Internships can benefit college students in many ways, but not every student has the means or the opportunity to work as an intern for a full summer or semester. Now, a new model has emerged that aims to bridge this gap, giving students who can’t take part in a full internship the chance to reap many of the same advantages through experiences known as “micro-internships.”
Defining micro-internships
In a micro-internship, students complete short-term professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. Like a full internship, these projects give students valuable work experience, the chance to explore possible career paths, and opportunities to network and stand out in a competitive job market. However, micro-internships can take place year-round and typically range from five to 40 hours of work, so they fit more easily into students’ busy schedules.
At the University of Chicago, more than 500 students have signed up to take advantage of micro-internships since the university’s Micro-Metcalf Program launched in October. Students have completed projects ranging from copy writing to lead generation to human-resource strategy for companies such as Microsoft, Comcast, and LinkedIn.…Read More
