top of page

How to Gain Business Exposure in High School / By Hannah Levin


 

You’re never too young to get business experience. Even if your school does not offer classes, clubs, or resources to learn about business principles, there are still many outlets provided to most young adults to get involved. Business is very broadly defined, and includes various opportunities to gain exposure to the business world.


Many clubs in school often have a treasurer position, which can help students discover whether they enjoy being responsible for finances and give young learners an opportunity to explore some of the fundamentals of business. Saving money, budgeting money, and even trying to invest money are great ways to learn how to manage finances. An ambitious undertaking would be to procure a business internship. “As a high school student, you’re not too young to seek out an internship in the business world. There are firms out there that recruit high school students for their internship programs” (Mario Gage, Senior Investor Services Associate). There are also less intimidating jobs such as working at a clothing store or a restaurant, which could educate you on how small and/or large businesses operate.


Aside from these great ways for young adults to gain business experience, there are also many innovative approaches to getting involved in a business that is often not commonly thought of as being business-related. An example of an innovative business idea that is feasible for young adults is buying sneakers and selling them for a greater price (Myles Gage, Relationship Manager). Lemonade stands, selling something online or even exchanging items with friends are also great ways to learn the value of money while having fun.


Candace Bonfiglio, the AVP Marketing Officer at Republic Bank of Chicago, believes a foundational knowledge of business is extremely useful when applying to colleges and even other jobs. Acquiring some business experience in high school could give students who are pursuing a business major in college a leg up in some courses they may be taking down the road. In the 2014-2015 school year, “the greatest number of degrees were conferred in the fields of business (364,000)” (National Center for Education Statistics). Learning business principles could also be beneficial in non-business-related careers. For example, an architect could use business principles when marketing their services, deciding how to maximize the financial gains of the work they are doing, or if they are thinking of starting their own firm

Comments


bottom of page