AptiGuide
You commented VIRTUAL — here is your answer

Free internships from the world's biggest firms.
No application. Any stream.

The resource I mentioned in the reel is called Forage. It is a free platform where Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, BCG, Deloitte and dozens of other global firms have built real work simulations — open to every Indian student, right now.

Finance Data Analytics Consulting Technology Law Marketing HR
Book a Session with Anshul → Join the WhatsApp Community

The platform is called Forage — theforage.com. It is free. It has been free since 2017. Most Indian students have never heard of it.

The Reveal
What Forage actually is — and why it matters for your resume

Forage is not a coaching platform. It is not another certificate mill. It is a platform where actual companies — the ones you want to work at one day — have designed real work modules replicating what their interns and junior employees actually do.

You complete the tasks. You get a certificate. That certificate lists the firm's name — Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, BCG — as the issuing organisation on your LinkedIn profile. A recruiter searching candidates sees a Goldman Sachs simulation listed on your profile. And it cost you a weekend.

🆓
Completely free
No registration fees. No course fees. No hidden charges. You create a free account and start immediately.
📋
No application needed
No interviews. No GPA cutoff. No selection process. Any student from any college in India can enrol right now.
⏱️
4 to 8 hours per program
Most full simulations take one weekend. Some shorter programs take 1–2 hours. Self-paced — do it at midnight if you want.
🏆
Certificate from the firm
On LinkedIn, the issuing organisation is listed as the company — Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, BCG — not a third-party platform.
Anshul's honest note

Forage is not a replacement for a real internship. Do not list it as work experience on your resume — list it under Certifications or Activities. But as a student with nothing on your resume, this is the most practical step you can take this weekend. I recommend it to every student I counsel who is trying to build a profile from scratch.


Which programs to do — by your stream

Forage has hundreds of programs. Most students open the catalogue and get overwhelmed. Below is my shortlist — the programs I actually recommend to students depending on where they are headed.

JP
JPMorgan Chase
Investment Banking Virtual Experience
You take on the role of a junior investment banker advising a client on M&A targets. You build a DCF model, analyse financial statements, and create a client-facing summary. This is the actual work a first-year analyst at JPMorgan does.
3–4 hours Finance / Commerce Excel skills needed
Start this program on Forage →
GS
Goldman Sachs
Operations Virtual Experience
Step into the role of an operations analyst at Goldman Sachs. You handle simulated financial transactions, solve client service problems, and understand how one of the world's largest investment banks actually runs on the inside.
1–2 hours Finance / Commerce Beginner-friendly
Start this program on Forage →
KP
KPMG
Audit & Assurance Virtual Experience
Work as a first-year associate on an audit engagement. You assess financial risks, apply materiality concepts, and understand how auditors think — core skills for students targeting CA, CPA, or audit careers at the Big Four.
2–3 hours Commerce / CA aspirants Accounting focus
Start this program on Forage →
DL
Deloitte Australia
Technology Virtual Experience
Work on platform engineering and coding tasks that simulate real technology consulting at Deloitte. You write development proposals, plan projects, and understand how tech professionals in a consulting firm approach business problems.
2–3 hours PCM / Engineering Coding & STEM focus
Start this program on Forage →
JP
JPMorgan Chase
Quantitative Research Virtual Experience
Learn how JPMorgan's quantitative research team uses data analysis, programming, and financial mathematics to support trading and risk management. Ideal for PCM students interested in finance + mathematics as a career combination.
6–7 hours PCM / Maths + Finance Python / Programming
Start this program on Forage →
DL
Deloitte Australia
Data Analytics Virtual Experience
Work on forensic data investigations and analytics tasks using Tableau and Excel — tools used daily in real data analyst roles. You analyse factory downtime data and conduct a gender pay equity analysis. Multiple Indian university students have completed this and listed it confidently in applications.
1–2 hours Any stream Tableau / Excel
Start this program on Forage →
KP
KPMG
Data Analytics Virtual Experience
A comprehensive data analytics project where you clean data, conduct exploratory analysis, build dashboards, and present findings — exactly what a data analyst at KPMG does in their first year. One of the most recognised Forage programs among Indian students in data roles.
3–4 hours Any stream Tableau / Excel
Start this program on Forage →
BC
BCG
Introduction to Strategy Consulting
BCG's strategy consulting simulation is deliberately stream-agnostic. You challenge assumptions, generate ideas using real consulting frameworks, and think through a business problem the way a BCG associate would. Arts and Humanities students who are strong analytical thinkers do very well in this one.
1–2 hours Any stream — Arts-friendly Strategy & Thinking
Start this program on Forage →
DL
Deloitte Australia
Data Analytics Virtual Experience
Arts and Humanities students are often stronger at interpreting and presenting data than they realise. This program uses Excel and Tableau for analysis and communication — skills that transfer directly into HR analytics, market research, and management consulting roles.
1–2 hours Arts / Humanities No coding required
Start this program on Forage →
BC
BCG
Introduction to Strategy Consulting
The most universally recommended Forage program. No technical background needed. Pure thinking and problem-solving — the way a consultant approaches a real business challenge. Do this one regardless of your stream as your first program.
1–2 hours Every stream Best starting point
Start this program on Forage →
All
Forage Full Catalogue
Browse all available programs
Forage has programs in consulting, finance, technology, data, law, marketing, HR, engineering, healthcare, and more. Once you have done one program, browse the full catalogue and pick two or three more aligned to where you want to go.
200+ programs Every stream Always free
Browse the full Forage catalogue →

