Top Business Internship Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide

Internships are a crucial stepping stone for students and recent graduates looking to gain practical experience, develop professional skills, and explore potential career paths. They provide a taste of the real world, allowing individuals to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting. This article delves into the best business internship opportunities, covering programs for high school students and those seeking international experiences, emphasizing the value of these experiences in shaping future careers.

Business Internships for High School Students

While direct business internships for high school students can be rare, several programs offer relevant experience and skill development. These opportunities provide invaluable exposure to professional environments and can significantly enhance college applications. Internships count as extracurricular activities and are an important factor in college admissions. Extracurriculars are divided into four tiers, with tier 1 representing the most exceptional extracurriculars and tier 4 representing the most common activities. How does your internship stack up? Will it help you land a spot at your dream college? Find out with CollegeVine’s chancing engine.

Leadership and Skill Development Programs:

BALI (Bella Abzug Leadership Institute): Founded in 2005, BALI helps young women develop leadership skills and confidence. It offers opportunities for female-identified and gender-expansive youth, ages 13-21, in the NYC metropolitan area through various programs throughout the school year and summer.
DOROT: This nonprofit seeks high school and college interns interested in nonprofit management. Students participate in preparing programs for older adults, developing leadership skills, and earning community service hours.
Youthbridge: A two-year Fellowship program in New York, Youthbridge welcomes high school juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds for intensive training on leadership and diversity. Fellows participate in team-building activities, workshops, and mentoring from successful professionals.

Internships with Companies and Organizations:

Jimerson Birr: This Florida-based business law firm offers a High School Summer Internship Program for seniors to gain real-world experience and develop professional skills.
Ladders for Leaders: This nationally recognized program places high school and college students in paid summer internships with corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies in New York City. It is an initiative of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).
Bank of America Student Leaders: Established in 2004, this program provides opportunities for high school juniors and seniors to develop leadership and job-related skills. Each year, 300 students from diverse communities are selected to work in paid internships with nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Interns4Good: This organization offers a wide range of positions for high school students in grades 9 through 12 looking to intern at nonprofit organizations, including marketing and outreach positions.
Meta Summer Academy: This program provides high school sophomores from select California cities the chance to gain firsthand experience with the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s most recognized social media companies.
The Port of Seattle: The Port of Seattle has a variety of internships working on real projects-no coffee runs-at incredibly interesting locations like the SEA Airport and along the Seattle waterfront. All internships are paid, and participants will gain real-world experience in project management, networking, public speaking, and leadership while completing a work-based project.
Kaiser Permanente’s KP Launch Program: This program provides internships at their headquarters and hospitals throughout northern California. Through the program, interns explore non-medical careers in fields such as accounting and finance, project management, and sales and marketing.

Virtual and Specialized Programs:

Forage: Forage provides high school students with bite-sized virtual work experiences at some of the world’s top companies.
The Department of Education: This offers a variety of internships across a broad spectrum of fields, including business-friendly areas like Human Resources Management, Project Management, and Training and Development.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: This program provides internships to students interested in pursuing careers in business. Internships occur during the academic year, with participants spending a half-day in high school and up to a four-hour shift at PNNL working with a mentor in a specific field of business.
SPARK: SPARK connects motivated high school students in the greater Seattle area with mentors from a wide range of fields-including startups, established companies, and academia.
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition: This program provides students with a chance to gain firsthand experience with the stock market, working in groups to build an investment portfolio using a stock market simulator.
YEP (Youth Entrepreneurship Program): This Kansas City-based internship focuses on entrepreneurship, pairing high school juniors and seniors with local businesses.
MPA (Media Production Academy) Internship: Students interested in media, entertainment, and tech will want to check out this summer internship.
LaunchX: This internship opportunity for high schoolers ages 16 to 18 is a great chance to kickstart a career in finance or venture capital.
Ladder Up: Chicago high school students from an economically disadvantaged background can gain firsthand experience with the financial services field through this paid summer internship.
UIC SAFE-T: Students are challenged to use their computer science, engineering, and technology skills, working in teams to create prototypes for smart city solutions.
The University of Kansas School of Business Summer Venture Program: Students interested in studying business in college will want to look into this program.
Business Week at Kelley School of Business: High school juniors and seniors get a chance to learn about college and potential career opportunities in business during this program from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Capital One Internship Programs

Capital One offers a range of internship programs designed to provide students with challenging projects and real business impact. These programs are structured to enhance skills in business and problem-solving, offering opportunities to work on strategies that change banking for good.

