Externship Resources

One of the most important times in your education is the externship.  Externships give you the opportunity to see how the skills and theories you have been learning about in class apply to the professional world.  Many students find that their externships lead to future employment.

In addition to reviewing everything you have learned in your classes, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for your externship.  Visit our Career Services Department for a good overview and for advice.  Update your résumé.  Speak with IHE alumni who can share their externship experiences.

Of course, you know your library has some resources that could be useful.  You can use our online catalog and/or look in the following sections of the bookshelves:

HF5381-5386 Vocational guidance, career development

LB3602-3640 School life, student manners and customs

R735-854 Medical education, medical school, research (for health-related externships)

Here is a sample of our books that could be helpful:

• 100% Job Search Success by Amy Solomon, MS, OTR; Gwenn Wilson, M. A.; Lori Tyler, MS; and Terry Taylor., Ph.D. (call number HF5382.75.U6 S58 2012, ISBN 9781111351656)

• Career Development for Health Professionals:  Success in School & on the Job by Lee Haroun (call number R690 .H377 2011, ISBN 9781437706734)

• Professionalism:  Skills for Workplace Success by Lydia E. Anderson, Sandra B. Bolt (call number HF5381.6 .A53 2011, ISBN 9780135063880)

Remember that an externship is a job as well as course.  These books have information on résumé writing, professionalism, networking, dressing for success, and other skills that you’ll need in order to develop your career starting with your externship.

• 100% Externship Success by Carol Silvis (call number LB3611 .S55 2009, ISBN 9781418015497)

For the publisher description, click here.

• 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions by Ron Fry (call number HF5549.5 .I6F75 2007, ISBN 9781418040000) 

Many organizations want to interview potential externships.  How can you handle the interview process?  This book gives examples of interview questions and suggestions for answering them, helping you present yourself well.

• Excelling in the Externship:  A Preparation Guide for Medical Assisting and Allied Health by Kimberly Halverson-Bender (call number R847 .H35 2010, ISBN 9780135016824)

This book is written specifically for externships in the allied health fields, so it is full of relevant information, including the connections between your externship and career.

If you know any other good resources or would like to share your externship experiences, comment below.