Clinical work experience is often necessary in order to reach certain career goals in the fields of medicine and psychology. If you need clinical work experience, there are steps you can take to get what you need through a combination of education and volunteer work. Networking is an important tool that you can use to find opportunities in a competitive environment, but even so, it often takes persistence to find the work that you need. Speaking with local physicians, psychologists, and labs can sometimes help you gain an edge in finding a site.
A good way to gain clinical work experience initially, without prior experience, is to seek out opportunities to volunteer. Hospitals and psychological facilities will sometimes accept volunteers to help with patients doing various tasks. This is a good way to meet people who can help you to get hired as an intern, or in a clinical environment in the future, by providing you with references. If you do a good job volunteering, the facility will sometimes offer you a position, if it knows that you are interested in working for it.
There are opportunities to find clinical work experience as a student during undergraduate or graduate school as well. Some colleges and universities have research labs or medical clinics where students can volunteer to work for class credit. Talk to your advisor about your goal to work in a clinical setting and he or she might be able to assist you in finding a position. Students will often automatically have help finding internships at facilities in many graduate-level programs in psychology, counseling, and social work.
It is often necessary to be persistent in your goal of finding clinical work experience, as healthcare is a competitive field. Consider looking in rural areas around you, if any are available, and talking with local doctors. Explain what you are trying to accomplish and make sure to market your skills and abilities when speaking with them. This can sometimes lead to an opportunity that was created just for you.
Contact numerous sites when looking for a clinical setting to work or volunteer in. If you give up easily, there is a good chance that you will not find what you need to be successful. Ask if there will be openings in the future and check back occasionally to find out if anyone has left so that you can fill his or her spot.