Key Internship Areas:

Data Analyst: Accelerate your career as a data analyst by working on hypothesis-driven strategy analysis and building valuation models or data products on AWS infrastructure using SQL, Python, and Spark.
Internal Consultant: Join a team of internal consultants who make important business decisions, developing critical-thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
Finance: Own key finance projects from start to finish, gaining the project experience and tools needed to dive into commercial banking.
Investment Banking: Immerse yourself in meaningful projects while gaining insight into investment banking best practices, interning with one of Capital One’s lines of business, such as Derivatives, Financing, M&A, KippsDeSanto, or TripleTree.
Project, Process, or Risk Management: Learn how to deliver complex, cross-functional initiatives that drive business forward.
Software Engineering: Grow as a software engineer, developing technical skills and a comprehensive understanding of tech and business.
Tech Product Management: Be at the heart of new product launches and innovations that improve the customer experience.
Cyber Security: Learn from best-in-class cyber security professionals.

Preferred Majors:

Economics
Information Systems
Engineering
Business Information
Finance
Supply Chain
Accounting
Marketing
Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Management Information Systems

International Business Internships

Interning abroad offers an invaluable combination of professional development, cultural exposure, and personal growth. Summer internships appeal to business students because they align with academic calendars and provide hands-on experience in international markets. Whether you’re interested in marketing, finance, consulting, or entrepreneurship, interning abroad can provide the skills and global perspective to stand out in the competitive business world.

Benefits of Interning Abroad:

Global Business Insight: Understand diverse business practices, economic systems, and cultural influences on decision-making.
Skill Enhancement: Improve problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills through real-world challenges.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals, mentors, and peers from around the globe.
Cultural Competency: Develop the ability to work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Personal Growth: Cultivate independence, confidence, and resilience.

Featured International Internship Programs:

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Sydney: Engage in an 8-week summer program working with startups, developing skills relevant to trending jobs through hard skill training modules as part of the Sage Corps Skills Academy.
Denmark: Gain practical experience in business, science, or technology sectors while learning about Denmark's work culture and building your network in those fields.
Florence: Immerse yourself in Florence's rich culture while interning in fields like art, business, or law. The program guarantees placements in your approved career field and includes cultural excursions.
Asia: Build international experience in finance, supply chain, or marketing while immersing yourself in Asian markets.
London: Gain hands-on experience in the bustling economic capital of the world with placements in finance, marketing, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
Dublin: Participate in a full-time internship, gaining professional experience in a variety of industries while exploring Irish culture.
Europe: Engage in a full-time internship tailored to your career goals in one of Europe's most vibrant cities.
Various Locations: Discover and immerse yourself in the nuances of business growth and development.
Ireland: Gain professional experience in Ireland, a country known for its thriving business, technology, and creative industries.
Seoul: Intern in Seoul, one of Asia’s most dynamic and innovative cities.

Career Paths with International Experience:

International Marketing Manager: Oversee global marketing strategies, creating customized campaigns that appeal to multi-cultural audiences.
Financial Analyst: Evaluate financial data to guide investment decisions in international markets.
Trade Compliance Specialist: Ensure a company’s adherence to global trade laws and regulations.
Global Supply Chain Manager: Manage the end-to-end product distribution process across multiple countries, optimizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Management Analyst: Support companies in enhancing efficiency and profitability within international operations.

Companies with Remarkable Internship Programs

Many companies are strongly committed to developing holistic leaders through their internship programs. A blend of leadership development training and overall wellness support has produced remarkable results, with many interns advancing to vice president and even senior vice president roles. The following companies have outstanding internship programs.

