What is a Micro-Internship?

Just like a traditional internship, micro-internships provide a fantastic opportunity to explore career paths, develop new skills, and establish connections within the working world. But hang on…what is a micro-internship?

Well, the key difference between a micro-internship and your typical internship experience is the length of time that an individual is required to commit to the experience. For example…

What is a micro-internship?

…Micro-internships span 2-6 weeks, making them perfect for anybody who is aiming to gain meaningful experience for their CV, but is unable to commit to a long-term placement.

Due to the short-term nature of micro-internships, you will likely be required to complete a specific project, or a small number of shorter projects, within the timeframe of your placement.

As for the area of work the placement is in—that’s completely up to you; it could be within a traditional corporate company, non-profit organization, or even within a social enterprise or startup.

What to expect from your micro-internship

One thing you can definitely expect? Adventure!

So with this in mind, you might be wondering about all the nitty gritty details you need to know about a micro-internship, such as how the working arrangements could look, how many hours you may be expected to commit, and, let’s be honest, whether micro-internships are worth it.

1. Working hours

The specific number of hours required for a micro-internship varies from employer to employer.

Typically, a minimum number of hours will be specified in your contract, but you can expect to have a conversation to agree on the specific time commitment per week.

You can expect micro-internships to require anywhere between 10-40 hours on a weekly basis.

2. Working arrangements

Depending on the type of role you’re interested in, and the arrangements in place with the employer, micro-internships may be in-person, remote, or operate under a hybrid set-up.

This largely depends on the type of role you are pursuing, as some may require more face-to-face interaction than others.

You can expect there to be a high degree of flexibility, where the time and days in which you complete your set hours are largely up to you and your schedule, enabling you to fit the work in and around other commitments.

3. A well rounded experience

Your micro-internship will be well worth it.

For many college students nearing the end of their degree, the next item on their agenda is to enter the world of work. Having professional, work-based experience on your resume will help you stand out from a sea of other newly graduated college applicants.

You will also have had the opportunity to explore a potential career-path on a short-term basis, prior to applying for a full-time job, meaning you’re entering a role with a good idea of what to expect.

What’s more is that the micro-internship will allow you to establish connections with people working in sought-after organizations, meaning you can touch base with them to ask for references or for advice as to how to move forward with your career.

4. Added bonuses

The vast majority of micro-internships focus solely on developing your professional skills within a specific role, which is great, but it’s a real bonus if you find a micro-internship that offers any additional experiences or opportunities outside of the working world.

While it’s not an aspect that is always offered, some micro-internships provide the opportunity to explore a completely different way of life. International micro-internships allow you to travel abroad for the placement, immersing yourself in a different culture.

Some even provide the chance to experience once-in-a-lifetime excursions and adventures. Bear in mind that these micro-internships, however, are not as common as those that focus solely on CV building, so if you do manage to find one offering these extras, don’t let it slip by!

Explore ALL Short-Term Internship Opportunities Abroad

3 recommended micro-internships

Choose the right micro-internship experience for you and your goals.

So, how exactly do you find the right micro-internship for you? Having an idea of the kind of work that interests you in general is, of course, a great place to start. It’s also important to consider whether you’d like to focus solely on work-based tasks, or if you’d like to gain extra perks that come with traveling abroad for your placement.

Finally, take a look at reviews from past micro-internship attendees, to get an idea of real-life experiences. We’ve narrowed down three varied, unique examples of micro-internships to get you started, and to give you an idea of the green flags to look for:

1. Sustainable Development Micro-Internship in Costa Rica

• Highlights: Gain first-hand insight into the sustainable development and conservation practices in Costa Rica! This program is fully-facilitated by Roots Interns, meaning that all of the planning is done for you, leaving you able to focus on expanding your knowledge and understanding of sustainability initiatives. Engage in practical fieldwork experience by completing biodiversity surveys, data collection, and educational outreach activities. Plus, you can attend workshops and lectures with industry experts, and work towards completing a final presentation at the end of your placement. Experience the added bonus of personal development opportunities: immerse yourself in a new culture, and engage in exhilarating activities, such as white-water rafting and being based in a rainforest or on the foot of a volcano.
• Where? Costa Rica
• Program duration: 13 days

2. Marketing and Fundraising Internship in Portugal

• Highlights: In this program, you’ll develop your fundraising and marketing skills and knowledge within the NGO animal welfare industry. Design, plan, and develop content to gain donor support used to fund free veterinary care for animals from low-income and vulnerable households. You’ll also oversee the organization’s communication channels, including social media and website-based content creation. By the end of your program, you’ll have gained an understanding of how environmental nonprofit organizations operate.
• Where? Santarém, Portugal
• Program duration: minimum 4 weeks

3. Marine Research Assistant Internship in the Philippines

• Highlights: Do you dream of working alongside marine scientists within the The Coral Triangle (an exceptionally diverse marine area, home to six of of the world’s seven marine turtle species and over five hundred species of cora!)? Well, now you can! Earn your PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification while attending up to 50 underwater research and survey dives every month (weather permitting). You’ll learn how to utilize marine science research equipment and analyze findings. Gain experience in communicating findings to the marine research community through supporting the delivery of outreach programs.
• Where? Bulak, Dauin, Philippines
• Program duration: 4 weeks

Compare these programs side-by-side on MyGoAbroad

Don’t have much wiggle room in your schedule? Sign up for a micro-internship!

Boost your career prospects without the long-term commitment by signing up for a micro-internship! With fully-planned and facilitated micro-internship options, reach out to Roots Interns to learn more about building a successful experience. It couldn’t be easier to begin your exploration of the world of work.

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