IS IT TOO LATE FOR YOUR TEEN TO GET A SUMMER INTERNSHIP? (Blog #61)

Now that we are past Memorial Day, you may be wondering whether it is too late for your high schooler to nail down a summer internship.  We get it!  Between tests, papers, studying, homework, sports, music, performing arts, visual arts, working, community service, and the range of other school-related and personal-related matters that take up your student’s time, it is easy to postpone or overlook searching for an internship.

But all is not lost!  Some opportunities are probably gone --

• Formal, competitive programs (corporate and government) are probably fully staffed by now

• Any opportunities requiring background checks or formal onboarding procedures may also be infeasible at this point

But there are opportunities that may be available. Here are some tips to nail down an internship if you are just starting out now.

Informal/direct outreach to smaller businesses, non-profits, and local organizations is the best path to take right now. Why?  Because these entities:

• Don't run formal programs with fixed deadlines

• Make decisions quickly

• Are happy to have an eager teenager help out for the summer

Best bets at this point

• Local small businesses (small retail stores, law offices, medical and veterinarian offices, real estate agents, restaurants)

• Nonprofits and community organizations

• Political campaign organizations

• Family and parent network connections — someone your parents know who can say yes quickly

• Research opportunities with a teacher or professor who knows them

• Self-created "internships" — approaching a local business with a specific proposal

The Play Right Now

Skip the application portals. Email or call your target business/organization this week.  A short, confident note from your teen saying they are available this summer and eager to help should do the trick. A warm connection or a direct ask moves much faster than a formal application at this point.

Be prepared for an interview 

Whether the interview is in-person or virtual, encourage your teen to look their best.  They should also be prepared to respond to some basic questions: 

• Tell me about yourself.

• Why are you interested in this role?

• What are you hoping to get from a summer working with this business/organization?

• What are your interests after high school?

After applying and your interview, be sure to send a thank-you note/email!

Be realistic: Many teen internships are unpaid, part-time, or informal. That's fine — the goal at this stage is exposure, a reference, and to give your teen something to talk about in college applications, future employment applications and any post-high school opportunity. There’s a lot of value in that!  

Good luck!