Is A Micro-Internship The Right Fit For Me ?

A relatively new trend in college internship programs, micro-internships allow students to work in paid positions that can be completed year-round and typically range from five to 40 hours. These are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable college students to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role. Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work. Projects are due between one week and one month after kickoff.

Finding an opportunity for a micro-internship can be challenging for most students. It may be useful to start with a series of informational interviews in fields that most interest you. By establishing meaningful connections and by showing interest in the careers and background of people you conduct informational interviews with, you build strong relationships within your network that can not only help you in your future career but even allow you to help others as your network grows. These interview often yield opportunities for projects that can be the focus of a micro-internship.

Students can also search for micro-internships in Handshake. These opportunities will be 4 weeks or less in length. Use the keywords "micro" or "micro-internship" to search for micro-internships. Students may also want to search Parker Dewey, an online marketplace where employers post descriptions of short-term projects they'd like a student or recent graduate to tackle — for pay. Think: TaskRabbit goes to college.