How to Find an Internship

Not Just Any Internship—One That Fits Your Needs

Internships come in all shapes and sizes. Some are paid and some are unpaid. Some last for a summer while others continue through the school year. Some internships are local, but others offer employment abroad. For example, you could help set up video shoots for a local film company, or you could work on an organic banana farm in Costa Rica.

Many people think internships are for college students, but opportunities for high school students exist as well. A high school internship can open the doors to the working world, showing you what it's like to have a boss, attend meetings, and meet deadlines. Internships also introduce you to experienced people who can help guide you toward a career.

Real Deal: Environmental Organization

It was the end of his sophomore year in high school, and Sufiyan needed something to do for the summer. He also wanted to earn a little money, so he visited his school career counselor for advice. The counselor suggested an internship with a local nonprofit environmental organization. Sufiyan had never worked in an office before, but he decided to try it. Today, he is still interning with the organization as a senior in high school. He even helped a friend get hired.

Sufiyan assists with clerical work like filing and copying. Sometimes he pitches in on special projects, such as conducting Internet research on hotels for a conference. He says what he values most are the people who've taught him new skills. "My supervisors taught me how to behave in an office, how to be organized and speak in a professional manner."

He feels these skills will help him in many areas, such as college and job interviews, even asking a bank for a loan. Sufiyan wants to be a filmmaker, and he says working at an environmental group has helped him appreciate nature and incorporate it into his films.

How to Start Your Search

How do you find the right internship for you? Start by answering these questions:

What interests you? Do you like photography? Flying? Computers?
What kind of internship do you seek? Do you want to work during the summer or the school year? Do you need to earn money or could you work for free?
What you want out of an internship? If you're interested in the legal field, your search should start with law firms, not banana farms.

Use a Variety of Resources

Many resources exist for finding internships. Employers often advertise internship positions through schools. Ask your high school counselor or career coordinator about these opportunities. You might also find out about internships through a school club. And don't forget family and friends. You may want to know more about the accounting field, and your friend's accountant mom might welcome your help.

If there's a specific company or organization you'd like to work for, don't be afraid to inquire directly. Even if they've never had an intern, you might be able to convince them they need one by being clear about how you could help.

To cast your net even wider, look for recent internship guidebooks. Peterson's Internships lists hundreds of opportunities for high school students. The Best 109 Internships and The Internship Bible also list high school positions. More specific guides can help you find internships in the arts or those available to minorities. Many libraries have a career or education center that can help.

The Internet also provides a wealth of resources. Helpful sites include:

http://www.internshipprograms.com/
http://www.internabroad.com/
http://www.idealist.org/ allows you to search for internships at nonprofits such as environmental groups
http://www.volunteerinternational.org/ lists volunteer opportunities abroad.

Real Deal: Local Newspaper

Kristen wasn't sure she wanted to be a journalist. She liked writing for her high school newspaper, and the field seemed exciting, but she didn't know much about it. To help make up her mind, Kristen landed an internship at the local newspaper through her high school business club. Her job was to help out in the office, but she also convinced the editor to let her do some reporting.

To her surprise, the editor gave her an assignment right away: report on Friday's high school football game. Kristen wasn't really interested in football, so she spent the game interviewing parents of players. When she typed up her story, she realized she didn't even know the final score! That taught her to make sure she got all the facts, and during her junior and senior years, Kristen covered everything from rodeos to a local burglary.

As an intern in the office, she processed subscription checks, wrote classified ads, and worked in the pressroom stuffing advertising inserts into newspapers. She learned every aspect of the newspaper business and decided to major in journalism in college.

Evaluate Opportunities

To make sure you get the most out of your internship, ask lots of questions. Find out exactly what your duties will be, and who will help teach you the skills you want to learn. You can even ask to speak to previous interns about their experiences. All this preparation will ensure the internship you land is right for you.

Sufiyan thinks every student should try interning. "Go outside your boundaries, outside your neighborhood, do something you've never done before," he says. He also recommends building relationships with those who can teach new skills. "Find someone to learn from," says Sufiyan. That way, no matter what you do, your internship will be worthwhile.