Micro-internships for women and non-binary computing undergrads to level the playing field for landing tech internships

Women and non-binary undergraduates are underrepresented in tech internships that confer a significant advantage in gaining full-time tech employment after graduation. We developed a model for placing these students in three-week, paid micro-internships to gain tech work experience and a resume credential. Defining features include placing students in teams to support one another, prioritizing 1st- and 2nd-year undergrads to prepare them for paid tech internship applications, assigning teams to companies to avoid interview bias, preparing students and host companies to align expectations, and incorporating project-based deliverables and industry immersion activities so students gain an understanding of the tech work experience.