High school intern

Should you get a high school internship?

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While internships are incredibly important for many college students (like engineering students), did you know that you can actually get an internship in high school too? Not only that, but according to US News, high school internships are on the rise. In this article, we’ll explore why high school internships may be a good option for you, what alternative options you can consider, and some tips on how you can find high school internships. 

So, how important is a high school internship?

Well, it depends. 

I know that’s not the black and white answer you were looking for. But, let’s dig into the details so that you have enough information to judge for yourself. 

Some high schools require internships or similar work experiences as part of their curriculum. In this case, the answer is clear. You absolutely need an internship if your high school requires it! These tend to be private or specialized high schools that emphasize work-school programs.

So, what about everyone else? 

High school internships can definitely help you get ahead. However, not everyone has equal access to high school internship programs and they aren’t necessary to have a successful career. I’ve seen this to be true in my own career field of engineering, and it seems to be true in a lot of other career fields as well. 

Look at the career paths of people who inspire you. People you want to emulate. Did they have an internship in high school? I didn’t (more on my background here). What did they do instead if they didn’t have an internship?

In the next section, we’ll talk about the benefits of getting an internship in high school, as well as some alternative options to explore instead of getting an internship.

High School Internship benefits

Below are three major benefits of getting an internship while you’re in high school. And for those of you looking ahead, you can also read about the benefits of getting an internship in college here. 

1. High School Internships look great on college applications

Colleges love students that go above and beyond a typical high school curriculum. Internships, especially internships in the field you want to study, show college boards that you’re dedicated. That you’re interested in that field. That you’re committed to showing up every day. That you’re willing to go above and beyond to get hands-on experience.

For those of you considering engineering, engineering colleges want students that will thrive in their engineering programs. An engineering (or STEM-related) internship is a good sign that you will. The same is true for many other degree programs. 

Similarly, internships also look great on scholarship applications. They might also give you a leg up when it comes to applying for more internships later on.

Alterative options to help with college applications

Focus on getting hands-on experience in the field that you’re interested in. Find ways to prove to yourself and to the college board that you’re truly interested in that subject by experiencing it. Put your theory into practice. 

For engineering, this could be joining a STEM club, completing a student engineering challenge, or volunteering in a nearby machine shop. For more tips on boosting your college application in general, check out this article from prepscholar. It talks about how to get into the most competitive engineering programs out there.

If there’s a specific college you want to attend, Google search for tips on getting into that college or program. Every college and every program has their own processes. Also, find opportunities (like campus tours or online forums) to ask current students about their college applications and experiences. 

2. Internships build critical skills 

High school internships are a great way to build critical technical skills, team skills, and personal skills. Technical skills are specific to a career field, such as CAD modeling, 3D printing, and marketing techniques. Team skills help you thrive in team settings, such as giving presentations and leading discussions. Personal skills will help you in any situation, such as managing your own time and building self-confidence.

Skills you learn in high school will become a foundation that you will continue to build on the rest of your life. Those foundational skills can help you succeed in college and set you up for success later on in your career. 

Alterative options to help you build critical skills 

Fortunately, there are countless ways to practice building critical skills!

Need some ideas on what skills you should consider building? Check out these articles or do some of your own google searches based on schools or careers that you’re interested in.

Which skills sound interesting to learn about? Which may help you the most in college or in your future career field? 

Once you have some skills you want to practice, find ways to make that happen! Get creative. Want to practice public speaking? Volunteer for outreach events. Want to learn how to interact with customers? Get a part-time job at your local restaurant or store. Want to practice writing? Submit your writings to a local newspaper or online blog. 

Just remember that you’ll continually develop these skills throughout your entire life. Don’t be overwhelmed by the number of skills college recruiters and employers are looking for. Pick a couple of skills to start with for now. The key is simply to start and be willing to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and continually grow. This is called a “growth mindset” and it will help you build any skills that you want to learn.

3. Internships help with networking 

Internships help you network with other professionals. Why is networking so important? Building connections with professionals in your career field can open the doors to new opportunities and jobs down the road. More on networking statistics from Apollo Technical here. 

As an introvert, I have a slight fear of networking. Even now that I’m ten years into my engineering career, the word “networking” still makes me cringe a bit. However, I found that I’m much more comfortable in a team setting than I am at big conferences or dedicated “networking” events. So, for any fellow introverts out there, internships are a great opportunity for you to start connecting with professionals in your field. 

