Why It’s So Hard for Teens to Get Internships

Why It’s So Hard for Teens to Get Internships—and What to Do Instead

If you’ve tried finding an internship for your teen, you’ve probably hit a wall. Most companies don’t take high school students—they prefer college interns who can start working right away. Unless your family has strong connections (think “a senator uncle”), those doors usually stay closed. That’s tough because internships teach real workplace skills: what a job feels like, how to work with a team, and how to communicate. So where do teens get that experience? 

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That’s the gap Starter School fills with its co-op program: real projects designed with actual companies, done from home with training, check-ins, and rewards. Teens can explore different industries, complete entry-level assignments like they would at a company, and build a portfolio that stands out—even compared with many college students. It’s a practical first step before future internships or online jobs for teens.

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The Real-World Alternative to Internships

A co-op gives teens the same real-world learning as an internship—without needing special connections. At Starter School, we talk with real business leaders to design simple, entry-level assignments like the ones you’d see posted for college interns. Teens do these projects from home on a laptop, a few hours a week, so it fits around school and activities. We provide the training, step-by-step guides, regular check-ins for accountability, and rewards so they don’t feel overwhelmed. Teens explore industries they care about, learn teamwork and communication, and build a portfolio they can use for future internships or online jobs for teens. No prior experience required—just curiosity and commitment to their co-op.

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Why Teens Love Co-Ops

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With Starter School co-ops, each co-op feels like a mini job where your teen chooses what they want to explore, such as:

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• Technology and software

• Marketing, business, and content creation

• Real estate or finance

• Fashion, design, and media

• Gaming, game design, and entertainment

• Media, AI, or entrepreneurship

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They select projects that interest them, complete guided assignments inspired by real company tasks, and build skills they can show on a resume or portfolio—often the kind of proof even many college students don’t have yet. Because everything happens online and fits around school, it’s one of the most practical online jobs for teens: real projects, real accountability, no busywork, and no need for special connections.

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Work Experience That Actually Counts

By the time your teen completes their first Starter School co-op, they’ll already have a portfolio of finished projects—real results, screenshots, and deliverables they can show. That proof sets them apart when applying for college, internships, part-time roles, or online jobs for teens. Along the way they learn to meet deadlines, communicate professionally, and finish work the right way. And when they complete their first co-op, they get $20 cash back, making the experience both motivating and practical.

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When Internships Aren’t an Option

If you’ve been trying to get your teen an internship and no one replies, don’t stress—it’s not your fault. Most companies just aren’t set up to train teenagers. There’s another path. A co-op with Starter School gives your teen a real shot at the experience they need now. 

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Tap the link to start their first co-op for just $47. After they finish their first assignment, they’ll receive $20 cash back. It’s a simple, flexible way to turn curiosity into confidence, build a portfolio for future internships or online jobs for teens, and get guided support that makes work experience accessible, fun, and useful.