It's that time of year! INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS!!!

This #WednesdayWisdom, let's talk about applying for internship. I have a ton of tips and advice! (1/n)

It's probably a little late to talk about site selection, BUT it's still important so I'll go ahead and talk about it anyway. (2/n)

I found site selection for internship really hard initially. Everything sounded so interesting and cool! I was overwhelmed by options and didn't know how to narrow it down. What helped me was writing down my training goals in the autobiographical essay. (3/n)

If an internship site seemed cool and interesting but didn't have opportunities consistent with my training goals, I crossed it off my list. Probably a great site, but not a great fit for what I am trying to do! (4/n)

I also prioritized my training goals. For me, the most important thing was getting training and experience with full-model DBT. I also wanted to serve on a multidisciplinary team, had a preference for programs that had a strong emphasis on training (supervision, didactics). (5/n)

Something I also hoped for but wasn't most important to me was the opportunity to work in a partial hospitalization or day program. It was a priority, but a lower priority. (6/n)

To identify and prioritize your training goals, write about what your career goals are. For what kinds of jobs will you apply? Look at application criteria for those jobs to determine what qualifications are required and preferred. (7/n)

Write down the qualifications you already have and the qualifications you need to pursue in order to be an excellent candidate for the jobs you want. Organize your training goals for internship around the qualifications you still need. Select only sites that fit those goals (8/n)

Come up with a tentative list of 10-20 sites. Aim to actually apply to around 15. There's a diminishing rate of returns if you apply to more than 15. But it's good to have more than you actually need on this tentative list. (9/n)

It's good to have those extras in case, for example, a site announces they won't be having the rotation you are most interested in or if there are any other changes to the program that might prevent you from meeting your training goals. (10/n)

Also, definitely create a spreadsheet to organize your sites. List things out like a summary of the program, tracks and rotations you're interested in and descriptions of each, deadlines, supplemental materials required, pros/cons, and (this is an important one)... (11/n)

Include a numerical rating of initial fit/your level of interest in the site. This will help you to: 1) remember which sites you were most excited about without having to reread brochures, and 2) help you to prioritize your applications in case you run short on time. (12/n)

Include a column where you write a a couple of sentences or bullet points highlighting how/why the site is a good fit for your expertise AND your training goals (e.g., rotations, approach to diversity and inclusion, training model). It makes cover letters SO MUCH EASIER!!! (13/n)

I also used the spreadsheet to write down potential interview dates for each site and later organized these in Google calendar to help schedule interviews (I'll talk about those tips later). After interviews, I added a new column for to re-rate each site. (14/n)

I still have my internship site spreadsheet from last year. If anyone is interested, just send me a DM with your email address and I'll send it to you so you can see how I organized all the info. The most important thing, though, is to find what works for you. (15/n)

And by "works", I mean whatever will make the application process easiest and will save you the most time. You don't want to have to reread 15 brochures when it's time to write cover letters. (16/n)

Next up... letters of recommendation! Stay tuned for tips on how to ask for letters, who to ask for letters, and how to ensure that your letters are strong, individualized, and impactful. (17/n)

So... how do you choose letter writers for internship? Well, that depends on what type of internship you're applying to and what kind of training you are hoping for. (18/n)