Finding the right internship opportunities
Most high school students have zero clue about what career they want to pursue or what field they want to enter— that’s okay. Internships are a great way to dip your toes in the water and make some personal discoveries; they provide valuable work experience that you can include on your resume and college application.
What Is an Internship?
An internship is the tip of the iceberg for any profession. It provides an entry-level experience, and as an intern, you can gain hands-on knowledge to use in future jobs.
Internships are very flexible and can take a variety of forms. They can be in the summer or during the school year, paid or unpaid, and last anywhere from a few weeks to a year or more. Don’t be afraid to apply for any internship— they usually require little or no experience in a particular field.
What does an intern do?
The work you do during an internship depends on where you choose to work. You might be giving tours at a museum, loading centrifuges in a lab, or one of many other options. Most of the work you will end up doing is entry-level work at the organization. Good employers will try to assign different types of jobs to demonstrate the different career paths. You may end up working with other team members, customers, on your own, or any combination of these.
Why should you become an intern?
Internships are important for the following reasons:
Gain Experience and Skills
Earning valuable experience and increasing your skillset at such as a young age is important for future jobs and classes. If you truly want to pursue a future in the field you’re interning in, then it’s important to show interest to increase the chances of getting a full-time job in the near future. The skills you learn can also make your college classes easier. The most important thing to remember is that you will learn something new. Knowledge will help you in the future, and there are virtually no downsides in working as an intern.
Learn About Different Career Paths
Working as an intern in high school is a low-risk way to learn about different professions and fields. They provide insight on how skills are highly valued, while still teaching you. You can also learn that you don’t really want to pursue a field that you were in love with, or you may gain a passion for a job you didn’t find interesting. It’s better to find out these things in high school rather than waiting until you’ve finished college and started working; it can save you thousands of dollars worth of classes for a profession that you won’t love.
Strengthen Your Resume and College Application
Internships look amazing on job and college applications. They demonstrate qualities that colleges and future employers like to see. Completing an internship is no easy task; it demonstrates commitment and interest in learning new things.
Should You Do an Internship If It’s Unpaid?
Unfortunately, many internships, especially high school internships, aren’t paid. Companies try to cut down costs by delegating work to unpaid interns, and interns usually require a lot of training and can only do entry-level work. Perhaps over time, an intern can build up the skills to take on harder work. However, even if an internship is unpaid, you may still want to consider doing it.
Great internships teach you more than any class you can take. You’ll learn more about careers, work with professionals, and gain hands-on experience. You may also be able to get academic credit for an internship- meaning it can count as a class on your high school transcript- which looks really good for colleges. However, if you’re looking to make money, then doing an unpaid internship isn’t the best option for you. But, doing an unpaid internship now can help you get a paid job or internship in the future because you will have had experience.
Where to Find High School Internships
High schoolers are trying more and more to get internships. However, most internships are still primarily for college students. This shouldn’t discourage you from searching for any opportunity and seizing one. Use the resources you have at your disposal!
School
High schools usually have guidance counselors that try to find extra opportunities for students. Many schools have arrangements with business to feed them interns; Schools also have lists of places where previous students worked. Talk to your academic advisers to learn more about what possibilities are out there!
Directly ask companies
Never rule out asking directly. Certain companies or organizations will give you a chance. Make sure to have a resume and practice selling yourself. Have your thoughts and goals in order to demonstrate your interest and make a good first impression. Contact the company and ask if they offer internships for high schoolers. If they don’t, and you’re still interested, ask if they offer shorter-term opportunities.
Internet Search
The internet is a powerful weapon in finding opportunities. Search for internships in your area. However, since most internships are for college students, you might not have a lot of luck. However, it’s guaranteed that if you put in the effort, you will find something. It might be easier to filter the results to “high school internships” to increase your yield.
You can find a lot of opportunities, but make sure that they’re legitimate. There are tons of scams and suspicious activities. Conduct background checks on sources to see that you’re going in the right direction. Be wary of companies that want money to get you started with an internships— most of these are scams.
Questions to Ask Before Accepting an Internship
Many companies are starting to offer unpaid internships as a way to get free work. They offer little useful knowledge; instead their interns do repetitive basic tasks and never have the opportunity to learn something new. Research internships before accepting them, and talk to people to get answers.
What Duties Will I Do?
Ask the employer to describe the day-to-day work because sometimes what they say is different from the job description. Listen carefully to their answers, and ask for clarification if necessary. Ask them if you will have an opportunity to try something that you’re interested in. If you’re applying for research internship, and you’re very interested in dealing with anions, ask them about it! But more importantly, make sure you’re not spending all the time cleaning the lab equipment. There will be busywork, but make sure you’re at least learning something.
How Much Are Interns Expected to Work?
Some people want to get the most hours out of their interns. So make sure that you and your employer agree to something beforehand. Employers should have written records that state how many hours you will be working. If they don’t, ask for one before you begin working. Make sure to have this, or be prepared for the possibility of being exploited!
What to focus on in your internship?
If you get an internship, there are two important things that you should focus on. Both things are so important not only in internships, but in all stages of life. Learn and connect!
Learn as Much as You Can
For most internships, the harder you work, the more you get out of it. Learning is the most important part of any internship. Try your best at every assignment that’s assigned to you— you might need these skills down the road. When finished, ask for more work! Do anything to demonstrate your work ethic! If you don’t know how to do something, ask a supervisor! As an intern you have a lot of room for not knowing stuff, after all, that’s why you’re there. Make sure to talk to your supervisors about specific aspects of the job that interest you and try to understand how everything is applied.
Make Connections
Make sure to make a professionals connections that might help you get a job in the future. This might be a good time to set up a LinkedIn profile and stay connected. If people like to work with you, then it will be so much easier to get a job you want. Speak to as many people as you can. Each contact is valuable and you’re bound to run into them in the future.