What is a virtual micro-internship and why should you complete one while studying?

A virtual micro-internship is a short-term assignment that helps you gain valuable career experience in the comfort of your own home. Here’s what that looks like for international students at RMIT.

What is a virtual micro-internship and why should you complete one while studying?

A virtual micro-internship is a short-term assignment that helps you gain valuable career experience in the comfort of your own home. Here’s what that looks like for international students at RMIT.

Micro-internships are short-term, project-based, professional assignments that allow students to work remotely while continuing their studies and holding other jobs¹.

At RMIT, current international students are accessing over 1,000 virtual micro-internships with real industry clients, no matter what course they’re studying. Known as the Industry Experience Program, these two-week placements can help you enhance your study experience while developing professional skills for your future job.

Here are the top three benefits of completing a virtual micro-internship alongside your studies at RMIT.

Three people discuss intern project in a meeting room

1. Enhance your employability

A virtual micro-internship offers tangible experience that can be highlighted on your résumé, boosts your confidence and allows you to grow as a professional and a person.

Participating in the RMIT Industry Experience Program can be a great way to increase your employment opportunities, as it gives you the opportunity to solve problems for real industry clients. Through your two-week virtual internship, you’ll learn what it's like to set objectives, research solutions and present information to stakeholders of your project.

Upon completion of the Program, you’ll also receive a digital certificate that you can include in your future job applications.

2. Gain transferable skills

Being an intern in a virtual micro-internship can help you gain transferable skills for any career path, such as skills in time management, communication, self-discipline, and problem-solving.

Ting, a postgraduate student who is currently studying a Master of Analytics at RMIT, recently finished her virtual micro-internship with Mette is Baking, an artisanal micro-bakery in Western Australia. Ting’s role as the team leader was to deliver a research report to help her client continue running a sustainable business.

Ting said the internship helped her exercise her skills in a real-life work environment.

Ting, a international student at RMIT who completed her virtual micro-internship

RMIT’s virtual micro-internship placement gave me the chance to practice and learn various skills such as effective communication, team collaboration and leadership. I will be able to share this valuable experience in job interviews and apply the skills that I’ve learned to my future works!

3. Build a professional network

Creating a professional network of employers and colleagues is important for your career progression. A good network can help you find job opportunities, meet influential mentors and even grow your knowledge of your field. When participating in a virtual internship within RMIT’s Industry Experience Program, you will work closely with your teammates and professionals from different places and backgrounds, which gives you the opportunity to build your professional network.

Chamal, who also completed his virtual internship with RMIT’s Industry Experience Program, is majoring in Master of Occupational Health and Safety at RMIT. Chamal’s role was to work with his team and create a product solution for his client in healthcare industry.

By the end of the internship, his team put together a global market research proposal outlining the potential demand, possible customers, competitor analysis, and best region to introduce the product.

“I gained a lot of self-gratification from meeting client’s expectations and got to know my strengths and weaknesses through working with a group of professionals. Most importantly, I had the chance to network with my teammates and client, who I expected to meet later in Melbourne.”

Chamal, a international student who completed his virtual micro-internship at RMIT

I highly recommend students with various backgrounds to join this program, especially those who don’t have any work experience previously. This program will give you a chance to work professionally with different specialists from different backgrounds in order to deliver an amazing service or product to the client!

Are you a current student at RMIT? Find out how to apply for the next intake of RMIT’s Industry Experience Program.

Story: Gavin Gan

¹Wingard, Jason. “Why Micro-Internships Will Be the Next Big Thing.” Forbes. 3 Mar 2019. < https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonwingard/2019/03/06/why-micro-internships-will-be-the-next-big-thing/?sh=515759db700c >

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