TIPS FOR FINDING A FOURTH
YEAR EXTERNSHIP
- Determine what sort
of placement you would like to have
- Would you like a
placement with breadth (a little bit of everything) or depth (in depth in
one or a few areas)?
- Typically a
private practice or an ENT office will offer experience in many aspects of
audiology. A pediatric or educational placement will offer much more
experience in a limited area of audiology.
- Are you restricted
in the location in which you are looking?
- Being flexible
and able to relocate opens up many more opportunities. If you are unable
or unwilling to relocate, you may need to work a little harder to find an
externship. While the mid-Atlantic region is saturated with Au.D.
programs, it is not impossible to find an externship in this area.
- You want to begin
thinking about what you are looking for in an externship one year prior to
proposed start date.
- Create/gather
important documents
- Be sure to keep
these documents updated (end/start of semester, moving, new job, etc.).
- Be sure that these
documents have a professional appearance. They are often viewed before any
contact is made and will likely serve as the site's first impression of you.
- Ask if you need
help or want someone to review/proofread your documents. Audiology faculty
and The Career Center at
Towson University are great resources. Also, sample documents can be
found online.
- Begin
creating/gathering these documents once you have decided what type of
placement you are seeking.
- Introduction/Cover
Letter
- Areas that may
be included: why you are applying (viewed ad, saw website, word of mouth,
etc.), introduction of yourself, statement of your goals or purposes,
important information not listed on resume (when you hope to start, length
of externship), why you chose this site, clinical experiences, strengths
and weaknesses, experience you hope to gain, etc.
- Reference List
- Ask
several faculty members and/or clinical supervisors if they would serve as
a reference for you as you search for your externship. Be sure that these
people know you well and will serve as a positive reference. Keep a list
of these people and their contact information. This may be included in the
resume or may be listed on an additional page.
- Resume/Vita
- Should be one to
two pages.
- Objective:
Customize to the setting to which you are applying. An example for a
private practice or ENT office may be "to gain a fourth year externship in
a fast-paced practice with diverse audiologic services and a varied
patient population".
- Educational
History: Undergraduate
degree(s) and graduate program. May list GPA, classes taken that are
appropriate for your potential setting, leadership positions, and anything
else relevant.
- Clinical
Experience: List clinical
sites with brief description of services delivered and patients served.
- Professional
Experience: List any
professional jobs, such as graduate assistantships or research positions.
- Proficiencies:
Include any languages, computer skills, and clinical skills that will help
out on the job.
- Awards/Honors:
List any awards/scholarships/honors received.
- Others: Other
areas may be added, such as professional memberships and references.
- Begin the Search
- Word of mouth
- Contact
audiologists in the area in which you are looking.
- Contact
off-campus clinical supervisors to see if they know of any openings.
- Contact any
undergraduate faculty members to see if they know of any openings.
- Internet
- Gather Information
and Make Contact
- Find as much
information as possible about the position, location, employees.
- Check for a
website, word of mouth, etc.
- Submit necessary
documents via their preferred method.
- May be
submitting documents online, sending documents via mail or fax, phone
calls, and emails.
- Can give
information to the Audiology Clinic Administrator, who will make contact
within two to three weeks.
- This should take
place about six months before you anticipate beginning your externship.
- Interviewing
- You may need to
travel to the location for an interview, which may include flying, staying
overnight, driving, etc.
- Be professional in
your appearance and demeanor. Dress for success!
- If you don't know
something, don't make it up. Be honest and be yourself.
- Be prepared to
answer questions regarding the externship year, such as responsibilities of
the supervisor, what you expect from the site, what Towson expects from
them, issues related to feedback and site visits, etc.
- Be prepared to
answer questions about your motivation, pros and cons of the setting, why
you are a good match with the practice, hypothetical audiology situations,
etc.
- This should take
place during the semester prior to beginning your externship.
- Being Offered a
Position
- Once an offer is
extended, explain that while you are very excited, you must discuss
the situation with the faculty at Towson.
- Be sure that all
questions are answered on both sides.
- Discuss offer with
Ms. Stevens.
- DO NOT make any
commitments to accept a
position until authorized to do so by the Audiology Clinic Administrator.
- Accepting Offer
- Once cleared by
Ms. Stevens, accept the offer politely.
- Be prepared to
discuss starting date, stipend amount, etc.
- Keep in contact
with your externship site. Stay updated on the finalization of paperwork.
Congratulations!
Enjoy your Externship!
