High School Internships

Internships not only give a practical idea of the type of career students are interested in, but also give an excellent way to boost their resumes and improve their college and scholarship applications. Any real-life work experience, like volunteer work or community service or an internship, is surely going to help any student. High school internships assist them in gaining some experience in the desired field. Sometimes these internships are paid whereas some sponsors of internships believe the valuable experience received by students is enough.

Opportunities From High School Internships

During high school internships every student is provided with a work assignment. The internships offer opportunities to the students to make good use of the knowledge they have learned in school. Through internships they can gain many valuable experiences, like the ability to experience the work environment in the field they plan to work in. This way the students are given the hands-on experiences, what working in the field would be like and what type of jobs are available. This can help them make a decision whether their chosen field of study is something they will want to continue with. Thus internships present unique and meaningful opportunities for career exploration.
In addition to getting first-hand perspective of a career, students get acquainted with what it is like to have an actual job. Students develop essential workplace skills like knowledge about how to communicate in a professional environment, the use of teamwork balanced with individual responsibility, mentoring relationships, and the chance to develop industry-specific skills while still in high school. The experience also offers a way for better understanding of industry expectations and promotes increased motivation.

High School Internship Programs

High school internships help students understand the value of money while spending their hard earned salary.
Following are some internship programs:

• Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
  The STEP also known as the Stay-in-School Program offers maximum flexibility to students and managers as the work does not have to be associated to the student’s academic or career goals. In this program students can gain experience in a wide area of fields in order to become familiar with different industries. Job opportunities under STEP offer temporary employment from summer jobs to positions which can last for as long as they are students. For a detailed study on Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), you may refer this site:
  http://careers.state.gov/uploads/9c/52/9c523cb74d9a81db980b92f64562eabc/4.0_Student_SIS.pdf
• Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
  The SCEP provides work experience that is directly associated to a student’s academic program and career goals. In this program students get the experience of public service and can enhance their goals. Students will apply theories and work on projects which give a real-life meaning to their classroom study. They will earn dollars and have the option to work full- or part-time. Under the SCEP program, they are eligible for a large number of benefits like health benefits, retirement coverage, life insurance and yearly within-grade increases. The following URL could be referred for a detailed study on Student Career Experience Program (SCEP):
  http://careers.state.gov/uploads/56/30/56308eff565e785509e26685e5fa93b7/4.0_Student_COOP.pdf
• Student Volunteer Program
  These are unpaid training opportunities offered to students in high school or college by Federal agencies and departments. These opportunities offer work experience related to their academic program. This program allows them to discover career options and build up their personal and professional skills. As a student volunteer, they will be exposed to the Federal work environment and will learn about the goals and tasks of various Federal agencies and departments.

Students can consult the following sites for more information:

http://www.opm.gov/employ/students/index.htm
http://www.opm.gov/Strategic_Management_of_Human_Capital/fhfrc/FLX04020.asp

While on an internship program, students should put in their best of efforts to do the work which is assigned to them. They must try to be as helpful as possible to other employees and their supervisors. A positive attitude will get you good recognition. If everything goes as planned and your supervisor is happy with your work performance, you can ask for a letter of recommendation. Getting a recommendation letter from a source outside of school gives the impression of a well-rounded person with interests other than school and can help you stand out from other college applicants.