Many people think internships are for college students, but opportunities for hi.(Reflejos)

Many people think internships are for college students, but opportunities for high school students exist as well. A high school internship can open the doors to the working world, showing you what it's like to have a boss, attend meetings, and meet deadlines. Internships also introduce you to experienced people who can help guide you toward a career.

Start by answering some questions. What interests you? What kind of internship do you seek? Do you want to work during the summer or the school year? Do you need to earn money or could you work for free?

Use a Variety of Resources. Employers often advertise internship positions through schools. Ask your high school counselor or career coordinator about these opportunities. You might also find out about internships through a school club.

And don't forget family and friends. You may want to know more about the accounting field, and your friend's accountant mom might welcome your help.

If there's a specific company or organization you'd like to work for, don't be afraid to inquire directly. Even if they've never had an intern, you might be able to convince them they need one by being clear about how you could help.

Look for recent internship guidebooks. "Peterson's Internships" lists hundreds of opportunities for high school students. "The Best 109 Internships" and "The Internship Bible" also list high school positions. Many libraries have a career or education center that can help.

Use the Internet to find resources. Helpful sites include:

*internshipprograms.com is a database of current internships sorted by employer, field, location and date.

*loftinstitute.org offers internship opportunities as part of their "Latinos on Fast Track" program to prepare and place emerging Latinos as workforce leaders.

* internabroad.com lets you search for opportunities to work and study abroad.

*idealist.org allows you to search for internships at nonprofits such as environmental groups.

*chicagointernsips.com/high-school will help you choose an internship from over 25 different Chicago industries.

*volunteerinternational.org lists volunteer opportunities abroad.

Evaluate Opportunities. To make sure you get the most out of your internship, ask lots of questions. Find out exactly what your duties will be, and who will help teach you the skills you want to learn. You can even ask to speak to previous interns about their experiences.

Source: College Board