The Rise of High School Internships: What to Expect in 2025 and Beyond

07 Feb The Rise of High School Internships: What to Expect in 2025 and Beyond

Editor’s Note (Updated for 2025):

While this article was originally published in 2023, it has been fully updated to reflect the latest high school internship opportunities and trends for 2025 and beyond.

Want to take a high school internship? Here’s everything you need to know!

High school internships are a great opportunity for young adults to learn more as students. Beyond subjects like history, science, and English, internships give students real-world exposure that schools can’t always provide. An internship can help you discover what it’s like to work, how to connect with others, and what career you might want to pursue. Many internship high school programs also give students early exposure to career paths, preparing them for college and future professional opportunities.

Why take a high school internship

Taking a high school internship can feel intimidating, but it’s a valuable opportunity to explore future careers.

Not only will you be able to take a firsthand look into the industry that you’re interested in working in, but you’ll also be able to participate in a lot of hands-on activities, too! Pursuing a high school internship can also help you create connections that will last further on into your career – even if you might end up pursuing something different. Of course, you’ll also be able to improve your credentials, which is a major plus if you’re planning on applying to universities and colleges. High school internships are a way to show recruiters that you can balance your duties and are eager to learn. This matters because many universities value students with high school internships on their record, proving they are proactive learners.

What skills can you gain from high school internships?

Not only are high school internships a way to learn, connect, build confidence, and apply new skills, but they’re also a great way to personally improve your skills. You can learn a great deal about everything from communication and computer skills to marketing strategies and sales principles, depending on what kind of internship you choose to take. You’re also bound to learn more about yourself, what you’re capable of, and what you want to do!

What kinds of high school internships are available?

A common concern about taking up a high school internship is the kinds of internships that are available. Some students worry about internships being too time-consuming, too far away, or completely uninteresting!

Luckily, most high school internships are now more accessible: a lot of them are remote, meaning that you can work from home (or anywhere, really). It all depends on how you find those rising internship high school opportunities! Working in the right industry and in the right company can open doors of opportunities for you, and at a doable pace as well.

Which industries offer high school student internships?

Some of the most common industries that high school internships take place in are in business development, entrepreneurship, marketing, and information technology! There are even quite a few in graphic design and in non-profit organizations. Some companies will help you find the perfect high school internship, too – so make sure to enlist their help if you’re eager to find THE best fit for you.

Here are some other ways you can prep for a high school internship:

How can you make your CV shine for internships?

If you’re prepping for an internship, then it’s likely that you’ve been thinking about your resumé. You’re also probably wondering what the difference is between a CV and a resumé.

A CV, or a curriculum vitae, is a document that runs down your academic credentials and achievements. The length would depend on what kind of academic and extracurricular activities you’ve participated in, as well as how long you’ve been in school (for post-graduate students, particularly). A resumé lists down your relevant work experience, as well as what skills and strengths you have that are relevant to the job. So as a high school student, you’ll likely submit a CV rather than a resumé. 

What makes a CV stand out for high school internships?

One way to make your CV shine is by being descriptive but succinct about your accomplishments, as well as why you feel like you’re fit for the position. You should also share what you want to learn, what you’re willing to do, and how mutually beneficial it would be for you and the company to work together.

A standout CV would have a summary of your academic performance, why you’re interested in the field of work, and what you can contribute to the company. Adding achievements from extracurricular activities, science internships, or leadership roles demonstrates your readiness for responsibility and sets you apart from other applicants.

How do you stand out in a high school internship interview?

Of course, interviews are equally (if not more) important than your credentials. It’s essential for the people in the company to understand your personality, skills, and what you’re like as a person and team member.

Going into an interview, you can expect questions about why you want to take the internship, what you want to do next, and what you can bring to the table. You’ll likely also be asked what your expectations are and what you hope to accomplish! To be able to best answer these questions, you should do some research about the company and set some expectations for yourself. Are you hoping to learn certain software or programs? Is there a specific area in the company that you want to help out more in?

Also, think about the company’s values, mission, and vision, and if you align with them. Think about if it’s somewhere you might see yourself working, or if there’s something specific that they can teach you, too! 

Staying balanced during your high school internship

After securing your internship, you also face the challenge of making sure that you’re able to balance everything! After all, you wouldn’t want to overwhelm yourself with too much work or find yourself intimidated by a completely new environment. Finding the balance is key, so make sure to determine what type of setup works best for you and what makes you feel most comfortable and productive.

Make sure to check out these tips to help you manage it all! Many high school student internships also include mentorship, which helps students learn balance, productivity, and goal-setting while gaining real professional experience.