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If your child is wondering where their internship research should begin, consider the following:
1. Check your school district. Some districts and schools already have well-developed internship programs (or they may be interested in developing one). If your school has an internship program, check on any prerequisites you may need to be eligible to participate.
2. Check your college network. Professors who share your research interests may be looking for someone to help with research, your study abroad office may offer programs with a work/study component.
3. Look at government agencies and national parks. These agencies and parks often have internships that will take you through an entire summer, earning you experiences you couldn’t get anywhere else.
4. Express interest within your personal network. Sometimes a friend or colleague will know about a position before it’s available. If you’ve worked as a volunteer, ask if the organization has an internship (or if they’d like to develop one).
5. Check specific company websites. If you are interested in a profession with recognizable brand leaders (e.g. publishers, businesses), check their websites for employment opportunities—they often offer internships in these sections.
6. Try service-based learning. Organizations like AmeriCorps, MentorUp, and Learn and Serve America may have options that fit in with your career aspirations.
7. Check out organizations interested in military youth. Navy MWR FFR, the Military Extension Internship Program (MEIP), the federal Pathways Program, Project Y.E.S!, and the Coast Guard MWR Internship program are all interested in helping military kids find their place in the (career) world.
At CASY & MSCCN, we know it can be a challenge to figure out what you want to be when you grow up; many of us are still undergoing our own career evolutions. Building a community and trying on careers at an early age can help to keep some curiosity and joy in the job search process—something that we could all use, kid and adult alike.