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Psychology majors are often planning to work in helping professions, research/academia, or business (management, marketing, human resources). Internships and other forms of practical experience are available in private companies, non-profits, and government.

Getting Started

• RESUME! Creating your resume is the first step of any internship search. Come to Career Services for examples, advice, and resume review.
• Brainstorm – what would you like to do, for what kind of organization?

Internship Postings

Many internship opportunities can be found online:

• The RU Career Account:
  This account must be set up by Career Services. It gives access to internship postings sent directly to Â鶹Æƽ⴫ý from employers. Sign up for an account at weekly workshops on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm, Wednesdays at 10:00 am, and Thursdays at 1:00 pm in Career Services.
  • NACE Link
    This database is offered through the RU Career Account and is a good resource if you are seeking opportunities outside of Kansas City, especially in major metropolitan areas.
• Nonprofit Connect:
  Nonprofit Connect is a professional organization for non-profits in Kansas City. Their website provides internship postings from a variety of non-profit organizations.
• Organization Websites:
  Many organizations post internships on their own websites.

Experiential Opportunities

Due to required licensure and privacy regulations, internships are not readily available in the direct practice areas of psychology. However, finding opportunities to work part-time or job shadow in these areas will provide good background experience for future applications to full-time positions or graduate school. If your goal is to practice psychology or social work, try to find opportunities to work with populations that interest you: youth, geriatric, criminal, special needs, etc.

Research Opportunities

The best way to get research experience is to start with your professors – are there projects you can assist with? If research opportunities are not currently available at Â鶹Æƽ⴫ý, look to other local colleges and universities. Contact universities that are conducting relevant research and ask to volunteer. Many universities have summer research programs for undergraduates. Begin researching programs through the American Psychological Association:

Timeline

3-6 months prior to when you want to start your internship:

• Create your resume
• Begin to research companies and programs
• Begin applications
• Take resumes and cover letters to Career Services for review
• Practice interviewing with a mock interview in Career Services
• Interview and accept position

Kansas City Organizations

Resources for researching organizations in Kansas City:

• The Kansas City Business Journal Book of Lists, in the Career Services Office, or their online business directory
• RU Career Account, accessed through the Career Services website
• Chambers of Commerce
• Google search
• U.S. Department of Labor Employer Locator:
• Network with professors, classmates, friends and family

Examples of organizations:

• Hope House:
• Johnson County Mental Health:
• Kauffman Foundation:
• Metropolitan Organization to Counteract Sexual Assault:
• National Rural Health Association:
• Rose Brooks Center:
• Wyandot Center:

Searching in Other Cities

Use the same resources; simply focus them on other cities. NACE Link, an internship/job database through the RU Career Account, is connected to 500 other colleges nationwide. Additionally, many Jesuit universities offer reciprocal career services. Contact RU Career Services to find out if you can receive services from another Jesuit university in the city you want to search in.