High school students can benefit from internships

As a high school student, you may think that an internship is something you pursue as a college junior and senior in preparation for your career after college. However, according to a study conducted by Millennial Branding, a research and consulting firm, and Internships.com, an online resource for student work experience, gaining new skills and professional connections as early as high school can help position students for future success.

About the survey
The research included data from 4,769 high school and college students and 326 employers from all over the U.S. Half of the employers polled said that they plan on or currently are accepting internship applications from high school students. The majority of employers—90 percent of them, to be exact—agreed that these early internship programs can boost students' chances of acceptance when applying to colleges. They added that the experience will add to students' marketability when looking for a college internship or job, and the internships give them a better chance of securing a higher-paying job after graduation.

With all of this data, it may be difficult to make a case against interning as a high school student. If you're considering an internship, be sure to create a practical schedule that balances schoolwork, extracurricular activities and your internship. It's important to build experience and make connections, but overloading your plate could be counterproductive. Not only would it cause you a great deal of stress, but it's also difficult to give your best effort when you're juggling so many priorities.

Getting accepted
To increase your chances of obtaining an internship, it's important to be as professional as possible. According to the study, interview performance, academic performance and references are the top qualities that companies look for in a high school internship applicant. Therefore, it's crucial to maintain good grades and ask for recommendations from teachers, coaches and employers who know you well and have nothing but positive things to say about you.

Also, it's still important to create a résumé that includes key information like part-time work experience, professional objectives, your high school GPA and any noteworthy awards or recognition you've received. While you may not have experience that is directly relevant to your chosen career field, this information will demonstrate how serious you are about your future.