Synchrony Financial: Synchrony Financial is strongly committed to developing holistic leaders through their internship program. Interns advance to high level executive positions.
GE Appliances: GE Appliances has an internship committee every semester that supports the entire intern/co-op cohort. The whole class elects a president and vice-president after presentations and elections, and they coordinate and host events strictly for interns throughout the semester.
Endeavor (WME, IMG, On Location, 160/90): They uniquely offer all interns placement at the epicenter of the entertainment industry.
Keiter CPAs: Keiter CPAs interns have been treated to a helicopter ride from a client who owns a premier private helicopter service.
7-Eleven: One special aspect of the 7-Eleven internship program is the ”in store experience".
AbbVie: Many of their top leaders are products of AbbVie early talent programs and support them in a variety of ways.
Advanced Micro Devices: The Advanced Micro Devices Intern Program provides interns with opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology and research alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.
American Heart Association: The American Heart Association interns save lives and make real-world impacts.
Analog Devices: The interns are certainly treated in the same light, and as newcomers to the workforce, they are provided additional avenues to expand their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and grow their network. One of the most impactful ways Analog Devices does this is through the Executive Leadership Series.
Austin Industries: The Austin Industries interns are fully welcomed within the company.
AutoZone: This year AutoZone added a fun theme to the internship program: Turbocharge.
Avangrid: Avangrid is very proud of the post-graduation opportunities provided to interns and are scaling up their internship program.
BIC Corporation: BIC Corporation’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship is ingrained in their history and is a driving force of their internship program. Interns design and pitch their own product inspired by BIC’s iconic legacy of bringing simplicity and joy to everyday life.
Blackstone: Blackstone takes pride in their internship program’s global reach.
BNY: BNY celebrates the 240th anniversary of the company this summer!
Boeing: Boeing's internship program prioritizes the intern experience, offering opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects and technologies that shape the future of aerospace.
Bohler: Bohler empowers the ambitious to become the accomplished.
Burns & McDonnell: The Burns & McDonnell internship program shines due to the involvement of senior leadership. The interns benefit from engagements with the C-Suite, including direct conversations with the CEO.
CBRE: The CBRE Executive Leadership teams are significantly engaged and involved in the internship program.
Celanese: Celanese is proud that a very large percentage of 2023 interns who received full time offers have joined the organization this summer.
Chamberlain Group: The interns are helping shape this new business, with their projects being incorporated into the features of our product roadmap & strategy.
Cintas: Cintas has taken care to ensure a streamlined and consistent program for their interns by creating playbooks for each intern and for each member of the Early Career Success Team.
Cisco Systems: Cisco Systems is proud of the Intern Rewards Program’s transformative impact, which not only led to a significant increase in event participation but also fostered a dynamic and innovative spirit that’s unmatched.
Colgate-Palmolive: One standout aspect of Colgate-Palmolive’s internship program is its high conversion rate of interns to full-time employees.
Continental AG: The Continental AG internship program is unique as it can be combined with the writing of an empirical thesis! Interns are directly integrated into work structures and perform a variety of tasks and exciting challenges within international project teams.
COUNTRY Financial: The interns consistently use words like ‘friendly,’ ‘collaborative,’ and ‘supportive' when describing the company culture.
Crane Army Ammunition Activity: The Crane Army Ammunition Activity internship program is a prime example of a scalable Federal agency program.
CVS Health: Since 2019, the CVS Health internship program has grown from ~250 interns in separate programs to almost 600 interns in a unified program.
Dell Technologies: The Dell Technologies internship program places great importance on empowering first-generation students, empowering them to believe they belong in big companies and showing them vast opportunities.
Eaton: Learning from senior leaders is deeply ingrained in the fabric of every internship experience offered by Eaton.
Emerson: Emerson internship participants expand their technical and professional skills by performing meaningful work that directly impacts the business, with mentorship from managers and key business leaders in a real-world setting.
Enterprise Mobility: The Enterprise Mobility CEO and a Senior VP both started as an Intern! Interns can reach any level at the organization.
Epsilon: The Epsilon Intern Program has a very strong alumni network, with many former interns now working as full-time employees.
Expedia Group: Interns and their family/friends receive hotel discounts through their platforms and can go on vacation using these discounts.
Experian: Experian proudly welcomes a diverse array of students from over 40 universities across the USA, representing more than 30 different majors from bachelor’s to Doctorate.
Fox: The Fox program isn’t just an internship; it’s a launchpad into the media industry.
Freese and Nichols: A key firm value is "Engage as Family" - - it's something they strive for in all aspects of how they do business and care for their employees, including the interns.
FTI Consulting: One exciting aspect of the FTI Consulting internship program is the opportunity for interns to work with leading experts in their respective practices, while still being a part of a smaller team.
GE Vernova: GE Vernova is incredibly proud of the success of their interns.
Halliburton: HalCamp is a highlight of the Halliburton internship program, setting the stage for a collaborative & inclusive workplace culture that continues after interns head to their work location.
Heartland Business Systems: Each year the Heartland Business Systems internship program grows, usually with a new type of internship that offers eager students help to launch their career.
HPE: HPE is proud to consistently receive intern feedback indicating they are fully engaged and feel like they belong from Day 1.
Holcim US: Holcim US is very proud of the value that the internship program brings to the organization.
HUB International: The HUB International 2023 interns had such a good time last summer they nicknamed themselves ”Funterns.”
Ingredion: The Ingredion internship program is led by two former interns… and the CEO started with the company as an intern himself!
Jackson: When walking the halls at Jackson, it's not unusual to see many former interns that are now full-time employees - some in their third/fourth/fifth+ role.
Johnson & Johnson: The Johnson & Johnson International Recruitment Development Program (IRDP) has a huge positive impact on filling high potential commercial leadership roles.
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL): Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is proud to be recognized by previous interns as a top internship program.
Kearney & Company: The Kearney & Company internship program has grown tremendously since 2015.
Kimley-Horn: An extremely high percentage of the Kimley-Horn intern classes over the last three years have accepted full-time offers of employment with the company or have returned for a second internship.
Kinaxis: Kinaxis believes that interns bring incredibly valuable perspectives and quality of work and are given the freedom to learn and explore based on their interests and career goals.
Koch: Placing an increased value in learning and understanding GenAI, the Koch Intern Program provides continuous training on internal AI tools.
Kohl's: The Kohl's 2024 class of interns are from 256 universities and 46 different states!
L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris Technologies believes in giving back to the community and encourages their interns to do the same.
Lands' End: The Lands' End internship program offers some amazing no-cost health & wellness programs, including mental healthcare to every single intern.