While 2020 has been a bit different, like years past many of us still have things we are trying to wrap up as we approach year end. However, unlike prior years many students will not be returning to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday and will be finishing their fall classes remotely. Not only does this provide them with extra time, for many it offers an opportunity to gain professional experiences and explore career paths, something that has been more challenging in the current environment and with so many impacted by cancellations last summer. 

This also presents an opportunity for you and your organization. With the end of the year being such a busy time for everyone, it’s a perfect time to get support from a Micro-Intern. These paid, professional projects can help you shorten your to-do list getting help from a student on those projects you want to wrap up this year but will require 10-40 hours of time you could better spend on something else. And while these projects may not be the best use of your time, for college students they provide an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate skills, explore careers, and gain that experience they crave. 

Unsure if you have a good project fit for a Micro-Intern? Check out our decision tree (and share it with your colleagues) to help you identify projects that can benefit you and college students seeking experience.

Jeffrey Moss, Founder and CEO

Articles of The Week

Career Exploration in College - Inside Higher Ed
How to Build and Maintain a Pipeline of Warm Talent When Hiring Has Slowed - LinkedIn 
Will Remote Job Interviewing Make Hiring Bias Worse? - Dice
A silver lining: the pandemic’s effect on practical skills - The Miami Student

Career Exploration in College - Inside Higher Ed

“College students face unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety this fall. And the transition from college to the workforce is one of their biggest worries.”

After missing out on canceled summer internships, college students are looking to faculty to help them build skills for career readiness.

Related reading: From choosing a major to choosing a job: A college senior’s perspective on career exploration

How to Build and Maintain a Pipeline of Warm Talent When Hiring Has Slowed - LinkedIn

“Some recruiters may be hesitant to work on pipelining efforts when there are no open roles at their company. But candidates understand the situation, and as long as you’re candid with them, most are open to building relationships.”

While some companies are left at a hiring pause, savvy recruiting teams are maintaining their talent pipelines to ensure they won’t be left playing catch-up later.

Related reading: Micro-Internships in Cincinnati: How Your Community Can Attract and Retain College Students

Will Remote Job Interviewing Make Hiring Bias Worse? - Dice

“While hiring remotely should give us the ideal unbiased hiring practices that we all desire, the truth is that this is far from reality. While some discrimination is eliminated, most companies still function on the same principles where applicants send in their resumes. Then hiring managers to discriminate based on gender, age, education, work experience, and everything else that comes to mind.”

The issue of bias continues to be relevant within the tech space and progress is not as apparent as companies would like. While remote interviews are at the center of recruiting strategies, can they also be the solution?

Related reading: The pandemic’s impact on hiring strategies point to a new, human-centered approach 

A silver lining: the pandemic’s effect on practical skills - The Miami Student

“But the last nine months have drastically shifted the circumstances in which students find themselves. It’s quite possible that ‘kids these days’ are learning a lot more of the skills that were previously thought to be lost to their generation.”

The virtual internship is creating opportunities for students to face challenges that increase their skills and push them out of their comfort zones.

Related reading: Virtual Internships Allow Hiring Assessments to Evolve

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