Written by: Ruth V. Walker, PhD 

Published May 27, 2025

The job market for new college graduates in 2024–2025 is more competitive than it has been in years. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), only 27% of employers plan to increase hiring this year, compared to more than 50% in earlier years like 2022 (NACE, 2025). Employers cite budget cuts, reduced business needs, inflation, and an uncertain economy as the driving forces behind this pullback in hiring.

This means you need to be even more intentional about making yourself competitive on the job market. 

NACE has consistently found that students with internship experience — especially those who interned with the hiring organization or within the relevant industry — are viewed far more favorably than those without it. In fact, employers rated internships with their organization (M = 4.4) and internships within their industry (M = 4.3) as the most influential attributes when deciding between equally qualified candidates. In contrast, factors like GPA (M = 3.0), volunteer work (M = 2.5), and studying abroad (M = 1.8) were rated as having far less influence (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2023). Internships also provide opportunities to build skills employers look for, includingsuch as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and professionalism (NACE, 2025). 

Where Can I Find an Internship in Psychology?

Finding an internship can be difficult in a field as broad and varied as psychology. Here are several places to start your search:

• Handshake: Often tied to your university, this platform is designed with students in mind.

• LinkedIn: Use the Jobs tab and set alerts for terms like intern, research, or human resources internship. Here's a video with step-by-step instructions for how to set job alerts.

• Indeed: A broader job site that allows filtering for internships and remote options.

• University Career Center: Your university or college has a career center dedicated to helping connect you with internships and jobs. They will also help get your resume, cover letter, and interview skills ready to go as well. 

• Faculty Mentors: Professors may have insight about opportunities that will help build your resume; however, some faculty are less aware since their training did not prepare them for careers outside of academia. I recommend connecting with the faculty member that handles practicum opportunities for your program - they'll be the most informed about what is available in your area.

• Local Organizations: Nonprofits, schools, hospitals, and government agencies may not advertise online but are open to hosting interns if you reach out professionally.

What Internships Fit Your Career Goals?

The “right” internship depends on your interests and career goals within the field of psychology. If you’re interested in mental health or therapy, look for roles at counseling centers, crisis hotlines, or behavioral health clinics. Students drawn to research might consider applying to summer research programs (like NSF REUs) or connecting with faculty on campus to join a lab. If you are considering school psychology or mental health positions working with children, jobs, practicums, or internships in after-school programs, tutoring centers, special education support services, or as a registered behavior technician will help build your resume/CV. If you’re leaning toward human resources or industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology, look for internships in HR departments, talent development, or corporate training. For students interested in marketing or user research, look for internships in market research, communications, or UX research. 

When Do I Apply?

Timing matters, both in terms of the calendar year as well as academic standing.

Best time to apply:

• Summer internships: Apply between December and March

• Fall internships: Apply by July

• Spring internships: Apply by October

Year in school:

• Sophomore Year: Start exploring and building your resume with volunteer work or campus jobs.

• Junior and Senior Year: Start applying for internships directly tied to your career goals. Most opportunities are targeted toward rising seniors.

How Can I Make the Most of My Internship?

According to Lasse Palomaki, Associate Director of Career Services for Alumni at Elon University, one of the best ways to stand out as an intern is to track your accomplishments and prepare for your supervisor meetings. Palomaki recommends reflecting on the following every week:

• What did I work on or finish this week?

• What tools, skills, or software did I use?

• What impact did I make (metrics, outcomes, results)?

Keeping track of these not only helps you articulate and quantify your experience later (e.g., on a resume, LinkedIn profile, or in an interview), it also prepares you to have meaningful conversations with your supervisor. “These meetings are one of the few times your supervisor's focus is 100% on you,” Palomaki notes. “Don't expect them to do all the work.” Here are some recommendations he makes to get the most out of those meetings:

At your first meeting, ask: 

• What are my priority projects during this internship?

• How is success measured by the end of the summer?

• Who should I get to know outside of our core team?

• What is the best way to ask for your feedback/input?

• What made the best interns you've had stand out?

• Do you prefer to communicate via email/chat/text/call?

• Are there any resources/trainings you'd recommend?

At follow-up meetings throughout your internship, you will want to do the following:

• Before follow-up meetings

  • Review what you’ve accomplished.

  • Identify any areas where you need support.

  • Plan out your next steps.

• During meetings

  • Lead the conversation and bring updates.

  • Ask questions and confirm action items.

  • Take notes on what’s said.

• After meetings

• Review your notes.

• Reflect on feedback.

• Add action items to your planner.

Follow Lasse Palomaki on LinkedIn for more career advice targeted to students!

Additional Resources

National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2022). Job outlook 2023. https://www.naceweb.org/store/2022/job-outlook-2023/ 

National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2025). Job outlook 2025 (Revised January 2025). https://www.naceweb.org/job-outlook/reports/