Connie Martin needed some help. As the founder of CorePlacement Personnel Services, she had a mountain of work that needed to be accomplished. What better way to handle some of those projects than by offering them to Indiana University Northwest students?
Martin got in touch with IU Northwest’s Office of Career Services, and soon, CorePlacement was offering micro-internships through Parker Dewey, an initiative created by IU alum Jeffrey Moss, to help students gain hands-on career experience.
“We’re so fortunate this came along at a time when we were seeking a college student,” Martin said. “It’s been truly helpful in finding someone.”
These aren’t your typical unpaid internships. Rather, the Parker Dewey platform offers paid opportunities for students to dip their toes into a real-world workplace. They range anywhere from 10 to 40 hours total and are offered both in-person and remote.
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For Martin, they’re a way to evaluate a potential new hire’s skills beyond just a single interview or test assignment.
“What matters to me most has less to do with skill,” she said. “I’m looking at your personality; I’m looking at your attitude. So, beyond the interview, I get to see those things up close and in person.”
Tre Adams, who earned his business administration degree this May, jumped at the chance to get involved. By the time he graduated, he’d done multiple micro-internships with CorePlacement.
“I started off with the basics of payroll,” Adams said. “Then, I was organizing the office and making sure schedules were right while learning payroll at the same time.”
Martin said that Adams was consistent from the start. He was tasked with completing a compliance audit and did so with flying colors.
“He consistently showed up. He was prompt. I liked the fact that he paid attention to detail,” she said. “I appreciated his questions and his willingness to be mentored.”
Adams was so successful that he was offered a full-time position with CorePlacement before he graduated. Today, he serves as a payroll specialist and people strategist, under Martin’s guidance.
“I’m very blessed because not a lot of students get a full-time job in their degree before they graduate,” Adams said. “What I love about this job is that I do a lot of work, but I’m not stressed by the end of the day.”
These micro-internships have clear benefits for both students and employers, but they haven’t always been utilized to their fullest.
Since Diava Carter took up the reins at the Office of Career Services in 2024, the program has seen incredible growth. Before she started her position, no IU Northwest students had completed a Parker Dewey internship. But as of June 2026, over 10 students have at least one on their resume.
“Think of a micro-internship as a low-risk, high-reward way to gain experience,” she said. “Many students hesitate because they feel they don’t have enough experience yet, but micro-internships are designed to help students build those skills and explore career interests.”
For Carter, Adams’ success is the perfect example of what can happen when a student is proactive and open to new experiences.
“What stood out most was his willingness to take advantage of opportunities and his commitment to his professional growth. After being connected with the internship opportunity, he took ownership of the process, and the rest is history,” she said.
Adams’ time as an intern may be history, but he certainly has a bright future ahead. Beyond excelling at his role with CorePlacement, he plays semi-professional soccer and is getting ready to start his master’s degree in management.
Adams encourages current IU Northwest students to start building their resumes early.
“I didn’t start going for internships until my senior year of college, but I would say definitely start early and make sure you communicate and network,” he said.
When students get involved with these internships through Parker Dewey, everyone wins. Going forward, Carter hopes even more students will find success with help from Career Services.
“Start with one project that interests you. Every experience, no matter how small, helps build confidence and moves you one step closer to your career goals,” she said. “The hardest part is often taking the first step, but that first opportunity can open doors you never expected.”
