The Internship Interview: Strategies for Success

1. The Internship Interview: Strategies for Success Lori B. Waxenberg, Ph.D., ABPP Clinical Professor & Internship Director Department of Clinical & Health Psychology University of Florida

2. Topics to be Covered • Preparation • Scheduling • The Interview Day • Interviewing strategies • What are programs looking for? • What are you looking for?

3. Preparation • Helpful Resources: • Internships in Psychology: The APAGS Workbook for Writing Successful Applications and Finding the Right Fit Carol Williams-Nickelson (Editor), Mitchell J. Prinstein (Editor), W. Gregory Keilin (Editor) • The Clinical Psychology Internship Guide: The Primary Resource for Obtaining Your First Choice Donna B.Pincus, Ph.D. and John D. Otis, Ph.D.

4. Preparation • Have a basic working knowledge of the internship program • Website • Develop questions to ask about information not on the website • Review areas of research/clinical interests of faculty • Bring a printout of faculty/areas of interest to interview day

5. Preparation • Develop a cohesive narrative • Aim to summarize you past professional experiences, current work and what you would like to be doing on internship and in 5 years • Have a clear vision of how not only how the program could help you, but what you bring to enrich the program

6. Preparation • Prepare some cases ahead of time • Most challenging case, Most rewarding case • Case with an ethical dilemma • A case you may done something differently if you had the chance • What cases best allow you to demonstrate your conceptualization skills

7. Preparation • Other things to think about in advance • Why are you a good match for each specific program? • A well thought out response in advance will allow you to respond confidently and genuinely • Practice! • With a mentor or colleague • In your head/in front of mirror

8. Scheduling Interviews • Set early priorities • Which programs are your top choices • Try to schedule a program lower on your list first for “practice” • Interviews often on Mondays & Fridays • Opportunities for mid-week interviews can maximize your ability to schedule

9. Scheduling Interviews • Expensive process • Advice from our students • Focus less on cost on more on convenience • One big multi-way flight can save money • Check rental care rates frequently; they fluctuate! • Check out airbnb.com for lodging options • In person vs. Phone vs. Skype

10. The Interview Day • Often you will not know schedule in advance • Typically: • Orientation • Individual/group interviews • Meeting with current interns • Driving/walking at some sites

11. Basic Tips • Dress • Professional, but comfortable • Shoes too, think layers • What to carry? • Paper and pencil/pen • Have small snack/drink on hand • Personal first aide kit

12. Basic Tips • Interactions with Internship Staff • Be nice and respectively assertive • If you don’t get to meet with the faculty you hoped to • Arrange a phone call for a later date • Obtain e-mail contact information

13. Interview Strategies • Try to make the interview a conversation • Focus on genuinely connecting with your interviewer • Answer questions thoughtfully • Express genuine curiosity about the site and your interviewer’s work • Always ask questions

14. Interview Strategies • Communicate • Your prepared self-narrative • What are you excited about? • What are your goals? • What do you bring? • You are a good match for the program

15. Interview Strategies • What kind of opportunities are you looking for in addition to clinical work? • Interprofessional experience • Research experience • Educational opportunities • Postdoctoral opportunities

16. Meeting with current Interns • This is your chance to get the real story • Have specific questions prepped for them: • What is a typical day like? • Is there time for research? • How many hours do you actually work? • Focus on areas not emphasized on website • Would you choose this internship again if you had the choice?

17. Follow-up Thank You • No definitive answer to this • Not necessary, but can be nice • Especially nice if you can refer to something specific you discussed in the interview • Might be best not to ask additional questions unless you have burning question • Faculty get many thank yous…

18. What are programs looking for? • Good character • Hard worker • Independent • Balanced with appropriate supervision seeking • Junior colleague • Team player • Enthusiastic • Interested • Perseverance • Openness • Flexibility • Assertive • Mature • Good social skills

19. Your Assessment of Site • What do you want in an internship? • Know your priorities • Emphasis on training, experience, research • Environment: competitive, supportive • Work load • Opportunities for supervision • Opportunities for postdoc

20. Conclusions • Take a deep breath • Prepare in advance • Know yourself • Be yourself • And enthusiastic and genuine • Ask questions so that you can make informed decision

21. Questions?