Interviewing for Internships: Tips on How to Shine
Co-Sponsored by: Women in Neuropsychology, Ethnic & Minority Affairs, & Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training Subcommittees of APA Division 40
Agenda
• Tips for developing your CV and other documents • Mock interviews: – 8 interviewers – Small groups
Curriculum Vitae
Your first major publication
Roddy Roediger Association for Psychological Science President
www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1498
CV: General Tips
• Proof read! Use spell check and have several others read your CV for spelling/grammar/formatting errors. • Use normal margins and font sizes. Do not excessively use formatting tools such as bullets, underlining, italicizing, etc.
• Make it pleasing to the eye (use symmetry and balance)
CV: General Tips
• Don’t add fluff! No one wants to read it or to have to store excess paper.
• Don’t list courses taken, conferences or work shops attended, class presentations given, or CE credits.
CV: General Outline
• Many available formats
• The type of format will depend on the position you are applying for (clinical, academic, research, etc) • Check with your university and/or local academic medical center
CV: General Outline
• Personal Information • Education • Professional Experience – Clinical positions – Research positions • Awards/Honors • Publications • Presentations • Skills • References
CV: Personal Info
• Personal Information: name, address, phone, email, fax, etc.
– Email: professional or nondescript
• Do not include: age, marital status, SS#, photo, IQ, prior psychological treatment (e.g., anger management or 12-step program).
CV: Education/ Professional Positions
• Include dates (month and year)
• Report degrees/positions in chronological order • Include who your supervisors were in both training and professional positions
CV: Education/ Professional Positions
• Do Not include “Ph.D. candidate” (misleading according to APA ethical code)
For later in your career• Do Not list yourself as “board eligible” • Never include vanity board degrees
CV: Education/ Professional Positions
• Descriptions of positions should not be more than 2-3 sentences long (setting, primary duties, populations served, primary referrals, and collaborators).
CV: Publications/Presentations
• Use separate sections for published articles, published abstracts, and presentations. • Use “manuscripts in review” very sparingly. • Manuscripts in preparation
– Early career: include manuscripts in preparation, but only if they are nearly ready to be submitted and be prepared to discuss them! – After fellowship: Avoid including these on your CV.
CV: Other
• Awards- only list those professionally related
• Personal Interests- be very selective • Skills- languages spoken, proficiency in database or statistics software
CV: References
Predoctorally • list names with contact information (tell people you’ve listed them)
After you complete fellowship • “Available upon request”
Letters of Recommendations
• Ask for letters in advance and be certain they will be strong.
– Give the writer at least one month prior to your first deadline.
• An average letter is likely to be viewed negatively. • Verify that all letters have been sent appropriately and received.
– In packet or separate depending on application instructions.
After the Interview
• Follow-up
– – – Thank you notes or emails Telephone calls Reiterate your interest and what attracted you to the program