Finding a social work internship can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out:

  • where to look
  • how to approach supervisors professionally
  • how to stand out without extensive experience
  • or how to secure a placement that actually supports your long-term career goals


Many students send unanswered emails, struggle to find clinical opportunities, or feel unsure how to market themselves professionally during the placement process.

At the same time, internships are much more than “just completing hours.”

The right placement can help you:

  • build professional confidence
  • develop clinical and professional skills
  • strengthen your resume
  • build networking connections and references
  • explore future career paths
  • and potentially open doors to future opportunities


This workshop was created to help students approach the internship process more strategically, professionally, and confidently.

While this workshop focuses on internships and placements, many of the strategies discussed -  including networking, outreach, professional positioning, and relationship-building - are highly transferable to future job opportunities and long-term career development within social work.

Whether you are currently searching for a placement, preparing for future internships, exploring therapy-focused career paths, or hoping to strengthen your professional networking skills, this workshop will help you better understand how placements work, and how to position yourself more competitively and professionally throughout the process.


In This Workshop, We’ll Cover:


Understanding How Social Work Internships Work

  • How placements are typically structured
  • School-supported vs self-directed placements
  • Common misconceptions about internships


How to Find Internship Opportunities

  • Where to actually look for placements
  • Networking and relationship-building strategies
  • How to uncover opportunities beyond formal postings
  • Using volunteering, externships, and connections strategically


Marketing Yourself to Potential Supervisors

  • How to position your strengths and transferable skills professionally
  • Understanding the supervisor perspective and workload
  • How to stand out even without extensive clinical experience


What to Look for (and Watch Out for) in a Placement

  • Signs of a strong learning environment
  • Supervision considerations
  • Questions to ask before accepting
  • Red flags and warning signs
  • Choosing placements strategically based on long-term goals


How to Make the Best Use of Your Internship

  • Building professional relationships
  • Maximizing learning opportunities
  • Developing clinical and professional skills
  • Turning placements into future opportunities and references
  • Building confidence and career direction through experience

Included With Your Registration

In addition to the workshop, you’ll also receive:

  • SOCIAL WORK RESUME TEMPLATE: to help you position your experience, transferable skills, and strengths more effectively.

  • OUTREACH EMAIL TEMPLATES: Professionally written templates to help you contact potential supervisors confidently and professionally.

  • PLACEMENT TRACKER: A practical system for organizing outreach, follow-ups, interviews, and placement opportunities.

  • INTERVIEW PREPERATION RESOURCES: Common questions, preparation strategies, and guidance to help you feel more confident during placement interviews.

  • REPLAY ACCESS: Access to the workshop replay so you can revisit the material and resources afterward.

Who This Workshop Is For

  • Social work students looking for a placement or internship

  • Social workers exploring career growth and professional networking opportunities

  • Aspiring therapists seeking to gain clinical experience

About the Presenter

Michelle Bruxer is the founder of MSW Helper, a platform supporting aspiring social workers and helping professionals through education, advising, application support, and career development resources. Through MSW Helper, Michelle has worked with hundreds of students navigating social work education pathways, professional development, and career planning. In addition to supporting students, Michelle has also supervised, interviewed, and hired dozens of social work students and early-career professionals throughout her career. This experience has provided insight into both the student and organizational perspectives of internships, professional networking, and career development within the field.

Registration

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or wanting a more strategic approach to internships, networking, and professional positioning within social work, this workshop was created to help make the process feel clearer, more manageable, and more intentional.