Frequently Asked
Questions

Parker Dewey is a managed early-career hiring service that helps employers engage and evaluate talent through paid, project-based work.

Employers can work with students, recent graduates, career changers, and people building skills through workforce development programs, bootcamps, certificate programs, and other pathways. Candidates choose the opportunities they want to apply for, giving employers an additional signal of genuine interest alongside firsthand insight into how someone communicates, approaches work, and applies their skills.

These focused, paid professional projects are called Micro-Internships. Parker Dewey supports the experience by handling administrative needs such as contracting, payroll, and compliance while employers select the candidates they want to work with.

Benefits for Students and Other Early-Career Talent

• Experience – Apply your skills to real professional work and explore different career paths.
• Relationships – Build connections with employers and professionals in fields that interest you.
• Opportunity – Gain experience that can help demonstrate your skills to future employers.
• Income – Get paid for successfully completing project work.

To learn more and sign up, click here.

Benefits for Companies

• Broader reach – Connect with candidates from schools, programs, and career pathways beyond your usual recruiting channels.
• Real-world insight – Learn how candidates communicate, solve problems, apply their skills, and engage with your organization through actual work.
• Genuine interest – Engage people who have actively chosen to apply for an opportunity with your organization.
• Administrative support – Parker Dewey handles contracting, payroll, compliance, and other program administration so your team can focus on the work and the candidate.
• No cost to create an account – Companies can join and explore Parker Dewey without an obligation to post a project.

To learn more and create a free Company account, click here.

Benefits for Colleges, Universities, and Workforce Partners

Parker Dewey works with colleges, universities, workforce development organizations, nonprofits, and other organizations that help people prepare for and connect with professional opportunities.

Partners can use paid project-based experiences to:

• Expand access to professional experience
• Help participants apply their skills in real workplace settings
• Strengthen connections with employers and alumni
• Support career exploration and preparation
• Create additional pathways between education, skill development, and employment

To learn more about partnering with Parker Dewey, click here.

We also work with nonprofit organizations, associations, workforce development programs, and other organizations focused on connecting talent with professional opportunities. Learn more here.

Micro-Internships are focused, paid professional projects similar to work that might be assigned to an intern or new hire. They give students, recent graduates, and other early-career candidates the opportunity to apply their skills, explore career paths, gain professional experience, and build relationships with employers.

Unlike traditional internships, Micro-Internships can take place year-round and typically involve 10 to 40 hours of work completed over a period of one week to one month. Organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to emerging startups use Micro-Internships across functions such as sales, marketing, technology, human resources, and finance.

All Micro-Internships offered through Parker Dewey are paid, fixed-fee engagements.

Parker Dewey is open to students, recent graduates, career changers, and others seeking opportunities to gain professional experience and connect with employers through paid project work. Participants may come from colleges and universities, community colleges, graduate programs, bootcamps, certificate programs, workforce development programs, and other educational or career pathways, as long as they have authorization to work in the United States.

Learn more about the talent you can reach through Parker Dewey.

A typical project is a focused, paid professional assignment that takes approximately 10–40 hours to complete. The work is comparable to what you might assign to a new hire, such as conducting market research, performing financial analysis, supporting lead generation, or creating internal and external communications.

These projects, called Micro-Internships, can support a wide range of departments, industries, and business needs.

To explore sample projects, visit www.parkerdewey.com/example-projects.

Micro-Internship projects should not require students to access confidential, sensitive, or otherwise restricted information.

Projects also should not involve direct interaction with vulnerable populations, including minors under the age of 18, individuals receiving care in a hospital or medical facility, or elderly individuals.

If you’re unsure whether a project is appropriate for a Micro-Internship, contact Parker Dewey’s Client Success Team through our Contact Form.

Unlike a traditional internship, Micro-Internships typically involve 10 to 40 hours of work. Most employers set a deadline between one week and one month after the project begins.

For larger projects, we recommend breaking the work into smaller, focused assignments. This makes each project easier to manage and creates opportunities to engage different students and early-career candidates across multiple assignments.

