How should I approach companies for internships?

Great question, Britney! I’ve been the internship supervisor at my company for 2 years now, and have had a few high school interns over the course of that time.

-- Finding the Companies --
If your school has a required internship program, the first thing I would do would be to ask them if they have any suggested companies that they have worked with in the past. If there are companies that have had high school interns previously, they’d probably be better prepared and willing to have you join them.
Do a simple Google search of companies in your area, and then explore their website to see if they’ve had internship programs in the past.
There are many websites for internship searching, such as: Internships.com, LinkedIn, WayUp, Looksharp, Indeed, and even Twitter.
One of the #1 ways people get internships and jobs is through their network. Spread the word your friends and family that you are searching for an internship, and perhaps someone will know of an internship opportunity in a company.

-- Reaching Out --
As many of the other respondents suggested, a professional email would be the best place to start. This will be their first impression of you, so many sure it’s polished and puts your best self forward. One of the top ways to stand out is to prove that you’ve done your research on the company. The format of the email would be something like the following:
- Introduce yourself and why you’re reaching out. Describe in 1 sentence the internship program you are required to do with your school. Say in the beginning that you’re interested in a potential internship, don’t make them search through the email and try to figure out what you’re asking for

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  Express your interest in the work that the company does with tangible examples. For example, “I saw on your website the X project you did with Y client, and was impressed and interested.” This will prove to them that you’ve done your research on their company and not just sending a generic application email out to multiple places.

  
  


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  Say what you can offer them, instead of just talking about what they can offer you. Of course, the company is in the more powerful position because you want an internship. Talk about your positive qualities and what prepares you to be a great intern. Instead of saying to them “you’re an amazing company, please let me intern here”, say “you’re an amazing company, and I feel I can contribute a fresh perspective and an enthusiastic work ethic while learning from you”

  
  


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  Attach a professional resume to your email! (If you don’t have one yet, there are bountiful resources to learn how to create one. I answered a question about that recently, which you can find here https://www.careervillage.org/questions/47676/whats-the-best-way-to-make-your-resume-stand-out-on-top-of-your-peers?page=1#54838 )

  
  

To end the email, say that you look forward to hearing from them, and for them to reach out if they have any questions.

Tip: You may have to follow up either my email or by phone to make sure they received the internship! When interns follow up with me after applying, I know they’re still interested and enthusiastic about the opportunity. The vast majority of interns who have called me to follow up have gotten the internship.

-- Things to Know --

Since you are a high school student, there may be different requirements to intern with a company. Some don’t allow interns under 18, but some are more flexible. Whenever we have had high school interns, we’ve worked closely with their school as well as invited their parent/guardian to see our offices. Transparency puts people at ease, especially when a high school student is involved.

When applying, keep the adults in your life (parents/guardians, teachers) in the loop as to where you are applying. While there are countless amazing opportunities out there, there may be some that are not as educational or helpful as one would hope. If a company feels a little bit off, go with your gut and do not bother.

Never, ever be afraid to ask questions! This will be your first internship opportunity, so feel free to ask all the questions you may have. It’s better to be thorough and know everything going into it than to walk away feeling like you still don’t have a full vision of what to expect. As an internship supervisor, I encourage applicants to ask as many questions as they have. An internship is a learning experience, so that should be your first priority.

I wish you the best of luck in your internship search! Use every resource you have, and talk to everyone about your search. The more people that know, the more people that can help you.

Hey Britney!

Super impressed that your high school requires an internship, that's awesome! Wish I had a same emphasis on experience in my high school. I think the first step would actually be to ask your peers and older students on what their techniques were. They could also give you a referral (basically a recommendation and forward your resume along to their company that they worked at). The likelihood of you getting a job is much higher with that referral. I'm sure your counselors/teachers have a list of students who can help you get connected with the right companies.

The next step is your resume. I think the content is the most important part you should focus on. What kind of prior experience have you gotten and what did you LEARN? That is the essential part that sets you apart. There are some formats online, and I don't think it matters too much. Its how you write it that matters the most.

For the email, it shouldn't be too long. People are naturally lazy so you want to be brief and to the point. Something along the lines of:

Hi!

My name is Britney and I'm a high school student at . I was very interested in and have these relevant experiences to contribute: ___

I can't wait to get connected and can be reached by ___ .

The more to the point, the better. Make sure to attach your resume and if you know someone within the company or someone who interned before, mention them. Connections are essential to securing a job. Good luck!

Your email should address why you want to intern at that company (and hopefully you have genuine interest, don't say it is just to fulfill a school requirement) what classes you have taken, and what skills you have to offer.

Hi Britney!

Congratulations on being interested in an internship in engineering.

After many years in human relations and college recruiting, I would like to share that it is better to make a contact regarding an internship by phone call or personal visit. We are becoming too dependent on electronic means and need to return to using more personal means of contact.

A script might be:
Hi! I am Britney. I am a student at ( ). As I am exploring the area of engineering, I would like to know if you have or know of an internship in engineering. I would greatly appreciate your help.

Here are some possible ways to find contacts:
- your school counselor
- your favorite teachers in math and science
- the head of alumni relations at your school, who can put you in contact with graduates of your school working in engineering in your area
- your school counselor and the reference librarian at your local library who can help you locate professional organizations to which engineers belong, so you can go to meetings and mix and mingle and learn about internships that they may know of or sponsor
- your local chamber of commerce to which a broad array of companies in your local area belong as they may know of or sponsor internships
- an internet search for engineering companies in your area
- the head of alumni relations at your local community college to make arrangements to talk to their engineering graduates, as many people in engineering get their start at a community college
- use the script on anyone that you meet and such people as your doctor, dentist, hair stylist, etc. You never know who might have a contact. Referrals can and do come from the most unexpected places and people.

Since engineering is a very broad area, here are some exercises that might help to identify specific areas within engineering where you might share interests, aptitudes, and personalities with those in that area:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/14-free-personality-tests-thatll-help-you-figure-yourself-out

Let me know if and how this might be of help. Please keep me posted. I would like to follow your progress.

Hi Britney!

It is actually possible for you to create your own internship program by working with a company with whom you have and an interest and the appropriate people in your school.

When my daughter was in her senior year, the highlight of the year was to be the internship experience. Everyone, except for one girl, signed up for their desired internships, and waited for the assignments to be made. My daughter's first choice fell through, and the second one turned out to much less that the "highlight of her senior year".

The one girl who did not sign up had approached the local Emergency Medical Service Unit at the local fire department and worked with them and the school to create her own internship program, as she eventually wants to be a doctor. From what I have heard, she was possibly the only one who indeed created the "highlight of her senior year" and learned a great amount that will help her in her journey towards becoming a doctor.

This shows how important it is that you take control of the situation and make it the "highlight of your year" instead of something that you need to do.

Take control. The internship experience can go a long way in helping you to determine your future in addition to the fact that it will allow you to meet people with whom you can create networking relationships that will help in the journey towards your career.