Transformation: Ensuring Student Success in an Internship

Darren KaltvedAssociate Director

Career Center for Science and EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Program Objectives

This presentation looks to benefit attendees through the following objectives:

• Identify and define aspects of the Theory of Internship Stages;

• Discuss strategies for using this theory to create an experience that provides growth, empowerment and success for students;

• Provide examples of putting this theory into practice

Why Think About This?

• Across most industries, we currently see one of the most competitive job markets of the past 25 years

• Internships/co-ops have moved from competitive advantage to necessity

• Ability to articulate the importance of that experience is key

• Opportunity to address student learning outcomes as a way of making their experience more valuable to their individual development and a deeper overall learning experience

Something to Keep in Mind

• Distinction between “Morale” and “Task Accomplishment” (Lacoursiere, 1980)

• Morale – interpersonal & intrapersonal tone of your experience, feelings about yourself, your work, and the employer

• Task Accomplishment – attitudes, skills, knowledge acquired- Development is not linear (Blake & Peterman, 1985)

Transformation?

Transformation: Allowing students to internally experience and grow based upon an experience (i.e. internship); an operation of change.

What are the 5 Stages of an Internship?I. AnticipationII. DisillusionmentIII. ConfrontationIV. CompetenceV. Culmination

Anticipation“Many of us seem to have a lot of self-doubt about our capacities and what is manageable for us. It would seem that after all the required academics we would not have these feelings, but apparently not.” ~ Student Journal Entry

Associated Concerns• Positive Expectations• Anxieties

Self: Role, Ability, and Appropriate Disclosure

Supervisor: Supervisory Style, Expectations of Disclosure, Perception and Acceptance

Co-workers: Organizational Structure, Acceptance

Field-site: Philosophy (norms, values), Workload Compatibility with organization, Hiring Potential

Life Context: Support System

AnticipationResponse Strategies:

• Realistic, clear, and specified Goals• Clarify and assess expectations• Make an informed commitment

Questions to ask students:1. What metaphors would you use to describe what your anticipate your

internship to be like or what your internship has felt like?2. Have you experienced feelings of fraudulence in your role as an intern? Do

you feel like you are an imposter or feel less competent based on your internship experience?

3. How do you feel your internship is going (thoughts, feelings, and emotions)?

Disillusionment

“The interpersonal work is the critical aspect of any internship – graduate or undergraduate. It is also the most difficult for most people.”~ Student Journal Entry

Associated Concerns• Unexpected Emotions: Frustration, Anger, Confusion, and Panic• Adequacy of Skills (feeling of less competent or over competent)• Breath of Demands (too demanding or not enough demand)• Relationship with Clients (uncertainty)• Operating Values of Organization (conflicting)• Disappointment with Supervisor/Co-workers• Drop in Energy, Morale, and Commitment• Sense of “What’s wrong with my internship?”

Disillusionment

Response Strategies• Acknowledge gap• Normalize Feelings and Behaviors• Acknowledge and Clarify Specific Issues• Acknowledge and Clarify Feelings• Refer to the 8 Steps of Change• Don’t rescue the student…let them solve it

Questions to ask students:1. What are your impressions about the population you are working with (e.g.

supervisors, co-workers, clients or customers)2. What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced in the workplace?3. In what ways does your supervisor’s managerial style match your own? In

what ways does it differ?

4. How do your co-workers seem to respond to your role as an intern?

Confrontation

“If students don’t have a chance to address their fears by having the chance to prove themselves, then at graduation they will walk away with the same fears instead of having overcome them.”~ Student Journal Entry

Associated Concerns• Achieve Independence• Gain Confidence• Experience Effectiveness• Changes in Opportunities• Interpersonal & Intrapersonal Tones (lack of morale)

Confrontation

Response Strategies• Reassess Goals and Expectations• Reassess Support Systems• Develop Specific Strategies

Questions to ask students:1. Now that you are further into your internship experience, how do you feel it

is going?2. How connected do you feel you are with your organization, clientele,

supervisor, co-workers, etc.?3. What kind of feedback have you received from you supervisor, co-workers,

clientele, etc.?

Competence

“Things that didn’t seem to come together have finally come together.”~ Student Journal Entry

Associated Concerns• High Accomplishment• Investment in Work• Quality Supervision• Ethical Issues• Worthwhile Tasks• Home/Self/Career Issues (dealing with creating balance)• They are generally very happy and comfortable with where they are at and

what they are doing in the internship• It is at this state where the student expects to be and wants to be when

initially beginning an internship

Competence

Response Strategies• Share concerns openly• Develop coping strategies• See the organization for what it is: (i.e. who to eat lunch with, who to go

to for what, what type of work is expected, etc.)

Questions to ask students:1. What have been some of your accomplishments thus far in your internship?2. What ethical dilemmas have you dealt with in your internship?3. What behaviors or values do you associate with being professional?4. Think about someone you met through your internship who meets your

definition of professional. What is it about this individual that you find particularly admirable?

Ethical Issues Facing Interns

Internship Issues:• Competence in doing the work• Frequency and focus of supervision• Diversity awareness• Limitations in scope of internship• Dressing for the role of intern• Relationships with supervisors and co-workers• Personal disclosures• Political influences• Behaving consistently with community standards and expectations• Responsibility to confront unethical/illegal behaviors

Culmination

“I’ve been taking in as much information as I can before ‘it’s all over’ and have been concerned with career goals. The past couple of weeks have just been filled with an overwhelming amount of anxieties and mixed emotions.”~Student Journal Entry

Associated Concerns• Termination with Clients• Case Management Issues• Redefine Relationships with: Supervisor, Co-workers, Faculty/Adviser, and

Peers• Ending Studies• Post-internship Plans• This stage serves as a major role in the student’s academic life

Culmination

Response Strategies• Identify Feelings• Recognize unfinished business• Final supervisor meeting• Collegial gathering• Introspective/reflective writing

Questions to ask students:1. What feelings do you have about ending your experience with your internship

site?2. What will be most difficult about ending your internship?3. Thinking about your supervisor, what have you learned from them? What

have you most appreciated? What do you wish had been different?4. What are your plans following this internship?

Finale

1. Students can expect to go through these predictable internal stages of growth in any internship, job or relationship

2. Allow them to go through the ups and downs of the internship and growth and learning will follow

3. They decide what pace to go…they are their own engine4. Their rate of progress through the stages is affected by the # of hours at the

agency, previous fieldwork or internship experience, their personality, the style of supervision, and the nature of the work

5. Paying attention to what they are learning, rather than dwelling on what they are not, will help them get back on track

6. The most growth will occur when “Associated Concerns” are resolved effectively

7. Remember that they are in search of a meaningful experience…so encourage them to make the most of their internship experience…be a sponge

8. Their internship experience will be unique; their experience may differ from other interns at the same site or from previous experiences they may have had

9. Encourage them to take risks…face their fears…success will follow!

Further Reflection1. As you read the description of the stages of an internship, did anything

seem remotely familiar?

2. Did the stages remind you of any other experiences you have had?

3. Was there one particular stage or concern that stuck out to you or attracted your attention? Why?

4. What other issues were raised based upon your experience that may not have been mentioned?

Questions/Comments

Thank You!