How to Get Internships in High School

Internships aren’t just for college students anymore. There are plenty of opportunities for high school students as well. That being said, it may feel a bit overwhelming to apply to internships while you’re still in high school. Most likely, it’ll be your first time writing a resume and cover letter. And you may even be asked to have an interview! These are all big steps to take, but remember, applying for internships in high school is a great challenge. After all, it’s a great way to practice your organizational, time management, and writing skills to prepare for your college applications. 

Internships allow you to explore potential careers, gain valuable job skills, and build a professional network that may lead to additional internships, scholarships, and perhaps even future jobs. Needless to say, high school internships are a great investment to make in your future. Whether you’re interested in exploring political internships for high school students, literary internships for high school students, or anything in between, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to explore. 

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about how to get internships in high school​. From why internships matter for high school students, to preparing resumes and cover letters, to knowing where to find internships, we’ve got you covered! 

Why Internships Matter for High School Students

There are lots of benefits of high school internships. In addition to developing job skills — such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills — students will gain career insights, confidence, and professional connections. In turn, this will strengthen their resumes and college applications. The professional connections they make may even lead to letters of recommendation and perhaps even additional internship or job opportunities in the future. 

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of hands-on learning and exposure to actual careers. Students often change majors throughout the course of their college careers as they gradually figure out what they’d like to do. Students who are able to begin the career exploration process in high school are at a great advantage. Not only will internships help them decide which career may be a good fit for them, but they’ll also allow them to apply to colleges more thoughtfully and start taking relevant coursework as soon as their freshman year. 

Again, there are countless benefits of having an internship in high school. So let’s take a minute to recap some of these benefits:

• Career exploration 

• Increased confidence

• Enhanced resumes

• Practice writing cover letters

• Professional connections

• Letters of recommendation

• Clearer educational and career goals

• Organizational skills

• Time management skills

• Communication skills

• Teamwork skills

• Leadership skills

Types of Internships Available to High Schoolers

There are lots of different types of internships available to high schoolers. From online internships to free and affordable summer programs to fall internships to part-time year-long positions, there are lots of different internship structures to consider. For students with busy schedules, this is an important factor to consider as you start researching potential internship opportunities. 

Depending on your situation, you may also be interested in city-specific internship opportunities, such as high school internships in Houston, high school internships in the Bay Area, or NYC summer internships for high school students.

Whether you’re interested in STEM internships, business internships, media internships, or anything in between, make sure you consider nonprofit work and volunteer roles as well. And remember, some internships are paid, some provide a modest stipend, and others are purely volunteer. One option isn’t necessarily better than the others, but you should reflect honestly on your goals and priorities. 

Steps to Getting a High School Internship

So now that we’ve discussed the many benefits of having a high school internship, we can start exploring the more logistical side of things — how to actually get internships in high school​. 

1. Identify Your Interests and Goals

First, think about any hobbies or skills you might be excited to explore. For instance, are you an athlete? Do you have a knack for learning foreign languages? Are you passionate about social justice? Do you enjoy teaching others? When you picture yourself 10 years from now, are you traveling internationally? Do you own your own business? Are you researching ways to lessen the effects of climate change? Or designing sets for Broadway? 

You don’t need to have all the answers yet. All you need to do is figure out something that excites you and keep an open mind. After all, internships don’t mean you’re committed to a specific career path. Internships are just a way to help you gain some practical skills and learn a little bit more about yourself. 

2. Research Internship Programs

So, how do you go about looking for internships? 

Start by searching bulletin boards at local businesses, community centers, the public library, and your high school. Ask your teachers, coaches, high school guidance counselor, family members, and friends’ parents for suggestions. You can also reach out to companies and nonprofits directly, asking about potential internship opportunities. Just remember to keep your email correspondence kind and succinct. 

3. Prepare a Resume and Cover Letter

As previously mentioned, for many students, this will be their first time preparing a resume and cover letter. While this can feel like a really big step, try not to get too overwhelmed. 

For your resume, highlight volunteer work, extracurricular activities, relevant coursework and school projects, and your overall strengths and skills. You’ll want to look at resume templates and common resume section headings to help you with the formatting. You’ll also want to make sure that your resume is easy to read, so no fancy fonts, different colored text, or exceptionally large or small fonts.

And for your cover letter, be sincere and thoughtful. Explain why the internship interests you and how you think it could contribute to your larger goals. You’ll also want to highlight any relevant skills or experiences you may have that could help you complete the internship successfully. 

4. Apply Early and Follow Up

Be organized and proactive. Practice your time management skills by keeping track of deadlines and applying early if possible. Finally, make sure that you follow up by sending thank-yous and generally expressing your enthusiasm for the program. 

Where to Find Internship Opportunities

Finding internship opportunities as a high school student might seem challenging at first, but don’t worry, there are lots of opportunities out there. The key is to be persistent and keep an open mind!

Start by checking with your school’s guidance counselor or career center. Many schools have partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, or research institutions that offer internships specifically for high school students. Teachers can also be a great resource, especially if you’re interested in the subject they teach. They might know about summer programs, job-shadowing opportunities, or even research projects that could be suitable.

You can also search online through platforms like LinkedIn, Handshake (if accessible through your school), or dedicated internship websites such as Chegg Internships, TeenLife, and Indeed. Some large organizations and universities, such as Brown University, MIT, and  Bank of America, offer structured internship programs tailored to high schoolers, particularly in fields like STEM, journalism, and the arts. 

Local libraries, museums, hospitals, or community centers often offer volunteer roles or internships that can provide valuable experience as well, even if they’re not necessarily labeled as formal internships. The key is to stay curious, proactive, and open to opportunities that help build real-world skills.

For convenience’s sake, let’s take a moment to recap where to find high school internship opportunities: 

• High school guidance counselor

• High school career center

• High school teachers, coaches, and mentors

• Family members and family friends

• Local bulletin boards

• Universities

• Large organizations

• Community centers

• Museums

• Libraries

• Hospitals

• Nonprofits

• Various online platforms

Conclusion: Start Early, Stay Curious, and Take Initiative

Regardless of your aspirations, high school internships are a great way to gain job skills and explore potential career paths. Applying for high school internships is also a great way to prepare for your college applications. After all, for many students, applying for a high school internship means writing their first resume and cover letter. All in all, internships open doors for students, often in ways we cannot fully anticipate. From college recommendation letters, to scholarship nominations, to professional mentorship opportunities, to individualized career guidance, high school internships are well worth the time and effort. 

Interested in gaining real-world job and research experience? Consider joining one of our Polygence Pods or our Research Mentorship Program. Here at Polygence, we believe in empowering students to indulge their curiosity and creativity by working closely with a PhD-level research mentor on creating their own independent research project. For more information, check out some of our completed student projects.