Many businesses and organizations have different needs during the summer months. For some, it is a great time to hire student workers to fill seasonal openings or to bring on interns to contribute meaningful support and add capacity in ways that are not possible during the school year. Though many often think of college students for these openings, high school students can also be highly motivated and capable employees or interns. With the right structure, these students can provide valuable assistance while gaining early career exposure. 

For businesses and organizations that hope to hire seasonal high school workers or initiate summer internships, the time is now to begin recruitment. Strong high school candidates are often the earliest to secure summer positions. And with commitments to camps, vacations, and extracurriculars, high schoolers’ schedules fill up quickly. Use the tips below to identify internal opportunities and strengthen recruitment efforts.

Think Creatively about Opportunities 

Businesses considering hiring high school students must begin by thinking creatively about the ways in which high schoolers might contribute to their organization. High schoolers are often adept at technology and social media and can likely manage or support efforts in these areas. Some high school students participate in career learning within the high school and have specific career skills, proficiencies, and certifications that might align well with local industry needs. Pausing to think about the types of projects a motivated high schooler could own or support is an integral first step in recruitment efforts. Consider asking a broader team that includes individuals with different responsibilities about possible ways a high schooler could contribute to their work.

Be Explicit About Job Details 

When writing the job or internship posting, be explicit. Most high schoolers will not read paragraphs of company information or long descriptions of hiring details. They are often quick to disregard a job posting if any requirement seems out of reach. Students want to quickly assess if an opportunity might be a good fit. To support their job search, use simple, straightforward text to answer:  

• What tasks will students be doing?
• What is the salary for the role?
• Are there opportunities for students to earn school credit? 
• What is the schedule? Are the hours flexible?

Design Applications and Experiences with Students in Mind

Be sure to consider the process by which students will apply for open positions. Clunky platforms that are not mobile friendly or applications that require multiple documents can quickly turn off potential candidates. Take time to walk through the application process with a student perspective in mind, working to eliminate any redundant requests or unnecessary information fields. Rather than including multiple questions asking about relevant work experience, consider inquiring about school or life experiences where students utilized skills that would translate well into the role. By highlighting transferable skills, rather than specific work examples, high schoolers are more likely to feel they can contribute to a particular business or role.

To attract a wider range of high school candidates, it can be helpful for employers to design roles with their unique commitments in mind. Many high schoolers participate in multiple activities, some of which have obligations during the summer months. Creating a role that can flex with students’ schedules can ensure that great candidates are able to apply. And defining expectations and sharing specifics of projects or roles can help students, especially those with limited workplace experience, to visualize the work and determine if it is a good fit.

Partner with Local Schools and Districts

Schools can be incredibly valuable partners in recruitment efforts. Consider reaching out to schools and asking to be connected with relevant career and technology educators or club sponsors who can help to connect students who have shown interests in particular fields. Businesses might also inquire about any summer job fairs held at the school or within the community that could provide an opportunity to more directly connect with students about available jobs. College and Career Readiness platforms also provide a space where opportunities can be shared directly with students. These platforms allow for an efficient and targeted approach as they can assist employers in reaching a broad group of qualified, interested students by aligning to career goals and pathways. Businesses should ask schools whether they have a platform and, if so, explore the possibility of creating job listings directly within that system.

When businesses put in the time and effort to truly support a young employee, they not only help a student to further explore their interests and gain career skills, they build relationships that can support their long-term recruitment efforts–leading to strong school-community partnerships and a pipeline of future employees already aligned to company values and local workforce needs.

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