Innovation Incubator

About Micro-Internships

Cal Poly Pomona students looking at career guide

What is a Micro-Internship?
Short-term, Professional, Paid Experiences!

Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that range from 5 to 40 hours of work in total, can occur anytime of the year, and are highly specific, project-based positions. These projects enable Career Launchers to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role.  

 

How It Works

Micro-Internships are available year-round. It’s up to you to take advantage.

 

CREATE A PROFILE

Signing up takes less than 10 minutes - name, school, hobbies, a few other things, and you're good to go.

SEE MICRO-INTERNSHIPS

Check out details on available assignments, including when they’re due and how much you’ll be paid.

APPLY

You decide which opportunities seem most interesting - it’s a great way to explore different roles and industries.

COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT

Once you’re selected, work directly with the company. Do your best to exceed their expectations as it could lead to a full-time role.

Why Micro-Internships?

For Students

  • Participate in paid projects with a short time commitment (20-30- 40 hours weekly or within a month). 
  • Explore diverse career paths while working on captivating assignments. 
  • Showcase skills to prospective employers and apply classroom knowledge in practical scenarios. 
  • Develop a professional portfolio and expand your network. 

For Faculty

  • Facilitate embedded, paid professional experiences for students within courses 
  • Collaborate with a community or For-Profit partner to provide a specific deliverable  
  • Utilize existing collaborations or receive assistance in identifying new ones. 
  • Parker Dewey performs all administrative duties

For Industry Partners

  • No administrative paperwork required. 
  • Parker Dewey operates as a consulting firm, with all students classified as 1099s through Parker Dewey. 
  • Students commit to strict NDAs, and the employer retains ownership of all work products.
  • In the event of dissatisfaction with the deliverable, Parker Dewey offers a full refund. 
  • Employers can freely hire students as interns, contractors, or full-time employees without incurring any fees. 
  • Parker Dewey handles payment directly to the student.  

Featured Micro-Internship Opportunities

Communication Department Poly Post Social Media Consultants | Pomona, CA

 

EST. HOURS: 40 | ON SITE/REMOTE: On-site

Arabian Horse Center Micro-Business Experience: AMM4970L | Pomona, CA

 

EST. HOURS: 40 | ON SITE/REMOTE: On-site

Motor Development Clinic | Pomona, CA

 

EST. HOURS: 30 | ON SITE/REMOTE: On-site

Biotrek Rainforest Learning Center Map | Pomona, CA

 

EST. HOURS: 40 | ON SITE/REMOTE: On-site

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that enable Career Launchers to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks. They can take place year-round, typically require 10 to 40 hours of work by the student, and are due within a few days to a few weeks.

A. Unlike traditional internships that are tied to the academic calendar, Micro-Internships can be used year-round to provide on-demand support for short-term projects (usually requiring a total of 10-40 hours of work). They can be performed remotely and require minimal oversight and commitment. Micro-Internships are utilized across industries and roles, as a precursor or alternative to traditional internships, and as skills-based hiring auditions.

A. Micro-Internships are comparable to those assignments typically given to new hires or summer interns — things like conducting market research, performing financial analysis, and assisting in lead generation. Companies partner with us to provide services across a variety of departments, industries, and organization sizes.

A. Micro-Internships can be either on-site or virtual, depending on the specific requirements of the project. 

A. Micro-Internships are not meant to replace traditional internship programs but rather complement and even supplement them. Due to their short-term nature, Micro-Internships can be used year-round to find on-demand project support while simultaneously allowing you to engage and evaluate potential talent.

Ready to Host a Micro-Internship?

As faculty or partners of Cal Poly Pomona, you can tap into a pool of talented students and alumni ready to bring fresh skills and determination to your projects. Micro-Internships are an efficient way to connect with our broncos, enhancing your team while reducing hiring and onboarding costs.

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