Tips to find and keep an internship for high school students

Looking for an Internship?

1. Decide what kind of internship you want. Do you want to work inside or outside? On a team or on your own? In a formal business setting or in a more casual one? While you’re looking don’t forget about non-profits and small businesses right in your community.
2. Check with your school to see if there is an internship program you can connect with.
3. Network! Let everyone you know that you want an internship. You never know who may offer you a chance.
4. Get your resume together.
5. Prepare to answer the big interview question: “Why do you want this internship?”

When you have your internship

1. Take an interest in the whole organization and everyone there.
2. Try to spend time with as many people as possible, learning about their roles and how they got there.
3. Ask questions if you’re not sure of what you have to do.
4. Stay positive even when things seem not to go your way or when you have grunt work to do.
5. Stay off your phone or iPad when you are at work.

BIO

Joan McLachlan is co-author with Patricia Hess of Get an Internship and Make the Most of It: Practical Information for High School and Community College Students. She has over 25 years’ experience working with internship programs in NY state and nationwide, and is the Director of Internship Quest, LLC, a provider of consulting services and materials for quality internship programs.

http://www.internshipquest.com

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Credit: Authors of Get an internship and make the most of it, Joan McLachlan and Patricia Hess.