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Finding a Psychology Internship

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-How To Effectively Utilize Psychology

Internship Search Resources

-How To Create Your Own Internship

-How To Conduct Outreach To Potential

Internship Sites

-How To Earn Academic Credit

Today’s Learning

Outcomes

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How Do You Know a Psychology Internship When You See It?

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CLINICAL

PRACTICE BASED

RESEARCH

BASED

TEACHING

BASED

Three Broad Categories

of Psychology Internships

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Agencies and Organizations

100+

Focus on improving the quality of life of others

Practice, Teaching, or Research Based

Top Sites

Cornerstone Montgomery

Kennedy Krieger

Every Mind

CSAAC

ABA Therapy

Mental Health Advocacy
Social Justice Causes

Ideal for students interested in Education or Public Policy

Non-Profit Organizations and School Settings

Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Crisis Counseling
ABA Therapy

Ideal for students interested in the Helping Professions

Behavioral Health Systems

Human Resources
Personnel Testing
Talent Acquisition

Ideal for students interested in applying psychology to the workplace.

Industries

American Institutes for Research
NIH
Ocean Mammal Institute

Ideal for students interested in basic or applied research and PhD. programs

Social Science Neurobehavioral Research

Psychology Internships

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Do I want an internship that is more people-based or project-based?

What population do I want to work with?

How am I hoping to develop from this experience?

What are my transportation needs?

Can I fit an internship into my schedule?

Questions To Ponder before you begin your Psychology Internship Search

What setting would be ideal? (i.e. business, school, health care, non-profit)

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Before You Get Started With Your Search

Create an Internship Resume

Develop an Internship mission or vision as to what you hope to gain from this experience

Review examples of previous PSYC Terp internships https://go.umd.edu/psycinternships

Plan as to how the internship might fit into your summer or upcoming semester class schedule

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Creating Your Internship Resume

Objective/Mission Statement
Education including anticipated date of

UMD Degree

Relevant psychology coursework
Paid Work Experience
Volunteer/Community Service Experience
Leadership Roles
Honors & Awards
Specialized Skills

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Developing Your Psychology Mission and Vision

What topics or themes in psychology are you most passionate about and why?

What skills are you acquiring from your life experiences and psychology coursework that might be of benefit to a potential internship site?

How do you hope to develop from participating in an internship?

What values are important to you in a work setting?

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Searching for Actual Advertised Internships

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Conduct keyword searches on job boards such as indeed.com to identify potential organizations you may want to target

Research online the organizations you are interested in.

Rank the organizations from most preferred to least preferred

Check with STEVE or the Undergraduate Internship Site Directory to see if there is already a contact at this organization

Compose cold email to contact person at the organization asking for informational meeting

Develop resume and follow up with organization if weeks pass and no response.

How To Create Your Own Internship

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Searching for Organizations To Target and Get Your Foot In The Door

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https://go.umd.edu/psycinternshipresources

Psychology

Internship

Resources Poster

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Home | PSYC Undergraduate Internship Sites Directory (wixsite.com)

https://go.umd.edu/psycinternships

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https://terrapinsconnect.umd.edu

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https://fellercenter.umd.edu/explore-careers/psychology

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https://www.volunteermatch.org/

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https://indeed.com

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https://go.umd.edu/psycinternshipkeywords

Use

Key

Words

To

Identify

Potential

Organizations

To Target

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https://go.umd.edu/internshipposters

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Organize Your Internship Search

Create a Spreadsheet to monitor and track your contacts with organizations

Rank Your Organizations from most preferred to least preferred

Research each organization thoroughly and add notes as to why you are interested in each organization (i.e. specific program, service, population, cause)

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How to draft a Cold Email to a potential Internship Site

Dear Dr./Ms.

Brief one sentence introduction about yourself

Brief sentence or two stating a theme or topic in psychology that relates to the organization’s mission

Brief sentence asking for an informational meeting

Brief sentence letting the organization know what’s in it for them

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Sample Cold Email to a potential Internship Site

Dear Dr. Jones,

My name is Steve Young. I’m a junior psychology major at the University of Maryland. I hope you are doing well. I studied psychiatric rehabilitation in my Clinical Psychology course and am interested in learning more about this field. I have researched Cornerstone Montgomery and see that this is a large part of your mission. Would it be possible to meet with you to learn more about Cornerstone’s psychiatric rehabilitation programs and services? I’d also like share with you some ways I might contribute to Cornerstone’s mission. Thank you for your time and please take care.

Steve Young

syoung17@umd.edu

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Breaking down a Cold Email to a potential Internship Site

Brief one sentence introduction about yourself

I’m a junior psychology major at the University of Maryland.

Brief sentence or two stating a theme or topic in psychology that relates to the organization’s mission

I studied psychiatric rehabilitation in my Clinical Psychology course and am interested in learning more about this field. I have researched Cornerstone Montgomery and see that this is a large part of your mission.

Brief sentence asking for an informational meeting

Would it be possible to meet with you to learn more about Cornerstone’s psychiatric rehabilitation programs and services?

Brief sentence letting the organization know what’s in it for them

I’d also like share with you some ways I might contribute to Cornerstone’s mission.

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Sample #2 Cold Email to a potential Internship Site

Hello, my name is Siggy Freud. I am currently a sophomore psychology major at the University of Maryland, College Park. I hope you are doing well.

As a psychology major, I have studied child, developmental, and multicultural psychology. I am interested in sharing how my knowledge and skills in these areas align with your mission.

I would like to set up a meeting to learn more about your organization as well as any opportunities to help support your organization through volunteer service.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you when your time permits.

�

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go.umd.edu/psyc389

Earning academic credit for a Psychology Internship

https://go.umd.edu/psyc389

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Patience

Persistence

Perseverance

The Three Ps for Successfully Landing an Internship

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Tuesday. March 8^th, 2022 6 PM-8 PM Register on Careers4Terps Or

https://fellercenter.umd.edu/psyc-exploration

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Next Steps:

Commit an Hour or Two Per Week To Your

Summer Internship Search

Create a Spreadsheet To Organize Your

Internship Search

Create, Update, and Have Your Resume

Reviewed by Internship Coordinator or Feller Center

for Advising and Career Planning

Research Organizations To TARGET

Conduct Effective Outreach To Top Organizations

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https://go.umd.edu/internshiphelp

Access Workshop Slides

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Schedule an Internship Consultation Meeting

https://go.umd.edu/steveyoungappointment