Counseling Psychology Students: Preparing for Your Practicum

Overview

Success in your practicum search begins with a clear, intentional strategy. This guide is your roadmap to finding placements at agencies and institutions where your skills make a meaningful impact, serving the populations you care about most, and aligning with your values and professional principles. Please also reference the Career Guide for Graduate Students for additional resources.

General Resources for Your Practicum Search

• Handshake — Claim your Handshake account to complete your profile, explore upcoming Career Center events, discover clinician job opportunities, and schedule 1:1 appointments with a Career Coach at the Career Center.
  
  
• Explore the Job Prep Toolkit — A comprehensive collection of resources to help you explore careers, develop your resume, practice your interviewing skills, build your network, and more.
  
  
• Networking Tools — Whatever your goals, there’s a Bronco in your corner ready to help. 
  • Bronco Exchange — An exclusive and easy-to-use platform that connects Santa Clara University students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends in a global, virtual community. 
  • LinkedIn Alumni Search — Find, connect and message Counseling Psychology alumni on LinkedIn.
    
    
• Jobscan — Use our free A.I. resume optimization tool to tailor your resume to job descriptions that interest you. Watch these tutorials to get started today.
  
  
• Counseling Psychology Resume Template — Use this template to craft a professional, polished resume that highlights your skills for the practicum fair and beyond. If you are transitioning to a new career, emphasize the transferable skills that demonstrate your potential for success as a clinician.
  
  Where to include preferred pronouns on a resume? You may choose to include your preferred pronouns on your resume, but this is not required. If you do choose to include your preferred pronouns, we suggest placing them in the header after your contact information. For example:
  
  Janet Smith
  San Jose, CA | 408-123-4567 | email@scu.edu | she/they
  
  
• Schedule a Career Coaching Appointment — Schedule a 30-minute appointment through Handshake to develop a personalized practicum search strategy. Advisors can assist with resume critiques, LinkedIn optimization, networking strategies, interview practice, and salary negotiation tips.
  
  Which career coach should you meet with?
  • Myriam Bartz, Assistant Director of Career Development for Graduate Students & Alumni
  • Trushika Desai, Graduate Career Development Intern
    
    
• Job Boards and Resources Directory — The Career Center has curated and compiled an extensive and growing list of job boards and other resources relevant to each major.
  
  
• Career Resources Directory for Diverse Populations — The Career Center has curated and compiled an extensive and growing list of resources relevant to specific affinity groups and populations.

Dressing for the Interview

Your interview attire should show that you care about your appearance and understand workplace norms. This means wearing appropriate clothing and ensuring you are clean and well-groomed. Self-presentation shapes first impressions, and first impressions matter.

Different companies may have different expectations: some require very formal attire (such as a suit or pantsuit with polished shoes), while others are more relaxed and may be fine with a blazer and slacks, or even khakis. A few may have no formal dress code at all, where jeans and sneakers are acceptable. The key is to research the company’s dress code and culture in advance and try to match it. Dress in a way that helps you feel prepared, professional, and confident so you can make the best first impression possible.

Regardless of company norms, keep these three essentials in mind:

• Start with business professional attire for your first interview (unless told otherwise).
  • Need professional attire? Visit Bucky's Closet, the free on-campus thrift store!
    
    
• Wear clothing that is clean, pressed, and coordinated. Neutral colors such as black, navy, dark gray, or brown are standard, as they keep the focus on you rather than your outfit. Bold patterns are usually best avoided, though not forbidden. Ultimately, choose attire that reflects your authentic self.
  
  
• Your outfit should help you feel confident and comfortable while making a strong impression. It’s also important to know that it is illegal for employers to discriminate based on gender or to require specific attire based on gender (e.g., men in suits, women in skirts).

Alternative Careers for Counselors and Therapists

Not all Counseling Psychology students pursue licensure. Even many students who do pursue licensure can be curious about ways to apply their training, knowledge and skill-sets to fields outside of traditional counseling and therapy. These resources can help you explore alternative careers:

• The Bad Therapist: What To Do If You Don't Want To Be a Therapist Anymore
• Marymount University: Career Paths for Counseling Graduates: Beyond the Traditional Therapy Setting
• USC Online: 6 Roles That Don’t Require Working With Patients
• William & Mary School of Education: 10 Alternative Careers for Counselors Beyond Traditional Roles

Need inspiration? Use LinkedIn to see the types of careers other Santa Clara Counseling Psychology grads have built for themselves!

Self Care and Values

Take care of your body to sustain your mental and emotional baseline. It starts with adequate sleep. Get seven to eight hours of sleep. Eat nutritious food, avoid junk food, and exercise every day. These actions are central to well-being. Practice gratitude, be kind to yourself, celebrate small wins, and have a community that supports you during the practicum process.