Micro-Internships can be completed remotely, on-site, or through a combination of both. When posting a project, employers choose the work arrangement that makes the most sense for the project and their team.

Traditional internships and co-ops typically require a longer-term commitment, often follow academic or seasonal recruiting calendars, and can require significant planning and ongoing management from the employer. Externships and other student consulting programs vary in structure, but they may also be tied to a school, course, or specific program schedule.

Micro-Internships are focused, paid projects that typically take 10–40 hours to complete. Employers can use them throughout the year for defined professional work without creating a traditional internship program or committing to a semester-long experience.

Parker Dewey also handles much of the administration around the engagement, including payment and compliance, while the employer selects the candidate they want to work with and provides the context and direction needed for the project.

For employers using project-based work as part of their recruiting strategy, Micro-Internships can complement internships, campus recruiting, and other early-career programs. They give candidates an opportunity to experience real work with the organization while giving employers firsthand insight into how someone approaches an assignment, communicates, applies their skills, and engages with the opportunity.

That makes the experience useful not only for evaluating capabilities, but also for understanding genuine interest before either side commits to an internship or full-time role.

Parker Dewey gives employers a way to engage students, recent graduates, and other early-career talent through paid, project-based work. Rather than having a staffing firm select or place someone on your behalf, individuals choose the projects they want to apply for, and your team decides who you want to work with.

That process gives both sides an opportunity to determine whether there is genuine interest. When someone applies to your project, they have actively chosen to pursue that specific opportunity with your organization. You can then review applicants and select the person whose skills, experience, and interests best align with the work.

The project also gives you firsthand insight into how someone communicates, approaches an assignment, and applies their skills to real work, while giving the individual an opportunity to learn more about your organization.

If that experience leads to mutual interest in a future internship or full-time role, the relationship can continue beyond the project.

The cost depends on how you work with Parker Dewey. For individual paid projects, you set the fixed-fee project price based on the scope and deliverables, with most projects ranging from $200–$600. Ninety percent of the project fee goes directly to the person completing the work.

There is no cost to post an individual project or review applicants, and you only pay when you select someone to complete the work. If that relationship later leads to an internship, full-time position, or another opportunity, Parker Dewey does not charge a conversion fee.

For employers looking to run larger or ongoing early-career programs, Parker Dewey also offers customized program options.

For details about project costs, additional fees, and hiring someone after a project, review our Client Terms of Service (opens in a new tab).

Parker Dewey handles payments to Micro-Interns directly. For details on compensation, project fees, payment timing, and extending or rehiring a Micro-Intern, visit our Micro-Intern Payments: Information for Employers resource. (opens in a new tab)

Parker Dewey is engaged by your organization to complete the project, so the individual you select is not your employee, intern, or contractor. Parker Dewey handles the payment and administrative relationship; the talent completes confidentiality agreements, and your organization owns the work product created for the project.

For details on worker classification, confidentiality, work product ownership, background checks, liability, and other legal terms, review our Client Terms of Service. (opens in a new tab)

Parker Dewey works with people across an organization, including talent acquisition and HR teams, hiring managers, department leaders, and other employees who have projects or early-career hiring needs.

For an individual project, a member of your team serves as the project manager. They set expectations, provide the information or materials needed to complete the work, and stay available for questions and feedback throughout the engagement.

For larger or company-wide programs, Parker Dewey can work with HR or talent acquisition teams to coordinate the program across departments and hiring managers.

You can post a project in under five minutes. Start with an example project and tailor it to your needs, or use Project Builder to describe what you need in a few bullets (opens in a new tab), or upload a job description and create a custom project.

For step-by-step guidance, visit our How to Post a Custom Micro-Internship Project resource. (opens in a new tab)

You choose who you want to work with from the applicants for your project. For instructions on reviewing applicants, requesting additional information, and making your selection, visit our View and Select a Micro-Intern resource (opens in a new tab).

