7 Business Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
- Estelle Reardon
- Dec 5, 2025
- 7 min read
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Whether you’re interested in finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, or another area, business internships for high school students in Los Angeles offer an exceptional opportunity for Southern California teens to build real-world skills and explore potential career paths.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Completing a business internship for high school students in Los Angeles offers another important benefit: it can boost your chances of admission to a top college. Prism, the University of Chicago’s largest consulting organization, found that 70% of students attending a U.S. News Top 50 university engaged in a high school internship.
High school internships show colleges that you’re serious about your future and willing to take initiative. They demonstrate ambition, curiosity, and a commitment to exploring your interests both inside and outside the classroom.
Another benefit of high school internships is that they pave the way to future opportunities. For example, completing a high school internship makes it easier to land a college internship and gain admission to pre-professional groups and organizations like student business associations, startup clubs, and investment teams.
How to Find Business Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
Resources are abundant online for students looking for business internships for high schoolers in LA (and internships in general). One notable tool is StandOutSearch. The largest free online database of internships for high-school-age students, StandOutSearch helps you zero in on opportunities aligned with your needs using filters including:
Location
Season
Format (in-person, virtual, hybrid)
Compensation (paid or unpaid)
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MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of high school internships and summer programs. A drawback of the opportunities found on these types of lists is that they’re often intensely competitive. Consequently, students who are determined to secure an internship should develop a cold outreach plan—a strategy for contacting potential internship providers with the goal of landing a position.
7 Business Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
Most of the internships below are highly selective, with acceptance rates below 20%. To improve your chances of securing one of these valuable positions, we recommend applying to at least five opportunities.
If a business internship for high school students in Los Angeles below catches your eye, mark the date on your calendar so you don’t miss out!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is an innovative program that pairs talented high school students with online internships in fields like the arts, business, law, medicine, and technology. Powered by StandOutSearch—the largest free database of high school internships—and supported by the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the program has been recognized by Forbes.
StandOut Connect students receive guidance from alumni of top universities on how to secure and excel in internships, then complete a two-month placement at companies founded by those alumni. By the program’s end, participants lead real projects, with many earning offers to continue their work.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
This prestigious eight-week summer program pairs participants with local non-profits, where they’ll learn firsthand how the government, business, and nonprofit sectors work together to meet community needs. Participants gain real-world experience while building leadership skills and serving their communities.
The program culminates with participants attending the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.—an all-expenses-paid part of the program.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Deadline: Rolling
The Career Technical Education (CTE) internship program, offered by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), gives high school students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills essential for a successful career. With placements across 15 high-demand industries, the program balances academic learning with real-world problem-solving experience.
Ages: 15-18
Location: Ventura, CA
Timeline: Varies
Deadline: Rolling
Ventura County High School Student Workers can find themselves engaged in a variety of tasks—from performing clerical work in an office to manual labor maintaining parks, beaches, and roads. Participants gain work experience, bolster their resumes, and learn about work within a county government. Positions in finance, operations, human resources, and communication might all appeal to business-minded high schoolers.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Fall, Winter, Spring
Deadline: Not announced yet
This internship program helps high school students explore career interests and set professional goals while building work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills. Participants engage in self-guided learning experiences—using career planning tools, developing networking skills, practicing interview techniques, and creating a professional online profile.
Ages: Seniors
Location: Locations across the U.S., including California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Early January
An Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) internship can be a launchpad to a career in finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, sales, or any other business field in media or tech. Participants gain hands-on exposure within organizations, developing key skills, building professional networks, and accelerating their path toward a successful business career.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations across the U.S., including California
Timeline: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Deadline: TBD
The U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Program offers two paid opportunities: the Internship Experience Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). Both programs give students the chance to explore careers within the federal government, gain valuable work experience, and strengthen their resumes.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Business InternshipsÂ
If you’ve dreamed of an opportunity different from the business internships for high school students in LA listed above, you’ll want to launch a cold outreach campaign. Many students and professionals alike find cold outreach challenging, but the guide and templates below make the process more manageable.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
Look for opportunities on LinkedIn by targeting startups and small businesses, which often welcome extra support. Offer your assistance in areas like administrative support, marketing, accounting, and customer engagement. When reaching out, highlight any shared background or interests—whether it’s growing up in the same LA neighborhood or cheering for the same team—to build a genuine connection.
When contacting professionals you don’t know, err on the side of caution by interviewing and meeting virtually—it’s the safest option.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
University faculty pages are a useful starting point when searching for professors who might offer research opportunities. Keep in mind, however, that remote positions are relatively rare for high school students. Professors typically use high school interns for hands-on lab support, rather than remote work.
Computational research is one notable exception. Computational research positions typically require at least an introductory knowledge of programming languages like Python and R. Fortunately, free online courses, such as Coursera’s Python for Everybody or R Programming, can equip you with the skills needed in just a few months.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The wider you cast your net, the better your chances of landing an internship—aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers. When emailing, make sure to include your resume and keep these tips in mind:
A Google Drive link to your resume is preferable to a PDF or Doc, which can affect deliverability
Make sure the link’s share setting allows anyone with it to view its contents
Include relevant work experience, such as part-time jobs, entrepreneurial efforts, volunteer work, or leadership roles
Attach work samples, like newsletters or flyers you created, a website you designed, or a volunteer project you completed
If you don’t have a resume, don’t worry. Our resume template and guide have everything you need to know about crafting a resume that will help you earn an internship. The University of Chicago also provides a helpful resume resource.
Email Template for Finding a High School InternshipÂ
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.Â
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].Â
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,Â
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].Â
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!Â
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Pursuing a business internship for high schoolers in LA requires persistence, no matter if you’re applying through formal programs or reaching out directly to professionals. High school internships are challenging to land, but the payoff is significant—early experience gives students a valuable edge in shaping their future careers.
If you benefited from this guide, bookmark it or pass it along to someone else who might find it useful. Wishing you success in your internship journey!