually show up.

James Shaffer, Managing Director, Insurance Panda

Leverage Industry’s Ongoing Talent Needs

Not at all—it’s definitely not too late! In the insurance industry, many companies offer fall internships or part-time roles that align with the academic calendar. Plus, some programs are more flexible than you’d expect—they’re open to students year-round. Even if formal internships are full, you can still find opportunities to shadow professionals, volunteer in related roles, or join insurance associations for students.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” internship window. Start reaching out to companies, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and keep checking job boards. Initiative goes a long way in this industry, and showing that now can help open doors not just for internships, but for your future career.

Nathan Weller, Head of Content and Licensed Insurance Agent, Insuranks

Showcase Initiative in Your Search

I can assure you—it’s definitely not too late. While many internships in the insurance industry begin recruiting in the fall or early spring, there are still plenty of late opportunities available, especially with smaller firms or agencies that hire based on immediate needs. Consider thinking outside the box: look into roles such as claims support, underwriting assistant, or data analysis with insurers, brokers, or even InsurTech startups. Many companies also offer year-round project-based internships or remote roles.

My advice is not to wait for a listing—be proactive. Reach out directly to HR teams or hiring managers on LinkedIn, express your interest, and demonstrate how your skills can bring value. The insurance industry values initiative and problem-solving. So yes, the window is still open—you just have to knock on a few doors to find it.

Brian Greenberg, CEO, Quoteplicity Inc