The importance of internships for high school students

Perhaps the process of resumes, cover letters and interviews to then enter an unknown place is daunting, but finding that willingness to step out of your comfort zone will reflect when companies are looking for candidates. As someone who has done several internships, all in different fields, I can say that each was a valuable experience that has helped me in various ways.

I’ve compiled a short but important list of the benefits of internships that will hopefully pique your interest in venturing out to find an internship of your own.

Learn about yourself

Find out what you like and dislike, it’ll help when making decisions regarding which path you’re interested in following. Through internships, you’ll see your strong points, which areas you might want to work on and which are simply not for you.

For example, I would say I’m good at delivering the best results I’m capable of but during my first internship at a theater, I felt intimidated by everyone and didn’t speak unless spoken to – exactly what not to do! It’s important to genuinely be interested in and curious about what the company offers, don’t just choose the internship because they pay you or it would look good on your resume.

Discover job opportunities

Applying for a job is a competition between candidates and the more experience you have, the more you will seem qualified for the job. It also says a lot about you: how many skills you’ve acquired, how motivated you are and how outgoing you are, among other things. Taking the time to look and apply for an internship can make you realize how many possible positions there are out there and how ever-changing the world of work is. Not all jobs require you to sit in a tiny cubicle all day and that one job won’t define the rest of your life!

Create connections

As you move along your career, your network will play a major role. Getting acquainted with people from various backgrounds and building relationships is a great way to build a base and it’s definitely something you want to keep up throughout your life. An internship will help you do that and heighten your chances to be involved in opportunities. If someone feels you’ll be good for a job position, they’ll reach out to you.

Similarly, if you want to start a business and are looking for employees or partnerships, you know where to start looking. Or simply, if you have a question, you can easily ask someone who is experienced and receive support. There are a plethora of reasons and after all, meeting people and establishing trust makes more sense than staying in your corner no?

Step into real life

Think of an internship as a transition from a classroom to a professional environment. Internships give you a first look into what real life will be like, getting an idea about what it’s like to have a full-time job, sort of like an amuse-bouche. It also gives you the opportunity to become experienced with different working environments to see what suits you. It’s important to keep in mind that this is a learning experience, for you to observe and apply the skills you’ve acquired. Subsequently, your resume will intrigue your readers, making them want to learn more about you.

Of course, these are just a few key points of how internships will benefit you both in the short and long term, but it also shows how the pros outweigh the cons. In the end, it’s your choice and the most important thing is that you enjoy yourself, but remember that everyone started somewhere!

Which career path are you curious about? At EF Academy, you’ll have university guidance and dedicated teachers to help you explore interests and career possibilities.