We recently received an email from a blog reader about virtual opportunities for students who are interested in Economics. We love getting emails, especially when they’re about specific opportunities, so we are here to help answer the question.  

Before we get into our tips, let’s discuss the landscape. Getting any kind of internship while you’re in high school is going to require dedication and hard work. You’re going to hear “no” fairly often. Companies tend to offer internships to college students (sometimes in exchange for college credit) and it’s also harder for high schoolers to meet the job requirements because they’re well, still in high school. There’s also the pandemic, which is affecting summer opportunities (and everything) because a lot of people are still working from home and it’s harder to bring on and train new people via Zoom.

With that being said, it’s time to start planning for summer 2021. Kudos to the writer of this email who is looking ahead! We originally set out to compile a list of companies that are hiring, but after doing the research, we decided to reformat our advice. Keep reading for our tips:

If you’re still in the exploratory phase, meaning that you have little (or no) experience, you should consider doing a summer program.

It’s very important to understand that doing a summer program at say, UC Berkeley doesn’t improve your chances of getting into UC Berkeley. But if you want to explore the field of Economics, and you’re having a hard time getting responses to emails about jobs and internships, a summer program might be for you. We wrote about finance and economics programs in this blog post, and you can also do your own searching.

Google “virtual internships for high school students” and filter your results by field.

There is a lot out there, but there’s also a lot of fine print. Doing this google search is a good way to learn about what’s out there, but it’s not always the best way to get a response. There are thousands of people applying for these internships, so if you’re really interested in a specific position, we recommend doing some internet sleuthing and getting in touch with the company, or better yet an employee or member of the HR team. Let’s say you come across something at a non-profit. In addition to applying online, spruce up your resume and send it directly to someone at the company. It feels good to check the box of applying to jobs online, but you might be able to improve your chances by showing the company that you’re truly committed and willing to go above and beyond to get hired.

Pitch yourself as an intern!

Literally create your own position. Let’s say you’ve been following a certain company. Do your research and figure out what the corporation needs, polish your resume, and send it to someone along with a concise email explaining why you would be a strong addition to their team. Also, prepare yourself for the possibility of working for free.

Network.

As a high school student, you might not have a huge network right now, but don’t get discouraged. Talk to your teachers, family friends, and the parents of your friends and tell them that you’re hoping to obtain an Economics internship. Before you do so, get clear on your goals. Should someone from your network be able to introduce you to a potential new opportunity, you should be prepared to speak to your strengths.

Consider community engagement.

More often than not, you can look around your neighborhood or city and see how you can use your skillset to improve something close to home. Maybe there’s a small company or family-run business that could use someone with a flair for finance and economics.

We suggest going through these steps and trying to make something work. Don’t be afraid to cast a wide net. Send your emails and follow up (once) a few weeks later. While you’re waiting to hear back, read a few books or take an online course about Economics. Internships are great, but don’t discount the value of dedicating free time to advancing your skill set.

If you’re anxious about planning your summer, contact us here. We’d love to help.