Being a high school senior is no easy feat. Apart from their school studies, they are expected to focus on multiple tasks and do a great deal. Engage in community service, prepare their college applications, and actively participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, etc.

There’s no denying that the bar of expectation is set high for high schoolers. Hence, it is critical for them to get an early head start. And one way to accomplish this is to pursue an internship after careful consideration. Reason? It will help them gain experience, build a professional network, identify fields of study, explore career paths, amp up their professional skills, including self-advocacy, and communication, and collaborate in a professional environment.

Internships matters

According to a recent survey of internship programs by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 70% of interns bagged a job offer. Another 2020 study by American Student Assistance found that 79% of high school students prefer work-based learning experiences. This is one of the key reasons why high schools in the US include pre-collegiate internships for students as part of their curriculum.

Keeping in mind that a lot of high school students will be keen to take up summer internships in 2023 and may not know where to start, we have collated a list of potential fields where they can explore opportunities to hone their skills.

• Computer Science

Considered one of the fastest growing fields with 13% growth expected in computer occupations from 2020–30, the high schoolers learn about critical computer science concepts, research practice in real-world settings, connect with industry experts, and educators, and receive mentorships from industry leaders.

• Data Science

With 35.8% employment growth projected for data scientists between 2021 and 2031, the data science field enables high school students to gain an understanding of fundamental data science methodologies and offers specialized training within the application areas.

• AI & Machine Learning

Since the last decade, the world of AI and machine learning has seen exponential growth, and as a result, it has emerged as a popular internship option for high school students, as it helps them develop valuable skills in python, machine learning, and AI through coding labs, and they are guided on initiating AI projects and pursuing AI ventures.

• Accounting & Finance

Did you know that financial occupations will record 8% growth by 2030 and introduce more than 750,800 new jobs to the marketplace? No wonder, accounting and finance are sought-after internship options for high schoolers. It allows them to get first-hand experience of what a career in finance involves and work on business finance projects. Also, they are coached, mentored, and formally trained on the concepts of accounting and finance.

• Media & Communications

This was the 10th most popular major during the 2020–21 school year, and it enables the interns to work on a variety of projects in the internal communications and community/public relations departments and gain experience focused on media relations, internal communications, and public relations.

• Marketing

As per the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the popularity of marketing job opportunities will skyrocket globally and will grow at a rate of 7% from 2019 to 2029. High schoolers wanting to take up an internship in this field will gain skills in social media, blogging, branding, and campaigns, as well as work with and collaborate with multi-functional teams.

• Business Operations

With 6% projected job growth from 2018-2018, internship opportunities in this field enable students to gain a wealth of real-world practical experience and help deliver consistent experiences that support lead generation, sales experience, and customer loyalty.

• Arts, Design & Fashion

In this dynamic, fast-changing, and creativity-driven field, high school students are offered hands-on experience in Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, and assist with setting up studios, adjusting lighting, and photoshoots or gallery exhibitions.

Feeling intrigued? Visit us to explore more such promising internships and opportunities

The parting words

Almost a decade ago, the online career discovery platform InternMart came to realize that internships aren’t only for college students—they can offer plenty of benefits to high school students.

Book a free consultation to learn how we help thousands of high schoolers leverage valuable internship opportunities, make informed career choices, and go beyond.