If your 17 and not already a dot com superstar, you’re not going to land a job at Google, you’ll probably have to do it the hard way like everyone else. But if

If your 17 and not already a dot com superstar, you’re not going to land a job at Google, you’ll probably have to do it the hard way like everyone else. But if you’re lucky and don’t “need” (ie your parents feed you and put a roof over your head), then I’d think more about getting cool experience than getting a good salary. Call up professors and lab-techs at nearby universities and ask if they need help with basic web/data tasks. They always need custom coding for weird experiments, and you’re constantly surrounded by smart people. If you have a relative/friend in local government, offer to work for cheap/free and improve their (likely) horrible website/IT systems. You’ll see how the government (sluggishly) works and will come out with a better understanding of bearucacy. If you or your parents know a doctor, painting company, landscaper, coffee shop, or any other small business, offer to improve their website or online presence. You’ll see the daily struggles of trying to make a buck as the small guy. Any of these would teach you techincal skills as well as some good life ones. Sorry, but because you’re 17 they probably won’t trust your skills (even though they probably should). Deal with condescension in stride and blow their socks off with what you can build. Wish more teenagers had the drive you do, it sure beats mowing lawns or working at Chipotle.