You’ll also likely build more lasting relationships with people that you work with for several months during an internship versus people you talked to once at a networking event.

Alterative options to build a network

There are many other ways to build relationships and connect with professionals. And it doesn’t just have to be professionals. Networking with educators, recruiters, college students, and other high school students are also beneficial. 

When you’re in high school, one of the easiest ways to start networking is by joining a professional organization. You may be able to join the professional organization as a high school student. Or they may have separate events, programs, or other opportunities just for high school students. Many of these organizations also have blogs or magazines that you can read to learn more about the field or industry that you’re interested in. 

Here are a few examples:

Is there a particular college or program you’re interested in? See if that school offers events for high school students. Those events will give you excellent opportunities to connect with current students or professors. 

How to find High School Internships

1. Talk to your high school counselor

Talk to your high school counselor, advisers, or teachers to see what options your school provides. 

Best-case scenario: your school may already have partnerships with local industries that will make your search extremely easy. Some high schools may even allow you time off during the school year to work part-time with a local company. 

Worst-case scenario: your school counselor may have some advice or ideas for you, so it’s still worth checking! 

2. Search the web

Finding high school internships online can be tricky. You’ll likely see a ton of opportunities for undergraduate students, but many of those internships have minimum age restrictions. 

To narrow down your search results, check out my advice on internship searches here. 

You can also start by reviewing high school internship lists. These are generally generic lists. But they’ll give you an idea of what kind of high school internships are out there. Here are two lists posted in 2022:

As you’re looking at companies or programs that offer high school internships, ask yourself the following questions:

  • When does the application process open? 
  • What prerequisites (e.g. minimum GPA, coursework, etc.) does the program require?
  • Summer internships may require travel, so look out for internships that will cover room and board or provide stipends. 
  • Bonus: search for reviews from students who have completed the internship before to make sure it’s worth your time.

3. Think outside the box 

Instead of a true “internship,” look for other part-time work or volunteer options that are related to your future career. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Search your local area. Check with local universities, laboratories, machine shops, museums, libraries, nonprofits, or other local companies that have STEM career fields. A good place to start is your local chambers of commerce (also a good place to check for scholarships).
  • Search for virtual opportunities. While not ideal for everyone, virtual work is great for practicing certain skills like coding and writing. 
  • Do some brainstorming → what kind of career are you interested in? Is there anything related to that career near you? Example: If you’re interested in biomedical engineering, see if the local hospital has high school internships or other opportunities. Even if you’re just restocking medical supplies or sorting paperwork, being in a medical environment will look good on future resumes and it’ll help you start learning medical lingo. You’ll also be able to meet various professionals in that hospital and learn about related career paths.

College versus high school internships

If you’ve been reading other articles on this site, you likely already know that I highly recommend that college engineering students get internships. Internships are the perfect way to get real industry experience that will set up engineering students for an engineering career. 

But, if you’re in high school, you’re likely in a different situation than college students! Maybe you’re still considering what career path you want to pursue. Maybe you live in a small rural town with limited industry connections. Maybe you have too many other important commitments and don’t have time for an internship. Maybe you’re studying extra hard to raise your GPA (another very important factor for your college applications!). 

There a many reasons that a high school internship may not be the right option for you. 

Personally, I didn’t complete any high school internship programs and it’s never held me back. But, I also worked hard in other ways. In high school, I strived to have good grades. I took honors/AP classes. And I was a member of many student clubs, including Science Olympiad. It was clear on my college applications that I was a good student and that I had the potential to be a decent engineer. More on my background here.

Keep exploring your curiosities

Take advantage of the time you have in high school to learn about different things that interest you. And it’s okay to pursue your interests, even if they aren’t directly related to your future career!

In high school, I was consistently learning how to build things. Theater sets. Furniture. Balsa wood planes. Clay sculpture. It turns out that being an artist made me a better engineer and being an engineer made me a better artist. Not all of my creations made it into my college applications or job resumes, but those skills were still important for my own development. 

Yes, internships may be a fantastic opportunity to explore some of your interests and develop essential skills, but internships are not the only way to do so. 

Don’t overwhelm yourself

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when you’re trying to do it all. Don’t burn yourself out! Remember that you can do anything, but not everything (at least not all at the same time!). 

Find ways to balance school and your future career path with everything else that’s important to you. If you need some more clarity on what’s important in your life, try these exercises. 

You’ve got this!