The Internship Search
Hello everyone! I hope you’ve all had a marvelous week! Things at MTC are really starting to pick up as the school year gets into full swing. I’m looking forward to all the new opportunities I will be given in the coming weeks!
Around this time last year, I started the search for an internship. I know that many senior music therapy students have started or will be starting this same process very soon! Thus, I wanted to share what I looked for in an internship and some handy little tips I found helpful during the process.
What I Personally Looked for in an Internship
Population
This played a big role in my search. I wasn’t gravitating to or straying away from any one population during practica and my undergrad experience. Though every population and age group is different, I truly enjoyed working with all of the people I had worked with so far. I knew that I wanted an internship that would provide me with experiences in a wide variety of populations. Most of the internships I applied for were private practices or businesses that could provide me with those experiences.
Location
Although I like to adventure out on my own, I definitely knew I wanted to stay somewhere in driving distance from my family and friends. Thus, all of the internships I looked at were in the Midwest.
Supervisors
This is a huge one. As an intern, you will be learning from and working with these people for at least 6 months. I wanted supervisors that I knew cared about me as a student, but also as a person. I also wanted supervisors with whom I knew my personality would mesh. This is one that you will get a better picture of in the interview process.
Tips and Advice
Start Applying
I waited until the start of my senior year to look for internships, which is very doable. However, it is important to pay attention to application deadlines. As soon as you narrow down which internships you want to apply for, start filling out those applications and reaching out to the internship directors. It will save you from a lot of stress.
Practice
Since this is a music therapy internship, you will most likely have to perform some repertoire during your interview. I think it’s quite obvious that you should practice the rep you plan on using, but I found it helpful to also practice other aspects of the interview. I had my parents and friends ask me potential interview questions and I would practice responding to them. Some universities also have the option to participate in mock interviews in their Career Development Programs.
Interview Them
The interview process isn’t just about them interviewing you, but this is your time to ask questions and get to know your potential supervisors and site. Bring questions to ask and be engaged in conversation. Not only does it give you more important information, but it also makes you look invested, genuine, and professional.
Be Open
Be open to new possibilities. Don’t rule out an internship site because it’s not with your dream population or because you don’t think you would ever get it. Take a leap and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. The world has a funny way of surprising you.
I’m not going to lie: the internship search can be a bit stressful, but I hope this blog post gave you some insight! It can be a bit daunting, but nothing feels better than securing that internship. I don’t normally cry happy tears, but I definitely did when I was offered the intern position here at MTC. Honestly, have fun searching for your internships and set your standards high!
If any other interns or professionals would like to add any advice, please leave a comment! Thanks for reading!
Emma Kovachevich
