By: Grace Steinhagen
What is a micro-internship?
A micro-internshipis a short-term paid or unpaid, project-based remote opportunity for college students or recent grads to work on short-term assignments with an employer. The experience is similar to the work of an independent contractor but geared toward college-aged students.
Micro-internships benefit both employers and students. They allow for flexibility between employers and students. Tasks can be completed remotely or in-office. The program allows students to gain a variety of experience on projects that can last anywhere from 10 hours total to 40 hours per week. It is great for students who are interested in career exploration and professional development. Employers benefit from micro-internships too. They receive help from interns on defined projects, without having to plan a full-day schedule for an intern.
How I made my decision to participate in a micro-internship
When COVID-19 approached this spring, I was worried about securing a summer internship. I received countless emails about summer program cancellations as workplaces shifted to remote offices.
Near the end of my school year, Maddie at Blue Spec Marketing reached out to me with an offer to work on a project for her and to help build my portfolio. After our initial meeting, this small project led to a summer micro-internship.
Why I recommend a micro-internship
Remote internship opportunity
The projects I worked on for Blue Spec were able to be completed from my computer in the comfort of my home. This worked out well due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders that were in place for much of the summer.
Flexibility between employer and student
The micro-internship allowed for flexibility in my schedule. Aside from a one-hour weekly meeting, I was able to complete projects on my own time, which allowed me to work additional jobs and spend time with family and friends. It also allowed Maddie, my employer, greater availability to work with her clients.
Career exploration
The short-term element of the micro-internship gave me a glimpse of a potential career path in content marketing and what it could look like to own my own business. I was able to ease my way into the projects assigned to me and learn along the way by conducting research and receiving guidance from Maddie.
About my experience with Blue Spec Marketing
What does Blue Spec Marketing do?
Blue Spec Marketing is a content marketing agency in Minnesota that offers consulting through services such as strategy, writing, and social media.
5 Lessons from my Micro-internship
- Effective Time-Management
It’s only fitting that discipline is my top Clifton Strength’s Finder result. A micro-internship requires effective time-management skills to complete projects on time, without constant reminders.
2. Communication Skills
Each week, I met with Maddie via Zoom, for a one-hour meeting. These meetings set me up with the information I needed for the week. At the end of each week, I sent Maddie updates with my accomplishments and questions from the week. I also learned to effectively communicate and ask for help, as needed throughout the week.
3. Content Marketing
Before my internship, I knew the basics of marketing and communication from my liberal arts education at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. Through my experience with Maddie, I expanded my knowledge in writing for social media captions, blog posts, and emails. With the projects I completed, I also learned effective copy and editing tips.
4. Career Exploration
This experience was a great way for me to discover my passion for writing, strategy, and communicating with others. Through working on a variety of small projects, I was able to discover what I loved about content marketing and opportunities in that field. It also helped me identify my strengths such as organization, strategic thinking, and thoughtful planning.
5. Writing for the Real World
A large portion of my internship involved writing. I learned that writing for business is more than writing a simple five-paragraph essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. I discovered how to write with empathy to connect with my intended audience. Less is more in the content marketing world. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Projects I Completed
- Social Media Calendar
- Wrote Social Posts for Two Months
- Blog on “5 Ways to Organically Grow Your Social Media”
- Blog on “5 Steps to Diverse Marketing“
- Outlined Blog on “How to Write a Successful Email”
- Co-Created Blue Spec Book List
- Diversity Audit Checklist
- Content Library Template
- Research on a variety of marketing-related topics
- Competitive Analysis
Gifted with Grace 