16 Dec High School Internships 101: A Complete Guide
Many say that high school is one of the best times of your life – and they aren’t wrong!
High school is an opportunity to get to know yourself, your interests, and the world around you. People certainly have different ways of going about this: some take up sports, dive head-first into a multitude of interests, or even travel to different places (or at least plan to). It’s surely a great time to work on some self-discovery before heading out into the real world.
One thing that teens often seek to gain experience? Jobs, of course! And internships are one of the best ways to get working, too. In fact, around 30% of high school students already work while in high school.
While work or high school internships can sound intimidating, they’re actually a great way to jumpstart your future career, or just get to know more about your own skills and interests.
If you’re curious about high school internships, keep reading:
Why take up high school internships
One thing you might think is that, “isn’t it too early to start?”
And the answer? No, not at all!
High school internships are a great way to navigate your existing talents and to further develop those. You can find some new ones, too! While some might think that internship work can be too challenging for younger students, it’s quite the opposite. It can actually be the ideal time to learn about yourself and the world around you.
Additionally, high school internships are a great way to improve your CV or resume.
When you apply for universities, you’re more likely to stand out to selection committees once you have a few different activities listed down. Taking up high school internships shows universities that you’re skilled and capable of committing yourself to different growth-oriented activities. So having even just one under your belt could give you an edge when it comes to college admissions.
Depending on the field or industry where you take up your internship, there are a ton of great opportunities around. High school internships are a great way to gain experience and learn more about yourself, too. Finding the right one can change your life and your career forever.
Where to find high school internships
Some of the most common high school internships are in the fields of social media, data entry, and admin work. So if your area has local businesses that need help in those parts of their business, you can approach them to see if they’re willing to take in interns.
Small businesses are likely to take on interns not only for their own benefit, but also to support their local high school students. These students who take up high school internships can help give them new, refreshing ideas – AND help them find future college interns, too. It’s a win-win situation.
Aside from searching where it’s physically near you, LinkedIn is also another option to check out when looking for high school internships. Its job search feature can help you connect with individuals or businesses who are in need of extra help. You can also use other similar sites like Indeed.com or Jobcase. Not only will these sites connect you with businesses in your area, but can also help you find remote internships that you can do from home.
When looking for high school internships online, all you would have to search is “(field) + internship.” For example, “marketing internship” or “data entry internship” would bring up a few different results for you! Depending on what it is you might be interested in, you’re sure to find a good opportunity.
How to prepare for high school internships
When looking for a high school internship, it’s important to prepare. Putting your best foot forward is a must.
The first step to do is of course, to complete your research. While you don’t have to have everything figured out at the beginning, it helps a lot to figure out what interests you and why you think you would be a good fit for a certain industry. So go ahead and look up future career paths, what tasks are included in a certain job, and so on and so forth.
In addition to completing your research, you should also be prepared to present yourself! Having a well-written CV can help you stand out from the crowd. Your list of credentials doesn’t need to be long or perfect, either – it’s something you can build over time. But you should be prepared to introduce yourself in document form… and of course, in in-person interviews and introductions.
When preparing for a high school internship interview, you can expect to be asked questions like the following:
“Why are you interested in this position?”
“What can you bring to the table?”
“What are your future plans?”
While these questions can seem heavy, they’re important factors for potential employers. Again, you don’t have to be the most perfect person or candidate. All you have to do is be honest about what you can do, what you can’t do, and what you want to learn and take on. Share your strengths, best qualities, and things you can still improve on. Sharing these shows that you have the self-awareness and willingness to learn, too.
Lastly, when you find yourself taking internships in high school, you’ll want to find a mentor or trusted adviser. Having someone to guide you through the different stages of your internship is a must! This person should be able to give you honest, constructive feedback and motivate you to keep learning.
Conclusion
All of this can seem like a big responsibility – and truthfully, taking up high school internships can be daunting. However, the payoff is well-worth it, as you learn firsthand and through practice. It can seem like an early decision, but it’s always great to shape your skills at any opportunity that you may have!
A high school internship can help shape up your credentials and skills for college, or teach you more about yourself and the industry you want to pursue. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to do so! If you find yourself still in need of assistance, check out this program we’ve made for students interested in high school internships.
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