Resources for finding your Internship
Finding an internship will feel a lot like looking for a job. If you have been conducting company research, networking, and setting up and completing informational interviews you are already in the process of finding your internship.
The next steps will be transitioning from information-gathering to application and interviewing, and having a solid strategy will help you stay organized and focused during this time.
“Vowing, even intense vowing, is often useless. The next day comes and the next day goes. What works is making a vivid, concrete plan.”
– Carol Dweck, Mindset
How are You Going to Apply Psychology?
Your interest in applied psychology has already led you to the MAPP program. However, your current job may not be your ultimate destination for using your MAPP degree. When choosing your new professional development opportunity, remember to incorporate the MAPP program emphasis on employees, consumers, or data tools. You will want to explore positions where either Consumer Psychology or Organizational Psychology can be applied.
Deciding which area you want to focus on will help you narrow down your internship search.
Consumer Psychology
Focuses on motivations and activities of external constituents who consume an organization’s services or products in a global marketplace.
Example Keywords Search:
- Consumer Insight
- Marketing
- Market Research
- Research Analytics
- Social Media Communications
- Advertising
- Public relations
Organizational Psychology
Focuses on motivations and activities of internal stakeholders (employees, teams, leaders) who produce an organization’s services or products in a global work place.
Example Keywords Search:
- Talent Management
- Training & Development
- Recruitment
- Employee Relations
- Human Resources
- People Analytics
- People Operations
- Culture Management
8 Things to Consider When Searching For an Internship
- Is the internship at a challenging level of work and clearly related to MAPP career areas?
- Does the organization acknowledge and support your learning goals and provide an opportunity to develop the skills you need?
- Will supervision be given by a professional in the field?
- Is there a mechanism in place for evaluation/feedback of your performance throughout the internship?
- Does the organization have committed resources for extra learning opportunities such as professional training, networking social events, company presentations, etc.?
- Will you be exposed to several different functions of the organization during the internship and maybe offered increased levels of responsibility?
- Is there a defined outcome (plan, project, product, or report) you will contribute to throughout your internship?
- Has the employer indicated that the internship program is an established hiring channel for their career positions?
What Have Other Students Done
Some of the best advice you can get about finding a great internship is given by students and alumni who have gone through the process already. Connect with your peers through LinkedIn to discuss advice and ideas around finding and acquiring your internship.
“As part of the internship requirement I found my current position with a local start-up, and the skills I needed to take classes online have been transferable to working for a start-up. You need to be a self-starter and willing to take responsibility for all of the work you do. There is no one checking in on you when you go to class every week.”
– Tara McGuire | Spring 2015 Cohort