<p>Hi, I am currently a hs senior and am interested in an internship. I already have a dead-end job at a restaurant that pays decently, but I want something that I can actually acquire hands-on knowledge from before college. Does anyone know the best way to go about searching for an internship in Law, International Affairs, Gov, journalism, or virtually anything else?</p>
<p>Internships come in two flavors: paid and unpaid. If you can afford the luxury of working for free (or for a token stipend) then you'll have a lot of options. </p>
<p>Once you're in college your career counseling department and alumni/ae network will kick in to help you locate and secure internships. As a high school graduate you'll have to do the leg work yourself. The best starting place is someone you know, a friend's parent, a neighbor, a teacher's spouse. Ask around. Make your interest known. </p>
<p>Secondly, you should make a list of the big corporations, firms, NGOs, government agencies in your area. (I'm assuming you are going to live at home for the summer. If you need room/board as well, that's another complication.)</p>
<p>Go on the internet or telephone and find the name of the top person in each organization. Write a clear, professional letter outlining your interests and requirements. Attach a resume with your courses, grades, scores, awards, accomplishment and a short personal statement. You can vary it to tailor it to the group you're approaching.Take the shotgun approach and apply to a wide range. </p>
<p>Don't worry about your qualifications -- other than being eager and conscientious. Most likely you'll be opening the mail and making photocopies. Willingness and desire to learn is the key point.</p>
<p>Back to point one, if you're not asking to be paid, say so! I can't stress how important this is. Many organizations would like to give teenagers a chance (everyone likes to share knowledge and experience) but have limited budget for paid positions. Unpaid internships benefit everyone. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I don't mind doing an unpaid internship. In fact, I didn't even realize there was such thing as a paid internship(!). I would love to have an idea of where to send a resume or which organization to contact. I live in Denver, but I will live with my dad in Atlanta over the summer. Maybe I could contact a suburban newspaper, CNN, or another organization. Atl. is pretty big. I don't know where to begin. </p>
<p>Thanks so much momrath!!!</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, the easiest way to get internships (for a high school student) might be to ask your parents for help. Your dad, for example, might know someone who works in your field(s) of interest in Atlanta or he might ask his work colleagues if they know anyone. Chances are someone your dad knows will know someone at a newspaper, tv station, government agency. If he could get a name of a friend or even a "friend of a friend" who might put in a word for you, then you would have a connection. If you strike out there, do what Momrath suggests, but I think it's hard for high school students to just send out resumes and hope the person getting them will give them a call. And it's hard for kids to cold call, too, though that can work. Getting another adult to give you a foot in the door seems to make things easier. </p>
<p>For example, when my S was interested in an internship, I thought of our state politician who has a local office. I didn't know her or anyone in her office but I thought a work colleague of mine might. She didn't know her personally but had done some volunteer work with another woman who knew her very well. Long story short, this other woman called the office manager at the politician's local office and put in a kind word for our S. The office manager said to have S call. He did and was told to bring a resume and writing sample for an interview. They interviewed him, looked at his sample and he started interning the next week. He was "hired" (volunteer) on his own merit, but I think it speeded things up to have an adult make contact first. Good luck to you! And Momrath is right that most firms or agencies can use free help with the grunt work.</p>