10 Marketing Internships for High School Students
In today's competitive landscape, trying to find ways to differentiate yourself and gain experience for both future careers and college applications can be daunting. Applying for and committing to a marketing internship can help your applications and resume stand out against other applicants. Having an internship, especially in an area that you are interested in majoring in at university, will set you up for future career endeavors and help you learn the basics of having a job in a dynamic field like marketing.
1. Ladder Internship Program - Marketing Track
Ladder Internships is a selective program equipping students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, and each student can select which field they would most love to deep dive into. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore areas they think they might be interested in, and better understand professional career opportunities in those areas. The startups are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia and then Europe and the UK.
You can explore all the options here on their application form. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding you through the internship and helping you navigate the startup environment.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: April 16 and May 14
Program dates: 8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!
Building-U is an entirely remote non-profit internship opportunity for currently enrolled high school students. This organization is designed to build a database of free and helpful resources for students in the form of opportunities, internships, scholarships, contests, and education programs. Currently, Building-U is looking for interns to assist in the administrative and/or business aspect of the organization.
With 10 different teams to choose from (including Marketing, Business and Development, and Student Ambassadors) you can choose which role would be the most fulfilling for your time with Building-U. Each team offers a range of experiences and responsibilities, and will give you the chance to contribute towards the organization’s larger goals. This internship position is for three months, and is entirely virtual
Cost/Payment: No cost, and this is an unpaid opportunity.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines, it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.
Program Dates: Usually 3 months from June to August.
SpikeView, a free and online tool for young people to catalog their life in a way that sets them up for success in college or careers, offers this marketing internship for high school students. Designed to help young individuals answer the “Tell me about yourself” prompt for both schools and the workforce, Spikeview is an organized portfolio of each user’s interests and accomplishments.
As a Social Media Marketing Intern for SpikeView, you will be expected to use the power of the internet to create videos for social platforms, monitor social platforms, and conduct social platform analysis with the end goal of gaining more users. Alongside the rest of your team, consisting of other student interns, you will work to increase awareness and adoption of SpikeView. When applying, this internship asks that you have in-depth knowledge of social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram.
Cost/Payment: Internships are unpaid.
Application Deadline: Open throughout the year.
Program Dates: Monday through Friday after school, and a periodic weekend Zoom call- all remote.
Interns4Good is an online organization that works to offer a list of internship opportunities at non profit organizations for high school students. The program is constantly updating its list and is built to include internships that span across various fields. Of this long list, there are many opportunities for you to find a role in either marketing or communications. This program offers both online and in-person internship opportunities. If you choose to intern with one of the partner non-profits listed, you will also contribute to Interns-4-Good by submitting weekly reports that include the hours you worked as well as a small write up for the program;s comprehensive record for future reference. Additionally, they can request verified hour reports, which can be reported to organizations of their choice.
Cost/Payment: No cost, internships are unpaid.
Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round.
Program Dates: The dates vary depending on which nonprofit organization you choose.
The world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art offers internships in art, design, architecture and other creative fields for high school students passionate about creative expression. Offered both during the school year and during the summer, you can intern for the Met whenever suits you best. As a MET intern, you will regularly learn from and work alongside museum professionals and experts in marketing, scientific research, social media, law, and educational programming.
These internships immerse students in the realm of art, museums, and creative professions including marketing. You will also have the unique opportunity to take part in “Career Labs”, which are interactive learning sessions where you receive advice from professionals and hear about their work and experiences.
Cost/Payment: Interns are provided a stipend of $1,100
Application Deadline: Applications are due in October for year-round internships and March for summer internships.
Program Dates: For the year-round option: January 14th, 2024 - June 9th, 2024. And for the summer option: June 25th, 2024 - August 12th, 2024 (summer).
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements offers internships for high school students at all its locations across the country to contribute to NASA projects under the guidance of a mentor. NASA internships offer a wide variety of roles, including marketing, business, communication/journalism, graphic design, public relations/advertising, and more.
