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The Perks Of Getting A High School Internship
Although most employers focus their efforts toward getting interns on college students, a lot of high school students are able to land on internship positions as well, which makes their college application forms and future resumés look even more impressive. Yes, it is possible for a high school student to get an internship. So if you are currently in high school, then here are some reasons to pursue one that you should consider.
Why Wait? Be Different!
Conventionally, internships are done during college. However, it has become increasingly possible for a high school student to obtain one. There are actually companies that cater high school internship programs now. Because many high school students still stick to the traditional college internship, getting one in high school will definitely give you an edge.
By successfully completing an internship while you are still in high school, you can set yourself apart from other students competing for college admissions and college internships. As more colleges consider any kind of experience related to real-life work, along with volunteer or community work, to have considerable positive weight when they are making admissions decisions. Thus an internship done the summer after your junior year will give you a leg up when it comes time to apply for competitive universities your senior year.
Not only will scoring an internship in high school give you a leg up on the competition in college admissions, but also the practical experience you will gain will help you narrow your choice of majors. Since you have already worked in the field you are interested in, you have a more realistic idea of what the career path involves and whether it is suited to you. Even if your internship is a less than happy experience and you decide that you are not a good fit for that line of work, you will have spared yourself several expensive years of college education in the wrong field and can refocus on a line of study and work that is more suited to you.
Priorities Comes First
First, you should prioritize your efforts. Start by getting a clear picture of exactly which kind of organization or company you would to work for. There is no use wasting your time making scattershot applications to a large number of companies in unrelated industries simply because you have heard they happen to have a high-school internship program. Instead, you want to focus on companies in lines of work that you are actually interested in pursuing.
If you're not entirely sure on what you want to do with your life, it's okay. You're still young, and it's perfectly understandable that you may not know yourself that well yet. Nonetheless, if you're particularly interested in specialized programs, such as architecture or an undergraduate business schools, you should try look for internships related to that area.
The Good News
If you are a high school student in search for an internship, there is good news for you Companies across the country are now beginning to create internship opportunities for students like you. Internationally renown companies such as Microsoft usually offer specialized internships for students who are already specializing in their field of work. Other local government, engineering, medical and legal organizations also often maintain opportunities for high school students to do unpaid internships with them over the summer.
Since so many companies and organizations are setting up internship programs, locating one is no longer likely to be an exercise in frustration. Once you have identified the three or four companies you want to apply to, you can start applying by sending your resume along with a cover letter, addressed to a specific person in the company. Most companies have a specific contact person for their internship programs. If not, you can just send your resume to their human resources department or to a manager in the specific area you would like to work in.
Getting an internship while you are in high school does not have to be a daunting prospect. By approaching it systematically and being prepared to do your best work, you can land a summer internship that will give you a leg up on your competition for the rest of your life.
