Microinternships Open the Door to Real-World Experience
In today’s job market, the demand for early, hands-on professional experiences among students is not just a popular trend—it’s a necessity.
The Isenberg School of Management Office of Career Success (OCS) introduced its microinternship program (with partner Parker Dewey) to meet the emerging needs of both students and employers. The program, catered to sophomores and juniors, works with employers to create concise, scoped projects that take approximately 20 to 40 hours of work, which students complete on a virtual basis to enhance their skills and build their resumes. It also gives students a chance to gain valuable experience and employers an opportunity for support on necessary projects.
A range of employers participate in the program, including marketing agencies, insurance brokers, healthcare firms, biotech, and more. Participating employers offer students the opportunity to perform projects ranging from competitive reviews to financial insight analyses to UX testing, media forecasting, and market landscape analysis.
Emma Siegel ’28, a marketing major from Morristown, NJ, took full advantage of the opportunity this past winter break:
What company did you complete your microinternship through, and what was the project about?
I recently completed a microinternship with UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, where I led a competitive analysis of social media strategy across the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. I evaluated how select credit unions, banks, and FinTechs engage audiences on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn—analyzing content, engagement, branding, and community partnerships. I translated those insights into clear, actionable recommendations to strengthen UMassFive’s social media presence and differentiation.
How did you discover the microinternship opportunity?
I found out about this microinternship through my Transitions 200 class with Robert Bowse. As soon as I heard that I could find one tailored to my major and complete it over winter break, I was immediately interested. I had been a bit worried about not having enough time during the summer for a full-length internship since I’ll be studying abroad for most of it, so this felt like the perfect alternative. I applied right away by submitting a personal statement as well as my previous experience, and I was so excited to receive an offer shortly after!
How long was the microinternship, in hours? When did you participate in it?
The microinternship was expected to take around 20 hours. I worked on it over winter break, setting aside a few days during the week across about a month to focus on the project.
What was the program like?
Having a structured timeline with three checkpoints throughout the process really helped me stay organized and manage my time effectively. Overall, this was such a valuable experience, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Craig Boivin. I would highly recommend a microinternship to anyone looking to explore a new field and build confidence in a professional setting.
What was the most valuable thing you took away from the experience?
The most valuable part of this experience for me was learning how to communicate in a professional setting and strengthening my time management skills.
Another valuable takeaway for me was realizing how much stronger ideas become through collaboration. Some of the best ideas didn’t come from working independently, but from sharing thoughts, getting feedback, and building from each other’s perspectives. It showed me that creativity isn’t just an individual process. It really thrives in a team environment where people feel comfortable contributing and refining ideas together. That experience made me appreciate how important communication and openness are in producing well-rounded work.
Reflecting on your experience, how would you say this microinternship impacted your educational experience and prospective job opportunities?
It pushed me to explore industries outside of the one I originally thought I’d be interested in, and I’m really grateful for that. It helped me realize that marketing is less about a specific industry and more about the strategy, creativity, and problem-solving behind the work. Being able to apply what I’ve learned in my courses to a real marketing project made everything feel much more real and gave me a lot more confidence in my abilities. I’m really looking forward to seeing how my ideas are incorporated in the future of UMassFive.
Employer Perspective: UMassFive’s Partnership & Impact
Craig Boivin ’22MBA, vice president of marketing at UMass Five College Credit Union, created the microinternship project that Siegel completed:
“As a small but mighty marketing department, thoughtful resource allocation is always essential. Participating in the Isenberg microinternship program provided real value to the credit union—expanding our marketing team’s capacity and bringing in fresh perspective from a younger demographic. As a UMass alum, it also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with Isenberg while mentoring the next generation of marketers. I plan to participate again and would strongly encourage fellow marketers and alumni to do the same.”
Employers interested in participating in the program can visit iConnect to learn more. Students are encouraged to keep an eye out for summer opportunities in late April.
- To learn more, visit https://iconnect.isenberg.umass.edu/micro-internships/
