Economics Internships High School College

Read about economics internships high school college on the EconArena blog. Economics insights for students and teachers.

Internships can launch your economics career. Here's how to find and secure the best opportunities.

Why Economics Internships Matter

Career Benefits

Real-world experience
Professional network building
Resume enhancement
Skill development
Potential job offers

Academic Benefits

Apply classroom knowledge
Discover interests
Research opportunities
Letter of recommendation sources

Top Internship Categories

1. Federal Reserve Internships

What you do: Economic research, data analysis, policy support

Programs:

Summer internships at regional Fed banks
Research assistant positions
High school programs at some locations

How to apply:

Check each regional Fed's website (12 banks + DC)
Application typically due January-February
Strong quantitative skills essential

What they look for:

Economics coursework
Statistical software skills (Stata, R)
Research interest
Strong academics

2. Government Agencies

Agencies that hire:

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Congressional Budget Office
Treasury Department
Federal agencies (USAID, Commerce, etc.)
State economic development offices

USAJOBS.gov is key resource for federal positions

3. Think Tanks

Organizations:

Brookings Institution
American Enterprise Institute
Urban Institute
Heritage Foundation
Council on Foreign Relations

What you do: Research support, data analysis, writing assistance

Tip: Apply early—these are competitive

4. Financial Services

Types of firms:

Investment banks
Asset management
Commercial banks
Insurance companies

Roles:

Analyst programs
Trading floor support
Research teams
Risk management

Major firms: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, etc.

5. Consulting Firms

Types:

Management consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)
Economic consulting (NERA, Compass Lexecon)
Policy consulting

What you do: Research, modeling, analysis, presentation preparation

6. Tech Companies

Companies hiring economics students:

Amazon
Google
Meta
Uber
Airbnb

Roles:

Economics research
Data analysis
Product analytics
Market research

7. Research Positions

Opportunities:

University professor research assistants
Research lab positions
Policy research institutes

How to find:

Ask your professors
Check department job boards
Reach out to researchers whose work interests you

How to Find Opportunities

Online Resources

Company career pages
Handshake (college job board)
LinkedIn
Indeed
USAJOBS (federal)
Your school's career center

Networking

Career fairs
Alumni networks
Professor connections
Professional associations
LinkedIn outreach

Timing Matters

For summer internships:

Finance: Applications due September-November
Consulting: Applications due September-December
Government: Applications due December-February
Tech: Rolling, but earlier is better
Research: Variable, often spring

Start early—at least 6 months before you want to start.

Building Your Application

Resume Tips for Economics Students

Highlight:

Relevant coursework (econometrics, statistics)
Technical skills (Excel, Stata, R, Python)
Research experience
Leadership positions
Academic achievements

Format:

One page for students
Clear, clean layout
Quantify achievements when possible
Tailor to each position

Cover Letter Strategy

Structure:

Why you're interested in this specific opportunity
Why you're qualified (skills + experience)
Why this organization
Call to action

Key tips:

Research the organization thoroughly
Be specific, not generic
Show genuine interest
Keep it to one page

Interview Preparation

Common question types:

Behavioral ("Tell me about a time...")
Technical (economics concepts, case studies)
Fit ("Why this firm?")

Preparation:

Research the organization deeply
Practice answering out loud
Prepare questions to ask
Know your resume cold

For High School Students

Available Opportunities

Federal Reserve high school programs
Local government offices
Research assistant to professors
Small business economics work
Non-profit organizations

Building Your Profile

Take economics courses (AP if possible)
Join economics clubs
Compete in economics competitions
Learn Excel and basic statistics
Start a relevant project

Alternative Experience

If formal internships aren't available:

Volunteer for economic-related causes
Start an investment club
Conduct independent research
Build data analysis skills
Shadow professionals

For College Students

Freshman/Sophomore Year

Apply for sophomore programs
Build technical skills
Get research experience with professors
Network with alumni

Junior Year

Peak internship application season
Target summer after junior year (crucial for full-time offers)
Apply broadly
Prepare intensively

Senior Year

Convert internship to full-time offer
Apply for positions if no return offer
Consider graduate school applications

Making the Most of Your Internship

During the Internship

Be proactive and curious
Ask for more work
Network intentionally
Document your accomplishments
Seek feedback

Building Relationships

Schedule coffee chats
Ask about career paths
Stay in touch after internship ends
Connect on LinkedIn professionally

Converting to Full-Time

Express interest early
Deliver excellent work
Understand the conversion process
Have backup plans

If You Don't Get Your First Choice

Keep Perspective

Rejection is normal
One internship doesn't define your career
Learn from each application

Alternative Paths

Research experiences with professors
Part-time positions in relevant fields
Project-based work
Online courses and certifications
Volunteering in economic development

Improve for Next Time

Analyze what went wrong
Build missing skills
Expand your network
Start earlier

Conclusion

Landing economics internships requires preparation, persistence, and strategic effort. Start building your profile now, apply broadly, and remember that the path to your dream job may not be straight.

Every experience builds toward your goals. Start your search today!

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