Micro-Internship projects are designed around professional work that would typically be appropriate for an intern or early-career employee, such as research, analysis, marketing, operations, and other defined assignments.

Employers review applicants and choose who they want to work with based on the skills and experience relevant to the project. Because candidates actively choose which projects to apply for, an application also gives you a signal of genuine interest in the work and your organization.

As with any early-career professional, clear expectations, context, and feedback can help set the project up for success.

Yes. Employers can provide feedback when a project is completed, including ratings and written comments about the Micro-Intern’s performance.

For details on how feedback works and how to submit it, visit our Complete a Micro-Internship resource. (opens in a new tab)

No. Micro-Interns are not employees, interns, or contractors of your organization. Your business relationship is with Parker Dewey, which handles administration and payments.

For more information about worker classification and the legal terms of an engagement, review our Client Terms of Service. (opens in a new tab)

Parker Dewey requires all Micro-Internships to be paid at a reasonable rate based on the scope of work. For guidance on recommended compensation, factors that may warrant a higher rate, and how fixed-fee project payments work, visit our Micro-Intern Payments: Information for Employers resource (opens in a new tab).

All Micro-Interns agree to the confidentiality provisions as part of Parker Dewey’s terms. If your organization requires additional protections, you may also ask the person you select to sign your own nondisclosure or assignment agreement before beginning the project.

No. You can start with one of the example projects in our Project Library (opens in a new tab) and tailor it to your needs, or create a custom project based on the work you need done.

If you’re starting from scratch, Project Builder (opens in a new tab) can also help turn a few details or an existing job description into a scoped project with clear deliverables and relevant skills.

An affiliation identifies a program, organization, or other group that someone is associated with on Parker Dewey.

When posting a project, employers can limit who can see and apply to the opportunity based on specific schools or affiliations. If your project is part of a sponsored or partner program, be sure to include the appropriate affiliation when posting.

If you’re unsure whether an affiliation should be added to your project, submit a support request and our team can help.

Creating a Parker Dewey account takes just a few minutes. Once you’ve completed the required sections of your profile, you can begin viewing and applying for available Micro-Internships.

For step-by-step instructions on creating your account and completing your profile, visit our Create a Career Launcher Account resource. (opens in a new tab)

Create your Parker Dewey account, complete your profile, and browse available Micro-Internships that interest you.

For step-by-step instructions on reviewing opportunities and submitting an application, visit Apply for a Micro-Internship. (opens in a new tab)

Parker Dewey handles your payment directly after your project is completed. For information about payment timing, available payment methods, setting up Tipalti, taxes, and other payment questions, visit our How Career Launcher Payments Work resource. (opens in a new tab)

We have a step-by-step guide with examples to help you add your Micro-Internship experience to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

View the Resume and LinkedIn Guide. (opens in a new tab)

Possibly. Academic credit requirements vary by school, so you should check with your institution to see whether a Micro-Internship may qualify.

After you complete a project, Parker Dewey can provide information about the experience for your school to review as part of its credit approval process.

Because Micro-Internships are based on available project opportunities, Parker Dewey does not guarantee that every student who creates a profile or applies for a project will be selected.

Yes. International students who are affiliated with a Parker Dewey partner program or attending a U.S.-based college or university may participate if they have approved Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), or other appropriate work authorization.

If you are a current F-1/J-1 international student, contact the international student support office at your institution before applying to projects to confirm your eligibility and ensure compliance with your school’s requirements and USCIS regulations.

As of Summer 2026, changes in the interpretation of CPT guidelines have made this step especially important. If you are selected for a Micro-Internship, it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate authorization before beginning the project.

Yes. Undocumented students in the United States can participate in Micro-Internships. However, you must have a valid Social Security number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or Employer Identification Number (EIN) to be selected for a project and receive payment.

No. Per our contractor terms, Micro-Interns must be at least 18 years of age to apply and work on projects via Parker Dewey.

