I’m going to let you in on a little secret: you have a golden opportunity right at your fingertips. I’m going to recommend to you a very useful tool that has the capability to put your student years ahead of their peers.
No, I am not exaggerating. And no, you are not hallucinating. Okay, I might be a tiny bit dramatic.
Making career connections early can be extremely beneficial. This is especially true when your student has a basic idea of what field they want to work in. By utilizing summers and internship opportunities, your student could have their foot in the door before applying for college.
I’ve been lucky enough to apply this principle in my life. I’ve had the wonderful privilege of being a summer intern for HS4CC. And it wasn’t because I was some child prodigy who knew exactly what to do and say at every moment. That’s not even close to the truth. It was because my mother decided to join a Facebook group. And that organization happened to offer exactly what I was working toward: a writing job. Even better, it was for a cause I thoroughly believe in. I filled out the application and hoped for the best. I was blessed enough to get selected.
Sometimes, it really is just a matter of putting your student out there. Other times, it could require a little more work.
Before I continue, I’d like to make something clear. Applying for internships and working through the summer is optional and not at all necessary for a successful high school experience. There is no downside to opting out of this whatsoever. I only present this option to you because I believe it can be rewarding when applied.
Connection Opportunities
If you decide to survey connection options, I recommend tours, internships, and DE clubs.
Having your student shadow experts in their desired field or tour a job of interest is extremely beneficial. This method exposes them to exactly what they would be working with. Furthermore, they can ask employees or experts about their educational route, job experience, and day-to-day lives. As someone who has done this in the past, I highly recommend setting up these kinds of visits. For information on how to set up a tour, see the footnote below.*
In addition to visits, your student can apply for internships and part-time jobs. These opportunities can give your student work experience and connections. They can gain experience working with coworkers and bosses (and dealing with projects or timelines). They can also learn about other opportunities or jobs through these relationships.
Finally, if your student does Dual Enrollment, they can make connections through their college via jobs and clubs. Just like with internships, these clubs can help your student get connected in their desired field.
Advantages of Early Career Connections
I’ll keep this bit fairly simple because I believe these advantages speak for themselves.
By making connections now, your student can
- Increase their chances of getting a job (and a positive reputation) in the future
- Get prepared to work in their specific field
- Stand out to interviewers and jobs by showing their interest and initiative at such a young age
Because of these benefits, I encourage all interested students to pursue job connections and internships in high school. Making connections now can help set your student apart from the others and ensure they will be able to join the workforce quickly and effectively when the time comes.
*To arrange tours:
- Contact the workplace in question and request a tour
- Explain your student’s interest
- Get your student ready to ask their questions and take notes
- These visits are an opportunity to learn more and make connections without the pressure of an actual interview