How to use it
From sign-up to LinkedIn — the exact process
1
Go to theforage.com and create a free account
Takes two minutes. Use your personal email. No college email required. No verification barriers.
2
Pick a program from Anshul's list above based on your stream
If you are unsure, start with BCG Strategy Consulting — it is stream-agnostic, takes 1–2 hours, and gives you a strong first certificate. You can do multiple programs.
3
Complete the tasks genuinely — not just to get the certificate
Recruiters can ask you in an interview: "I see you did the JPMorgan simulation — what did you actually work on?" If you skimmed through, you will have no answer. If you did it properly, you will have a confident, specific story.
4
Download your certificate and add it to LinkedIn
On LinkedIn, go to Licenses & Certifications → Add. Under Issuing Organisation, type the firm name (e.g., Goldman Sachs). Add your credential URL. The firm's logo appears next to the certification on your profile.
5
Add it to your resume under Activities or Certifications — not Work Experience
This is important. Do not list it as an internship or employment. Forage's own referencing policy is clear on this. List it as a virtual experience program or certification. Use this format:
Correct resume format
Section: Certifications / Activities
JPMorgan Chase — Investment Banking Virtual Experience Program (via Forage) · June 2025
Completed simulated tasks including M&A target analysis, DCF financial modelling, and client-facing summary preparation using J.P. Morgan frameworks.
How to answer in an interview
"I completed the JPMorgan Investment Banking simulation on Forage. I worked through an M&A advisory task — identifying acquisition targets for a client and building a basic DCF model. It gave me a clear picture of what an analyst actually does day-to-day and confirmed that this is the direction I want to go."

Honest filter
Is Forage right for you right now?
✓ Do this if you are
In Class 11 or 12 and have no resume yet
A first or second year college student with nothing to show
Exploring what different careers actually feel like before committing
Preparing for college applications or MBA interviews
Targeting a corporate career in any stream
✕ This alone is not enough if you are
Applying to top MBA programs — you need real work experience alongside this
Already in final year with internship experience — this is a first-step tool
Looking for paid work or a stipend — Forage is unpaid simulation only
Expecting campus recruiters to shortlist you solely on this

Not sure which program suits your specific situation?

In a 1-on-1 session, Anshul can tell you exactly which Forage programs to pick, how many to do, and how to position them for your specific college applications or job interviews.

Follow on Instagram

@careertalksbyanshul @aptiguideinstitute

Explore More Career Guides