Yes. You do not need to have completed a college degree to participate in Micro-Internships. Parker Dewey welcomes people pursuing professional opportunities through a variety of educational and career pathways, including non-degree programs, bootcamps, certificate programs, and workforce development programs.

Eligibility requirements, including age and work authorization, still apply.

Individuals can add Parker Dewey to their safe list should they find messages being routed to their SPAM folder. The safe listing process differs between email providers. Refer to your email provider's associated help documentation for information on safe listing on your client of choice.

Here are instructions from some of the most popular email providers:

Safelisting in Apple Mail

Safelisting in Exchange 365 and Outlook 2016

Safelisting in Gmail

Safelisting in Outlook Connected to Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 and 2010

Safelisting in Yahoo! Mail

Partnering with Parker Dewey makes it easier to connect your students and recent graduates with paid professional experiences while engaging employers, alumni, and other stakeholders.

Partners receive resources to help introduce and promote Micro-Internships, including co-branded student and employer pages, marketing materials, webinars and presentations, and guidance from the Parker Dewey team. Partners can also access data and employer feedback to better understand how their students are engaging with and performing in these opportunities.

When employers create opportunities specifically for your students, Parker Dewey can also help you identify and share those projects with the appropriate audiences.

Parker Dewey partners with colleges and universities across the United States, as well as non-degree education providers, including bootcamps, workforce development organizations, nonprofits, and other training programs.

There's no cost to become a Parker Dewey partner.

There is no set cutoff after graduation. Alumni can continue to apply for Micro-Internships as they build experience, explore career paths, or transition into a new field.

Parker Dewey is primarily designed for people in the early stages of their careers, so established professionals may find these opportunities less relevant over time.

Yes, international students may be eligible to participate in Micro-Internships with appropriate work authorization, such as CPT, OPT, or other applicable authorization.

Because eligibility requirements can vary, current F-1 or J-1 students should confirm their ability to participate with their institution’s international student support office before applying to projects.

Yes, depending on your institution’s requirements for academic credit. Parker Dewey can provide project information after completion for your institution to review for credit consideration, and Parker Dewey+ subscribers can access this information on demand.

Because Micro-Internships depend on available projects and employer selection, they should be offered as one of several ways students can gain professional experience rather than as a required experience. Creating a profile or applying for a project does not guarantee that a student will be selected.

Safe listing IP Address for Parker Dewey Career Launcher Emails

Safe listing ensures that Parker Dewey emails land in your students' inboxes.

When you safe list an Internet Protocol (IP) address, you are identifying the sender from that IP as a trusted source to your mail server. This should help to ensure that emails being sent to you from that source are placed into your inbox and not in the spam folder.

Parker Dewey has secured a dedicated email sending IP to safeguard our messages from the impacts of other senders, and to make it easier for organizations to safelist Parker Dewey Career Launcher emails without opening up the potential to an increase in SPAM.

Please forward this information to your IT department with the request to safelist our dedicated IP at the organization-wide level. Our dedicated IP is: 185.211.120.235

Additional Context for IT Departments About Parker Dewey Career Launcher Email

Parker Dewey sends emails to registered Career Launcher users (college students, recent graduates, and early-career talent that have registered to utilize our platform) via a dedicated IP to ensure application best practices, tips for applying, project notifications, and Micro-Internship alerts have the highest likelihood of reaching their inbox.

• Email sent from Parker Dewey to Career Launchers typically comes from support@parkerdewey.com (transactional) and hello@parkerdewey.com (optional marketing messages focused on best practices and tips for utilizing Micro-Internships).
• Emails are only sent from Parker Dewey to registered users of our platform and individuals who opt-in to receive best practices.
• At any time, Career Launchers may opt-out of emails, as well as deactivate their account on Parker Dewey.
• Per our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Parker Dewey will never sell or rent student names, e-mail addresses, or any other personally identifiable information to third-parties.
• Moving forward, all student-facing emails will be routed through our dedicated IP: 185.211.120.235

If you have additional questions, you can reach out to schools@parkerdewey.com.