On My Way to an interview

[Crankin]

I am leaving shortly for my first interview for a clinical internship for next year; I am nervous! Mostly because, as opposed to other interviews I had when I was teaching, I don't feel like I "know" that much about my new profession. I guess it's like going from being the expert/mentor to being the low person on the totem pole. While I know this is normal for all beginning therapists to feel, I think it's intensified a bit more for me because I already had a successful career.
But, the interview is at the counseling center at a small state college (5,000) in central MA, where I have actually taken many courses. It's one of my top choices because it's in the opposite direction of Boston, no stress driving there, and when the weather is bad they close! I am already thinking how I can ride my bike there; probably too far to commute, but there is a nice parking lot for a rail trail about 12 miles from there and I could definitely do that...
And I am wearing my black Shak and cranberry Kate with a wool skirt and boots, so I will have the support of the wool weenies as I sit there!

[Tuckervill]

Good luck!

Karen

[alpinerabbit]

Good luck, hope you've done your homework, know how to answer the standard questions and remember, interviewing is a game between you and the HR person.

That's how I see it.

[OakLeaf]

Good luck!

[Pax]

Good luck! If you haven't left yet brush on "modality speak", whenever we interviewed interns or new staff therapists the question "which treatment modality do you find most effective for ____________" was always asked.

[bmccasland]

Good luck! If you haven't left yet brush on "modality speak", whenever we interviewed interns or new staff therapists the question "which treatment modality do you find most effective for ____________" was always asked.

And the answer is???

Good luck Crankin! Hope they love you, and offer you a nice salary to boot!

[Crankin]

Well, the answer is... actually he did not ask the above question quite as specifically. I have only finished one semester of course work and I think most people interviewing me would realize that I don't have all of the facts to say which modality would be best for which problem. He did ask what theories I was most "attracted to" and might want to use. I answered honestly and said that I am open to most things and would take a pragmatic approach, based on the client's needs, followed by saying I was most comfortable with a humanistic approach, but I also feel that behavioral approaches are what's needed a lot of the time. I am in a program that specializes in a holistic approach, with a lot of emphasis on mind-body connections, so I also talked about that.
I think I did well, but I am competing with others from Boston College and Boston University, as well as maybe others from my school. And this is not paid; I have to do 2 years of this, about 22 hours a week, although I have to find a different site for the third year. Then when I graduate, I have to work for 2 years full time to get enough hours for my license.
I will know next week. I have another interview on 2/10, at a day treatment program. Not my first choice, but it's a good program and close.

[Pax]

And the answer is???

It's not a right answer/wrong answer question, it's more to gauge if the modality you use (or for interns, aspire to use) will work within that agencies current treatment plans.

[Crankin]

Hey, I just received calls for 2 more interviews; feeling very positive right now. One at U Mass Lowell and the other for a visiting moms program through JFCS. I will keep you updated.

[emily_in_nc]

That's great news -- good luck to you! Keep us posted!

P.S. I bet you looked great in your woolweenies interview outfit!

[solobiker]

Good luck to you. I will keep my fingers crossed.

[Jolt]

Sounds promising! I can only hope things go so well for me at the job fair I am going to tomorrow... Good luck!

[Crankin]

Jolt, with your degree and experience, I know you can get something better. One of my son's friends just got a job at Mass General, in the ER, and she just graduated from Northeastern last March. I can't imagine that her training is any better than yours. If you want, I can ask my friend who works in development at Emerson if there is anything for new grads in nursing.

[Jolt]

Jolt, with your degree and experience, I know you can get something better. One of my son's friends just got a job at Mass General, in the ER, and she just graduated from Northeastern last March. I can't imagine that her training is any better than yours. If you want, I can ask my friend who works in development at Emerson if there is anything for new grads in nursing.

Well, the job fair was pretty much a waste of time. The only place there that I would have any interest in was, in fact, Emerson--everything else was psych, long-term care (what I am trying to get OUT of) and non-nursing positions. And Emerson's new grad program doesn't start until August; besides it's sort of a long commute from here and I would prefer something closer if possible (we have three big hospitals right in town, it's kind of ridiculous to have to go elsewhere IMHO especially when we get a snowstorm). I did get the info and will still consider it. Maybe I should look at MGH even though I am trying to avoid a long commute...

[Crankin]

I PM'd you.