Specifically, for their Social Media Internship, NASA is looking for creative students with knowledge of social media and strong communication skills for storytelling in today’s digital world. As an intern, you will be working with OSTEM internship points of contact across the agency to help NASA develop a communications plan for agency internships. This opportunity is full time and remote though it is based out of Maryland.
Cost/Payment: Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
Application Deadline: February 2, 2024.
Program Dates: June 25th, 2024 - August 12th, 2024.
The Kaiser Permanente Launch Internship Program Is designed to provide interns with hands-on, practical experience as well as insight into the healthcare industry. KP Launch offers a variety of internship tracks, mixing marketing with healthcare, such as account management, sales and marketing, product development and more.This program also places an emphasis on mentorship and provides its interns with insight into healthcare marketing while also helping you build a meaningful foundation for your future career.
Kaiser Permanente, an insurance provider and care delivery organization, is a great company to begin your marketing journey with. As an intern you will not only gain practical exposure by offering your time and energy in the healthcare world, but also enhance your business skills through weekly workshops dedicated to professional growth.
Cost/Payment: Interns can receive a payment of $15.50 - $18.00 an hour.
Application Deadline: January 2nd, 2024.
Program Dates: June 17th, 2024 - August 2nd, 2024.
If you are a graduating senior from Burbank or Los Angeles County interested in a corporate or administrative role in the entertainment industry, The Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program (Business Track) would be a great option for you. With roles in finance, marketing, and communications, this program offers you the opportunity to learn about the creative and business aspects of the industry through in-person experience in television and film production.
By working on the day-to-day operations at a major film and television studio, you will get to work closely with professionals in the industry as this program also includes mentorship opportunities. Depending on which specific program and role you choose, you will help out with creative development, marketing campaigns, and contribute to the production of multimedia content. During your internship with Warner Bros, you will gain valuable industry experience while also growing a network of connections in the industry that can help you on your future career endeavors.
Cost/Payment: Students receive a $5,000 stipend towards their college tuition. The scholarship will be paid directly to the college/university in equal ($1,250) annual installments.
Application Deadline: February, 2024.
Program Dates: Dates can vary but this program runs during the school year.
As an intern of Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) you will have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading and most prestigious social media networks. You will learn the ins and outs of a major social media company under leaders and experts in the field. And though this opportunity is only offered in person in California, you’ll have the opportunity to grow in one of the most advanced technological cities.
You will be expected to participate for 30 hours/week, but you and your peers will have the opportunity to be mentored under Meta employees. You will not only gain exposure to the tech industry, but network with individuals who have years of experience working for both Facebook and now Meta. Transportation is provided for all interns, which makes it accessible to applicants from across California. But, only 150 students are selected each year as the application process is highly competitive for this prestigious opportunity.
Cost/Payment: No cost, stipend provided.
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2024.
Program Dates: June 17th, 2024 to July 26th, 2024.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s “Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals” Internship Program is the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's paid internship program for high-achieving high school students who have completed their sophomore year in the Boston Public Schools. This would be a great option for any high school students looking for a developmentally rich first summer work experience. This internship also places an emphasis on job coaching and skill-building workshops, making it a great opportunity for students interested in "first-job" experience like problem solving and conflict resolution. At the end of this internship, depending on available openings and individual interest, effort, and performance, you also may be selected for an extended year-round internship program.
The application process is a bit different, as the program is led by the Regional and Community Outreach department, which works to place interns across various departments in the Bank. High school students typically apply through the PIC.
Cost/Payment: No cost, payment varies.
Application Deadline: N/A.
Program Dates: Summer 2024.
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you enjoy researching for rigorous opportunities and want to engage in a research journey in business, marketing, and related field, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Mandy Brenner is a current junior at Harvard University. She is concentrating in History and Literature and loves to read and write in her free time.