Desperate Silicon Valley Firms Recruit High School Interns In Search For New Tech Talent
(CBS SF) -- The competition for talent among Silicon Valley tech firms has led to companies recruiting high school students who can become handsomely-paid interns.
Companies like Facebook, LinkedIn and Airbnb have recruited interns as young as 16 years old, and one Oregon-based startup – Planet Argon LLC – has landed a 13-year-old intern, according to a Bloomberg report.
The report said Facebook even flew out a Miami high school graduate to Menlo Park to meet CEO Mark Zuckerberg after hiring him for a summer internship. Facebook recruited 17-year-old Michael Sayman after finding out he was using the company's developer tools to build a mobile game, according to Bloomberg.
High school interns at tech firms can earn more than the U.S. median household income. Glassdoor reported that among the top 25 highest paying companies for interns, 19 are technology firms. While the average intern can make between $2,400 and $3,100 a month, companies at the top of the list pay interns around $7,000 in average monthly base pay, according to Glassdoor.
In addition to the base pay, Silicon Valley interns can count on the signature perks offered at tech firms, such as on site massages, swimming pools, dance classes, nap pods and free gourmet food.
Not all tech firms are looking for high school interns. Google says it requires its interns to be at least freshmen in college.