According to Forbes, 69% of large companies made full-time job offers to interns in 2012. If you want to gain experience relating to your program of study, consider enrolling in a field experience, study abroad, or public service course. Volunteering or shadowing someone in the field not only gives you experience and an opportunity to reflect on your work and bridge the gap between academic theory, but it also helps you network and build your resume. As an elective, you may complete a 5-credit Public Service Learning project (IDST 4002), Field Internship (IDST 4003), or Study Abroad experience (IDST 4004), which are psychology-related but also interdisciplinary. If you are interested, please talk to your program director or academic advisor about enrolling in one of the three courses as an elective.
This story about Stephanie, a Walden student in the B.S. in Forensic Psychology program, is adopted from the Walden Career Center blog. Stephanie had years of banking and administrative experience before deciding to pursue her long time interest in forensic psychology. To start gaining experience in her new field, Stephanie enrolled in “IDST 4003: Seminar with Internship”.
While searching for her internship, Stephanie attended a local conference on diversity and disparity. In a conversation with one of the conference speakers, Stephanie expressed her interest in finding an internship and was advised to connect with the CEO of a local non-profit organization that helps ex-offenders reenter society. At her internship, she helped with intake, shadowed a case manager, assisted with grants, planned the annual charity event, and was a guest speaker on a local radio station. Stephanie said the internship was a valuable learning experience. It offered her the opportunity to apply her academic knowledge, gain new skills and insights, meet people in her field, and share her experience with classmates in her course discussions.
Stephanie was offered her a full-time position as an Employment Specialist at the organization where she interned. She is thrilled with the opportunity she has in her new position to help ex-offenders find employment and make a successful transition into the community. Her advice to others is to start searching for an internship, go to conferences, and ask for help. She said, “Get out and look for opportunities; they aren’t going to fall in your lap”.