Paragon One is now

Invest in Your Career. Build Real Experience.

Work on remote projects to get real professional experience and stand out in the job market.

Delivering Externships from startups to Fortune 1000 brands

Launching your career is harder than ever

For every 5 college students, there’s only 1 internship available.

About 40% of entry-level job postings require at least three years of experience.

The stakes have never been higher.

Get professional experience
that matters with Extern

  • Test drive career paths with real projects
  • Build your resume with skills you’ve applied
  • Connect with professionals from startups to Fortune brands
  • Develop soft skills through professional collaboration
  • Learn how to use Gen AI tools through real projects
  • Gain real project experience to discuss at job interviews
Flexibly explore careers
through real experience
Venture Capital
VC Deal Sourcing & Startup Analysis
VC arm of HP Inc.
Data
Consumer Behavior & Market Analysis
Leading global audio brand
Marketing
Paid Marketing Asset Creation
Game manufacturer and maker of Cards Against Humanity
Product
Consumer Behavior & User Research
Olympic certified swim apparel brand
Consulting
Market Analysis & Strategy Consulting
Men’s casual apparel
Venture Capital
VC Deal Sourcing & Startup Analysis
VC arm of HP Inc.
Data
Consumer Behavior & Market Analysis
Leading global audio brand
Marketing
Paid Marketing Asset Creation
Game manufacturer and maker of Cards Against Humanity
Product
Consumer Behavior & User Research
Olympic certified swim apparel brand
Consulting
Market Analysis & Strategy Consulting
Men’s casual apparel
Build a resume employers
will notice
Learn how to use Gen AI tools through real projects

How it works

Invest in yourself
$10
per month
That’s less than the cost of lunch
Apply Now
1
Submit one application to access all Externships.

Apply once - like a common app - to become a member of Extern.

If you’re accepted, you can sign up for any available Externship on our platform.

2
Hear back in 1-2 weeks.

Gain full access to Extern for $10 per month once accepted.

3
Create your account and explore Externships.

There are a variety of externships by career path, skills, and projects. See what most aligns with your interests and goals.

4
Reserve your seat in the Externship of your choice to get started.

Start tackling real projects at companies that will both build your experience and bring impact to the company.

What past Externs have to say

Erik Schalk
Beats by Dre Extern
"Extern played a crucial role in bridging the gap between my formal business education & real-world application. The opportunity to present actionable recommendations to the Head of Customer Insights at Beats by Dre was invaluable, propelling my leadership journey and paving the way for my current role at Rolls-Royce.”
Now a Project Lead
at Rolls-Royce
Tori Nguyen
AT&T Extern
“I credit the Externship as the sole reason I was hired to intern at AT&T. I had never heard of the AT&T internship program and would never have applied to it if I hadn’t gone through the Externship. It allowed me to develop my skills, showcase my work and ultimately stand out so I was awarded the opportunity to interview the CEO of AT&T!”
Became an intern
at AT&T
Richard Wilson
Meta Extern
"The Externship is a great way to introduce students to what it is like to work on a project. I became a lot more data-focused and analytical in my approach. As an industrial engineering major, people questioned how the externship was related to my studies. My journey has shown me that you don’t have to be limited by your major."
Now a Technical
Program Manager at Meta
Maisa Mirza
HP Tech Ventures Externship
“During my venture capital externship, I learned how to use industry-standard metrics and tools like SQL and Tableau to determine startup success potential.This opportunity helped me stand out as a candidate and opened new doors for me - including offers from EY and Accenture."
Now an Analyst
at Accenture
Garrett Boyce
HP Tech Ventures Externship
“If I hadn’t done a VC externship during term time, I know I’d be spending hours watching YouTube videos just to understand which careers I might enjoy! I don’t think I fully understood the value of an externship till I actually did one and now I want to argue that externships should be a part of the college experience for every student.”
Now an Analyst at Boston Consulting Group
Diego Juarez
Crafted Capital Externship
“My Externship really changed my career trajectory. As students, we often chase after Fortune 500 work experiences, but the intimate experience of getting to work with a startup can actually really help you learn a lot and level up what you can bring to the table. My cohort even had the opportunity to speak with the founder of Crafted Capital and learn from his firsthand experience.”
Now a CLDP Analyst at
JP Morgan Chase & Co

Questions we get all the time

How is an Externship different from a certificate program, bootcamp, or skill course?

Unlike a typical credential platform, Extern lets you…

  • Demonstrate skills you built through real work on your resume
  • Demonstrate real business impact you drove on your resume
  • Connect with industry professionals and other externs
  • Engage and learn from our very own Program Managers who support you
How do Externships compare with internships?

For every 5 college students, there’s only 1 internship available. And if you're lucky enough to get an internship, there's no guarantee you're in for a meaningful experience when it comes to training and support. Externships were designed as accessible, high-quality experiences to bridge the divide between academia and the workforce.

Extern provides…

Real professional experiences not normally accessible to students

Practical training on in-demand skills that you demonstrate through a real -work deliverable

Soft skills training and development in a supportive environment

While also providing…

Flexibility year round with fully remote experiences

Ability to explore multiple industries, skills, and companies

Structured professional training beyond typical internships, like advanced prompting, Gen AI application, and creating custom chatbots to keep you ahead of the curve

Who is eligible?

No prior experience or specific background is required - as long as you’re passionate, curious, and have a drive to learn.

Currently, we’re prioritizing applications from:

  • Seniors in undergraduate (Bachelor’s) programs at U.S.-based institutions
  • Graduate students in Master’s, Doctorate, or Professional Degree programs at U.S.-based institutions

Extern’s mission is to make Externships accessible to all students, and we’re working to expand capacity to include more academic years, institutions, individuals who aren’t in school, and other regions. If you’re from a different group, we encourage you to apply now—your application will help ensure you’re among the first considered as we expand. To receive updates on expanded capacity, subscribe to our newsletter here.

What exactly happens during an Externship?

You can see an example of the Externship format currently used in our Consumer Insights Marketing and Data Analysis program. It includes a week-by-week breakdown, highlighting the skills you’ll develop, the tools you’ll use, and your interactions with the host company.

Why is there a $10 monthly fee?

In addition to providing members with flexible company Externship opportunities not available anywhere else, the monthly fee enables members to receive structured professional training, mentorship & support throughout their Externship experience.

Build your future

Have more questions?
Apply for an Externship