Unpaid internships may not be as attractive as paid ones, but high schoolers shouldn't immediately dismiss them. Keep an eye on the bigger picture: gaining invaluable experience now can lead to connections and lucrative paid opportunities in the future. Previous PathSpark intern Nadia Petersen, who completed two internships and is now at Yale University, gives the advice that unpaid opportunities early in high school can be the perfect gateways to paid opportunities later. If considering an unpaid internship, Nadia recommends properly vetting the opening: "Internships at local universities or through government programs often lead to guaranteed promotions and solid networking down the line." For high schoolers, a currency greater than dollars (for now) is an internship that builds character and provides valuable experiences for their resumes. Lastly, Nadia offers some calming advice for those feeling pressured to get an internship: ”Remember to breathe: You may think that you need X number of internships to succeed after high school, but your character is evaluated on more than just your work experience. It’s okay to only take opportunities that truly interest you, even if it means turning down tens of others.”
i agree with this so much:) started with unpaid internships and slowly made my way up the ladder!
Good point Brian - I did an unpaid internship at Merril Lynch my sophomore year of college and I think it was valuable in helping me land a paid internship with Barclays the following summer. It is important to make sure you have good balance since you are unpaid though, I did a few days in the office for them and then worked my summer job on weekends / other days to make some money - keep up the important content!
I concur. Internships are a great way for obtaining some experience in a commercial environment. Although not always possible, our daughter was fortunate to be able to participate in an international internship program over her Junior Summer. This experience played an important element in her securing a position shortly after her graduation the following year.
100% agree Bryan!!
Agree internships in high school can provide invaluable insights into what industries and jobs are really like which can better inform students education choices. Internships tend to be more common in college but as the workforce continues to move at such a dynamic pace we need to expose students earlier in their development so they can have a better understanding of their interests and how it aligns to market needs. Often internships are a learning experience of "what you don't want to do" which is incredibly valuable.