Virtual work experience has become a standard part of student applications across law, finance, technology, and consulting. Understanding which programmes carry genuine weight, how to describe them effectively, and how they compare to in-person experience gives you a significant advantage when applying to competitive programmes.
What virtual work experience actually is
Virtual work experience is structured professional experience completed remotely — typically online. It takes three main forms. First, self-paced modules on platforms like Forage, where employers publish simulated tasks that students complete in their own time. Second, live virtual programmes, where employers run insight days or work experience weeks over video call, with structured sessions, networking, and sometimes assessed components. Third, genuine remote placements, where an employer gives you real tasks to complete and feedback on your work — rarer but the most substantive form. The most widely used platform is Forage, which hosts programmes from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Clifford Chance, BCG, Deloitte, PwC, Microsoft, and many others. These are free to complete and recognised by employers.
What counts and what does not in applications
Not all virtual experience carries equal weight. A self-paced Forage module from a named major employer — Goldman Sachs, Clifford Chance, BCG — is recognised and respected when described specifically. An unnamed "online work experience programme" from an unfamiliar provider carries little weight. The test is: can you describe specifically what you did, what you learned, and what it taught you about the industry? If the answer is yes, the programme is useful. If you completed it in thirty minutes without retaining anything meaningful, it will not help you in an application or interview.
The best virtual work experience programmes available
In law: Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Linklaters, Freshfields, and other firms run virtual open days and Forage programmes. Some include assessed elements and fast-track paths to vacation scheme applications. In finance: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and others run investment banking and markets virtual programmes on Forage. In consulting: BCG, Bain, Accenture, and Deloitte run case-based virtual programmes that simulate client work. In technology: Microsoft, Lyft, and others offer software engineering and product virtual programmes. Some employers also run competitive live virtual experience programmes separately from Forage — these are more selective but carry more weight.
How to describe virtual work experience in applications
Be specific. "I completed Goldman Sachs' investment banking virtual experience on Forage" is a starting point. What makes it useful is describing what you actually did: "I worked through an equity research task, constructed a discounted cash flow model, and prepared a client investment recommendation. This confirmed my interest in public markets and the analytical rigour required for the role." Compare this to: "I completed an online finance work experience programme." The first gives the interviewer something to engage with. The second does not.
How virtual experience compares to in-person
In-person work experience consistently carries more weight in competitive applications. Spending a week at a law firm or an insight day at an investment bank involves genuine human interaction, observation of real work, and the opportunity to build relationships with practitioners. Virtual modules cannot fully replicate this. However, virtual experience is far better than no experience, and for students with geographical, financial, or caring constraints, it provides a meaningful and legitimate way to demonstrate sector knowledge and initiative. The strongest applications typically combine virtual experience (showing breadth of exploration and sector knowledge) with at least one in-person experience (showing genuine engagement and commitment).
Making the most of virtual work experience
Approach virtual programmes as if they were being assessed — because in a sense they are. Complete them fully rather than rushing. Take notes on what you find interesting, surprising, or challenging. Research the employer before starting so you can engage with the content rather than just clicking through it. After completing a programme, write a brief reflection — two or three paragraphs about what you did, what you learned, and what it made you think about. This reflection becomes the material you use in future applications and interviews. If a programme offers a certificate, save it. Some employers track Forage completions and this can occasionally trigger fast-track invitations.
Checklist
- Identified two or three sectors you want to explore virtually
- Selected programmes from named, recognised employers
- Completed programmes fully rather than rushing through
- Taken notes on tasks completed and key learnings
- Saved completion certificates
- Written a brief reflection on each programme
- Combined virtual experience with at least one in-person opportunity
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing virtual programmes by name without describing what you did
- Completing programmes too quickly to retain anything useful
- Treating virtual experience as equivalent to in-person without supplementing it
- Not taking notes — making the experience harder to reference in applications
- Choosing programmes based on prestige of the name alone rather than genuine interest