Building Professional Skills with Field Experience in Psychology
By Kayla Gross
Within the last two semesters, I have been working as a Human Resource Management intern at Jones Metal Inc. in Mankato. This experience has provided me with valuable skills while also giving me the opportunity to utilize my current knowledge.
The Field Experience course option is offered in the psychology department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Field Experience provides students with a way to get involved in their desired field while also utilizing and gaining skills for graduate school or even a long-term career. Students who pursue Field Experience need to first identify a volunteer or internship opportunity related to psychology, and then apply to earn credit based on the number of hours completed at the volunteer / internship site (each credit requires completing 25 hours a semester, and students can register for up to 8 credits). For me, enrolling in Field Experience has not only allowed me to utilize and strengthen my skills, but it also built my desire to continue my education as a graduate student in the field of Applied Psychology (Industrial/Organizational Psychology).
My Field Experience opportunity as an HR generalist intern has allowed me to be involved in all areas of human resources. I was exposed to areas of HR that include performance evaluation, training and development, hiring, recruiting, employee satisfaction, motivation, research, and personnel issues. This generalist approach has allowed me to find specific areas of HR that are most interesting to me. I was also able to recognize the overlap of HR with Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Specifically, this applied experience has drawn my attention to personnel issues in the workplace as well as employee motivation and satisfaction. I have become interested in utilizing training and development skills in order to encourage motivation and satisfaction in employees while giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves to develop their skills.
Another component of my Field Experience opportunity has been working as the Communications Intern for the Psychology Department. This experience allowed me to build relationships with others who are passionate about psychology! I have found a passion for promoting the field of psychology to the public in a way that allows them to understand the scientific basis of the field. Psychology consists of many different disciplines making it complicated, to say the least. By finding ways to simplify and relate topics within psychology to the public, I am confident that awareness of the field will continue to grow!
With the opportunity to enroll in Field Experience, I was able to participate in applied experiences as an intern while also having a job, earning credits toward my major, and finding a career path that was of interest to me. Although I learned a significant amount within my courses, Field Experience has given me the opportunity to explore options outside of the classroom while applying and developing my knowledge and skills. This ultimately led me to my decision to continue my education and career as an Industrial /Organizational Psychologist. Although an internship or applied experience may seem intimidating, it is extremely beneficial to have the opportunity to apply the information you are learning in real life situations!
After realizing that Field Experience would give me the opportunity to participate in a paid internship while receiving credits and learning from professionals, I didn’t have to think twice about enrolling. I knew I would benefit from the experience and that the extra money would be worth it. While learning material in my classes, I was able to apply a situation from my internship to have a more realistic and better understanding of the material.
For students who have the opportunity to enroll in a field experience opportunity, you will benefit greatly! Whether you’re decided on a major or undecided, looking for extra credits/money, needing to build your resume, or hoping to learn more about your intended career interests, Field Experience will offer a variety of positive experiences.
Current MSU, Mankato Psychology students can learn more by contacting the Psychology Department at psychology@mnsu.edu.
Resources
Contact the American Psychological Association for more information about studying Industrial Organizational Psychology: https://www.apa.org/action/science/organizational/education-training