Building Experience While in High School

There are lots of ways to build professional experience while still in high school. Experience comes in many ways: participating in clubs, volunteer work, summer jobs, community service, work through a religious organization, internships, etc. Opportunities like these are a terrific way to learn about a career.

Why Professional Experience in High School Matters

Career experience while still in high school will help you:

  • Develop professional skills that are essential for any job/career.
  • Learn what different work environments are and what you like and do not like about them.
  • Gain experience to help you get the next opportunity.
  • Make connections with professionals who can be mentors, write recommendation letters, or serve as references for your next opportunity.

How to Find Opportunities

New York City Programs

There are tons of places that have programs for high school students, including NASA, Brooklyn Navy Yard, WCS, Brooklyn Public Library, Ladders for Leaders, NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and the Office of the District Attorney.

National Programs

You can find career programs and internships through national organizations like Inroads and Emma Bowen.

Make Something

A formal internship is not the only way to gain experience. Students can demonstrate their drive and develop skills by creating something! You can create your own website, social media group/page, blog, or YouTube channel focused on an academic or professional topic.

Teach Yourself Something New

You can also develop skills that employers want by participating in workshops. For example, with your Brooklyn Public Library card, you can access over 3,000 courses on topics including business, design, web development, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Volunteering

If you have been a part of an afterschool or camp program, you can ask them about volunteering there to start to build experience. You can also ask to volunteer in your school’s main office, join a leadership committee at school, etc.

Showcase Your Experience

Add these positions and relevant experiences to a résumé! Building a strong résumé to make yourself stand out to employers is an essential part for anyone seeking professional development.

Brooklyn. All in.

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