IBM SkillsBuild Micro-Internships

A Micro-Internship is a short-term, professional project that gives employers the opportunity to evaluate emerging talent through real work.

IBM SkillsBuild projects take approximately 10 hours to complete over the course of a few days or weeks and require minimal onboarding.

For the IBM SkillsBuild program, projects are intentionally designed around AI-enabled work and aligned with IBM SkillsBuild coursework. They help employers explore how AI is changing entry-level roles while observing how learners apply judgment, problem-solving, communication, and responsible AI use in authentic business situations.

IBM SkillsBuild prepares students with career-ready skills through coursework and practical learning experiences.

Most applicants for these projects will have completed Getting Started with Generative AI, giving them a foundation in using AI tools responsibly and effectively.

The Micro-Internships extend that learning by allowing learners to apply those skills to real business challenges while demonstrating communication, critical thinking, professional judgment, and problem solving.

Each of the projects above are available at no-cost to your organization thanks to the IBM SkillsBuild program.  The students will be paid by Parker Dewey the preset amount depending on the project you select. 

After working with the Micro-Intern, if you are interested in hiring them for a longer-term role on your team (intern, full-time employee, etc.), there is no cost to your organization.

In short, it’s easy as Parker Dewey handles it all. Parker Dewey manages the administrative details so your team can focus on evaluating talent and completing meaningful work.

Employment: Micro-Interns are not your employees, contractors, interns, temps, or freelancers. Similar to working with a consulting firm or any other service provider, you are engaging Parker Dewey LLC to complete the assignment, and each individual you select is a contractor or employee of Parker Dewey. You can still directly interact with them as much or little as you would like, and always have the opportunity to hire them directly without any costs or fees.

Liability: Parker Dewey assumes responsibility for the engagement. If you're not satisfied with the completed work, we'll work with you to identify an appropriate solution.
Work Product: All work product is owned by you. 

Confidentiality: While most projects involve public-facing information of a non-sensitive nature, both Parker Dewey and all Career Launchers sign strict NDAs to protect your information. In addition to the standard provisions, the students understand that any violation of these agreements would risk opportunities for future employment or could be a violation of their school's honor code.

Background Checks: Given the short-term nature and structure of these assignments, we do not conduct background checks. While companies are always welcome to conduct a background check directly, the nature of the specific assignments and lack of a direct relationship with the individual who is selected has caused most organizations to defer the background check until after a Micro-Internship is completed and a student is offered a traditional internship or full-time role.

IBM SkillsBuild Micro-Internships are designed to be completed remotely, making it easy for organizations and learners to collaborate regardless of location.

If your project requires a different format, our team is happy to discuss available options.

The best Micro-Internships do not require hands-on management to be completed. The IBM SkillsBuild learners have core skills and are highly motivated to exceed expectations. During the Micro-Internship, the project manager—whether a hiring manager, team lead, or another employee—can engage the Micro-Intern however is best including email, Zoom, etc.