A psychology internship refers to a variety of work environments that are appropriate for some but not all levels of preparation. Some people complete internships of varying lengths and locations prior to starting graduate school. Students who want to build more competitive graduate school applications might find them useful. Other internships are classified as pre-doctoral or post-doctoral studies, and they may have a variety of different focuses, making it easier to choose the best one. Suitability to training level, degree of match with career goals, and individual features such as compensation, supervision, and support are all things that people may want to think about.
When evaluating a psychology internship, suitability to training level is critical. People should only apply to programs for which they are qualified, and they should not waste time applying to programs for which they are unprepared. Internships can serve a variety of purposes, and this is especially true when people are attempting to complete the required hours for licensing. This is usually reserved for post-doctoral students, and students should double-check that any internship they are considering provides adequate supervision and has been approved by the region’s psychology licensing board.
It’s natural to try to choose internship programs that are a good fit with career or study interests, regardless of educational level. Pre-graduate students may have the most freedom because they can participate in an internship to discover their passions. Pre-doctoral students who are taking a break from writing their dissertations may want to gain experience in the field in which they plan to write their dissertations, and internships can help inform future research. Doctoral students should probably look for jobs that allow them to practice what they’ll be doing once they’re licensed. In an internship, those interested in counseling would want to counsel as many people as possible.
Individual internship programs in psychology should also be evaluated. When choosing a psychology internship, consider factors such as stipend, location, and schedule.
Any psychology internship interviews should be viewed as a two-way street. During the interview, try to determine if the staff is running a beneficial program rather than glorified secretarial work. It can be difficult to answer this question, so gathering a list of people who have completed the internship in the past and speaking with them about their experiences can be helpful. All people seek out the most supportive environments in which they can learn new skills and later apply them to their work, so any staff must be supportive in this endeavor.
A few books on how to get a psychology internship might be helpful. Licensing organizations can also provide advice. These may provide suggestions for internships to look for as well as tips on how to get hired as an intern.