Imagine yourself as a Human Resources Director for a large company in the area. You have five positions open to fill and you have 150 applicants for the five positions. Which recent college graduate would you consider the best hire?

1. The graduate with a degree in the field and five years of part time work experience in a non related field.
2. The graduate with a degree in the field with no work experience.
3. The graduate with a degree in the field with two internships completed that provided work related experience and "hands-on" training.

I certainly hope you picked 3!

It is never too early to visit the Office of Career Placement located in the South Administration Building 1A, Room 105 to begin your internship search. Your first step should be to access the database of internship opportunities and identify a list of suitable internships. Remember, an internship should complement your education by providing on the job training in your field or interest.

Your second step should be to get your résumé in order since many employers require you to submit a résumé as application for the position. Limit your résumé to one page and indicate in your objective that you are seeking an internship opportunity in your field. Always attach a cover letter to your résumé focusing on those skills and abilities that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Explain your interest in interning for that particular company or industry and show your commitment and enthusiasm.

• CREDIT - Many internships are built into your academic program providing you with credits toward graduation. You may also secure an internship that may not be built into your academic program but can still provide college credit. Some companies will stipulate that they will only provide an internship opportunity if in fact the student arranges to have credit granted at the completion of the internship. You must make an appointment with your department chairperson for approval.
• PAID - A paid internship is similar to part time employment only the work should be career related. Paid internships offer anywhere from a minimum wage to $12.00 per hour.
• STIPENDS - Some internships will pay a small reimbursement at the end of the experience or will pay small sums periodically to cover transportation or lunch expenses.
• UNPAID - Some firms will provide an opportunity to work in the field without any remuneration or credit awarded. Do not look at this as doing something for nothing! The invaluable contacts and skills you will garner from this experience far outweigh the small dollar amount you would have received. The experience will make you more marketable after graduation and may help you get that first job! These benefits alone are immediate pay- back for the time spent.

• An internship will give you a view of the realities of your chosen career without your having to make a long term commitment.
• You will build your skills and your marketability that will aid in your job search upon graduation.
• It will improve the quality of your résumé by showing a potential employer that you have both the education and the experience to perform the job.
• You will have made invaluable contacts in your field that you can draw upon when you begin your job search.
• An internship can also help clarify your career goals and help you decide whether you have made the right career choice

Although you may not be on the payroll as a full time employee, you are still considered part of the office team. You will have responsibilities and tasks that must be completed in a timely manner. Provide the same level of professionalism you would bring to any job:

• Be reliable and on time.
• Work on your assignments with attention to detail.
• Learn as much as you can about the industry and the daily operation of your office.
• Dress appropriately; follow the dress code of your colleagues and if unsure, ask what type of dress is expected of you.
• Try to avoid involving yourself in office politics. You will be there for a short duration of time so work to your maximum potential. You may be considered for future employment based on your job performance as an intern!

Upon completion of your internship you should ask for a letter of recommendation from your immediate supervisor and any other people you may have worked with on projects. You probably interned for the opportunity to have people in your network of contacts so stay in touch with them by calling or stopping in occasionally.

Write a thank you note to your supervisor after you have completed the internship whether you liked the experience or not. It is a common courtesy and this person may be able to aid in your job search at a later date.

• Internships with the City
• BigApplehead
• www.fritz.com
• web_sites.html
• Internships
• Burlington Internships
• Internship Seekers
• Idealist
• Washington Internships
• Intern-Net
• International Career Training for Americans
• Accounting Opportunities

Psychology Internship (PSY 598) allows students to work in a variety of settings: inpatient psychiatric units; The Barbara Blum Residence, a diagnostic group home for male adolescents; Project Hospitality, an agency that serves homeless women and children; IBR, a neuropsychology research facility; the Staten Island AIDS Task Force, Eden II, a school for autistic children; the Safe Horizon Agency - to name a few of the many possibilities.

Internships can benefit Psychology students in numerous ways. Qualified Psychology majors take the Internship Course to (a) make informed decisions about which career paths to pursue; (b) become part of professional networks; (c) attend in-service training and receive supervision from human service professionals; (d) become partly desensitized to the stresses and challenges of establishing a personal identity as a helper while learning to withstand frustration; and (e) gain a more realistic perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of existing facilities.

Additionally, students benefit by being able to describe their internship experiences when applying to graduate programs and during admissions interviews. (Psychology majors who completed internships and had excellent GPA's have been accepted into John Jay College's Forensic Psychology MS Program, Brooklyn College's School Psychology Program, Villanova University's I/O Program, Hunter, NYU, and Fordham's MSW Programs; CCNY and the California School of Professional Psychology's Ph.D Programs in Clinical Psychology, and into Cardoza Law School. Many students receive job offers from the organization at which they interned. Not surprisingly, some students elect to do two internships.

Many students do not immediately apply for graduate school after receiving their B.A. and instead seek employment in entry level positions in social agencies, community residences, neuropsychology laboratories, and psychiatric units. These settings require a BA level education and relevant experience. Internships provide the needed experience.

PSY 598 is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Students work six hours per week for fifteen weeks receiving four credits for a total of 90 field work hours. The class meets for one hour at CSI, additional supervision is provided on-site. Acceptance into this class requires a GPA of at least 2.5, completion of a minimum of 15 Psychology credits, and permission of the instructor or Internship Coordinator. For further information, please see Professor Rima Blair, during her office hours (4S-209) or call her voice mail at 718-982-3775. Please bring a copy of your CSI Progress Report (transcript).

copy submitted by Prof. Rima Blair, Internship Coordinator