High school internships are now widely available for students entering a wide variety of fields. One field that is very open to high school interns is computer technology. For instance, Microsoft offers an excellent internship program for high school students, but it is extremely competitive. However, there are still other companies that offer this kind of program, and many of them are relatively easy to get into.
Benefits Of Getting Into A High School Internship Program For Computer Sciences
Getting into this kind of high school internship can be an opportunity to have a great time learning. With these kinds of programs, you can create cool things and work with advanced equipment. They can also take you places where you've never been before. Most importantly, you can get a unique hands-on experience out of it. You will also have the opportunity to expand your skills in different directions and bring your abilities to a higher level.
Their Purpose
Most companies' purpose in giving out high school internships is to provide high school students like you some exposure to advanced computer technology. This is also one way for them to identify and develop promising young talents and prodigies. So if you think that you have exceptional talent in programming or any other skill with computers, getting into an internship program would definitely be for you. However, you don't have to be a genius to get into one. As long as you have a knack for computer technology, then go!
General Qualifications
Generally, computer companies would only require high school students to have sufficient experience with word processing and e-mail to work with computers effectively, and to display an established passion for technology. If you have any programming experiences such as Visual Basic or HTML, then all the better. Sometimes, companies will have special requirements such as being a high school student in a certain district or area, particularly when it is a local company or is holding the internship in a particular area. This can work to your benefit because you will not need to worry about housing arrangements, particularly if you are still a minor.
Most companies' recruiting efforts for programs such as these focus on outreach for organizations and schools that are serving underrepresented minorities, such as African American, Hispanic, and other ethnic groups; individuals with disabilities; young women; and those students that come from families that are economically disadvantaged.
Generally eligible students must be a junior or senior in high school or the equivalent in a non-graded private school. Minimum age for programs is usually at least 16, and being a permanent resident or a US citizen is often required. However, qualifications may vary depending on the company that you are applying for. Some of them may or may not have special qualifications other than those mentioned above.
How Long?
Most high school internships in the field of computers usually last for about eight to ten weeks. You would usually have a load of forty hours per week. This duration and workload is usually long enough for you to get involved in a project and make a contribution with your team.
These programs are typically held over the summer. They usually start in the latter part of June and end during August. There are other companies that may have brief high school internship programs during fall or winter breaks.
So, if you think you would want to have a future career in the field of computers, programming, graphic design and any other related field, then try getting a high school internship in the field of computers now!