Thinking about what you will do with your career life, and want to get the best preparation in place? If you are in high school and think it is too early to start thinking about what college you want to go to, if you should get an internship, and what industry you are most interested in…brace yourself, because it’s never too early to start planning this stuff, if you want to have a successful career. A good first start is a concept of what your career interests might be, and second to that-try it out with an internship. A high school internship? It seems early, right? Though internships used to be exclusively for college students, more and more high school students are taking up positions in real world internships to get themselves ready for a career after college or even high school. Here’s what you need to know.
First, why might you need an internship if you are in high school is that most high school students do not consider it; so therefore, you offer a more career-conscious impression to the internship employers and colleges that you will be applying to. Also, it is a great way to get an idea of a certain industry or career that you’ve always been interested in, is the right one for you. Try it out with an internship, as most only last a season or half a year-which is more than enough time to recognize if this field is right for you. Moreover, an internship at this level in your life gives you hands on idea of how an organization works, how a professional business runs, and offers even administrative skills for future part time jobs. Lastly, an internship gives you a network of industry contacts that can help guide you in the right direction towards your career goal, and also offer potentially great recommendations.
Second, where do you find an internship-when so many are looking for college students? While it is true that most companies have been known to primarily hire college students, many are now offering programs and opportunities for high school students. This said, start conducting searches online, asking parents about their contacts, and ask your high school student counselors. All of these are great resources for finding an internship for your career. Moreover, if there is a company that you have always considered contact them and ask if they would consider offering an opportunity for a high school student internship.
Beyond these wide network of resources, is a list of great companies that are actively offering programs for high school students. Good examples are the following, and if interested, you should check out their site and contact them for more information:
• Smithsonian
• Museum of Modern Art
• Microsoft
• John Hopkins University
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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