For both college and high school students, internships can be useful for gaining experience in one's desired job field. By acting as a platform that helps you nurture your skills and shape yourself to better fit your career-oriented goals, internships remain one of the best training methods for aspiring students.
From a student's point of view, internships are quite demanding and exhausting, but they are certainly worth the effort. They will not only add to your future college and job applications but also aid you with your personal development. So before we get into the process of finding internships, it is important to establish that being an intern is a big commitment, and you must only apply if you feel that you can manage your academics with it equally.
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As a high school student who has done three internships parallelly, along with schoolwork, it is safe to say that I am qualified enough to break down the process of finding internships and managing them properly. So take it from me - it is NOT easy. While I struggled a lot initially, I eventually found my groove.
I could multi-task effectively, which landed me the ‘Intern of the Week’ position multiple times. So remember that you are capable of anything if you put your mind to it. If you work hard now, you will be able to reap the benefits in the future when you look at all your college decisions and see that they are all acceptances. While that may have been a bit of an exaggeration, there is no doubt that internships elevate your resume and make you stand out among hundreds of applicants. But then again, choosing the right ones align with your goals the most is important.

This article is especially tailored to students who have procrastinated all this while and are now looking for last-minute internships minute before they have to apply for a or for college. Procrastination is a prevalent issue, which mostly occurs in individuals who are swamped with work and don't have the will to do it. But do not fear because you have come to the right place! Whether you are a student or a working individual looking to apply to internships, here is the step-by-step process to finding suitable internships last-minute:
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Before you start the search process, you must realize you have procrastinated too much. Only when you understand your mistakes will you be able to overcome them effectively? How will you fix it if you don't know what's wrong?
It is fine if you have missed the ideal gap for internship applications, such as summer holidays. However, it is the harsh truth that you are ineligible for a large percentage of internships. This is either because the deadlines have closed or because even if you get accepted, you won't be able to work as effectively as you should since you would probably have loads of schoolwork or other work to complete.
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Yes, balance is important, but sometimes, it is simply impractical to take up demanding internships. The whole point of an internship is to do something you love and gain valuable experience. If you take this up at a time when you have a lot of other commitments, you will soon realize that you are starting to treat it as a chore more than a passion. This is a very bad situation because it means that your passions are slowly fading.
Therefore, always think twice before applying for any internship - consider your workload, and your ability to multitask. Whatever you decide, make sure that you are in a position where you are able to get efficient work done, in your own time, passionately.

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Online Platforms
Sometimes, the best way to find accessible internships open for applications is to look at reliable listings online. Normally, when looking for internships, once you find your most interesting choice, there is a high chance of disappointment, either because they are not open for applications or because you do not meet the eligibility criteria. This could easily be prevented by browsing listings on platforms such as LinkedIn because they would contain all these necessary criteria.
Another benefit that you get through LinkedIn, is the ability to connect personally with the related authoritative figures. By looking at the posts about the internship, you would be able to check who posted them and get a chance to message them regarding any inquiries.

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Networking
Sometimes, we tend to get so caught up in finding opportunities outside that we ignore the opportunities that were right in front of us the whole time. Slow down the search, and take a moment to think about the people around you. You might just be crossing the biggest opportunities without realizing it.
Before you look for internships outside, ask any working adults or other experienced individuals in your family or friend circle if they could squeeze you in for any internships that they have connections with. This could prove to be very useful, especially if you reach out to authorities such as professors or people who have completed many internships in the past.
Cold Emailing
Cold emailing refers to the process of sending emails to companies that have not publicly advertised internships, but might have possible opportunities for an interested student like yourself. This is based completely on your instinct and research skills. While this requires deep diving into the company's history and other factors, it would be worth it. Because if it does work out, you will have a rare and selective internship experience to add to your resume.

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Here is a step-by-step process:
- Research companies
- Find contacts (the most down-to-earth authoritative figure in the company)
- Formulate a persuasive subject line (ex, Seeking Internship - Marketing Student with Networking Skills)
- Add personality to your content (This is what will make you stand out)
- Add an Introduction (Name, Purpose of reaching out)
- Highlight your Qualifications (Education, Skills, Experience, Previous Internships)
- Express Genuine Interest (DO NOT fake this because that will instantly get you rejected)
- Attach your Resume (Preferably tailored to the specific internship and its requirements)
- Use a Professional Tone (No informal language or abbreviations)
- Follow up (In case you have not received a response after a week or two)
If done right, this would make you stand out to recruiters, persuading them to offer you an exclusive internship.
Job fairs and Career Assistance
If you are lucky enough, your school might conduct occasional high school job fairs but do not worry if this is not the case. Scour the internet to find any upcoming job fairs in your area, and go to them immediately if they match your time commitments. This will help you out more than you think.
More than any other method, this is the only one where you can meet the recruiters face-to-face and truly persuade them on why they should take you for their internship. If you are genuine and show your personality, you will be a step higher than all the other candidates applying for that internship.

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If you cannot find any suitable fairs, there are always online webinars and platforms you can use to get internship assistance. While these websites vary according to your country, most would prove highly useful if reliable. You can connect on forums and ask others about their internship experiences or opportunities. This will help you establish connections while expanding your knowledge about internships.
Alumni Network
Every school varies in terms of opportunities provided, courses offered, extracurriculars, and much more. However, the one thing that every school has in common is the availability of a reliable alumni network. An alumni network is a group of people like you once.
They were in the exact position as you, in the exact school as you, with the same opportunities. Who better to ask than them?
Not only are they helpful, they are also comparatively easy to get in contact with, since all you have to do, is ask your school board. Alumni advice is the most life-changing piece of wisdom because you will be told exactly what to do, from a person who once overcame your same situation.
If you do some research and find the alumni who got into the best universities, you can not only ask them about internships, but about so many other factors such as college applications. They will be your ultimate question clarifiers, for anything academic-related! Is that not exciting?

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Always keep in mind that it is never too late to try. Whether it may be an internship with a 1% or a 50% acceptance rate, do not consider that a barrier is stopping you from applying. You might encounter these opportunities only once in your lifetime, so why not try your hand at it?
There is a high chance that you underestimate yourself, so don't hesitate to apply for whatever internship you are passionate about. You can apply for financial aid even if you cannot afford some. There is never an excuse to miss opportunities intentionally. Try your best. Never let an opportunity pass, whether it is now or in the future. You have just as much of a chance as anybody else!