More than 40% of recent college graduates are under or unemployed, yet companies spend millions on campus recruiting tactics to filter out candidates based on factors that don’t predict success. There’s a better way for both students and companies to connect through real work experiences via Micro-Internships – short-term, paid, professional opportunities that allow all types of students to gain experience while demonstrating skills to potential employers.
In Summer of 2019, Parker Dewey surveyed more than 400 Career Launchers – college students and recent graduates who have completed at least one Micro-Internship – to understand the outcomes related to their participation. Out of the respondents, 97% identified as being part of an underrepresented group in the workforce that traditionally lack access to professional opportunities that are both accessible and equitable. Overall, Parker Dewey has seen more than 80% of Career Launchers selected for Micro-Internships come from underrepresented backgrounds including: first generation college students, women, immigrants, students from underrepresented racial groups, and those with disabilities. In addition to a variety of demographic backgrounds, Career Launchers come from all majors, and attend or graduated from a variety of colleges and universities.
Of all Career Launchers surveyed, 39% of respondents reported being currently enrolled in school and 56% had graduated within the past five years. Of those that had graduated, 94% are now employed, compared to 64% employment rate of graduates overall, according to NACE. When asked about job fit and career outcomes, 93% reported being satisfied in their job, and 98% feel supported at work. Both responses point to the positive impact of Micro-Internships on the college-to-career transition. Additionally, 100% of employed Career Launchers rated themselves both as feeling confident in the workplace after completing their Micro-Internship experience and also motivated to achieve career-oriented goals.
Regardless of employment outcomes, 98% of all respondents are satisfied with the degree they pursued. When asked how their degree program related to their Micro-Internship experience, 64% reported applying knowledge gained in the classroom to the work they completed, which is significant given more than 40 percent of college graduates take positions out of school that don’t require a degree, according to the Strada Institute. Outside of the classroom, Career Launchers reported that participation in Micro-Internships helped them to hone skills in: communication, attention to detail, flexibility, organization, and dependability. These skills align with the top skills sought after by employers seeking entry-level talent.
In addition to career outcomes, we asked Career Launchers for additional feedback regarding their Micro-Internship experience. 89% of respondents were satisfied with their Micro-Internship experience overall.
When asked for open-ended feedback on what Career Launchers like best about Micro-Internships a few response highlights include:
The data from the 2019 Micro-Internship Destination Survey is clear: Micro-Internships expand access, at scale, to valuable work experience, leading to positive career outcomes.