By Sheila Mulhern

What Makes a Good Practicum?
One Student’s Perspective

I am lucky. Both my practicum experiences have been positive ones, but I can see where they may have fallen apart if I didn’t have an open relationship with my supervisors. I found clarity and flexibility to be of enormous help within the context of a practicum:

• What will the student be doing? (be specific, but open to change)
• How will the student be supervised? (be up front)
• Offer feedback (the good and the bad)

A good practicum is a challenging practicum. The problem is everyone’s definition of “challenging” will be different. Define challenge for you and then ask the student to define challenge. This clarification may work towards squashing future misunderstandings.

Communication is an absolute must. Let the student know what is going on. If it feels as though information or feedback is being hidden the student may react by withdrawing or second-guessing their abilities.

As important as it can be to “shadow” a supervisor it will become equally important to be able to “perform”. Performance really is the best way to learn. How much trust do you have in the abilities of the student? Allow the student to feel like they are doing the job of a career counsellor. Having confidence in the student goes a long way toward success.

What happens if the unexpected happens? For example, you get called to an emergency meeting and you can’t be there for a student. Have a back-up plan or a back-up supervisor. Let the student know where you are or if possible take them to the meeting.

There is no one formula for a successful practicum, but if a collaborative approach is taken, the possibility for success grows. What is success? Ask yourself. Ask the student.

Remember the student will someday be a colleague. Imagine if you had the opportunity to “teach” your current co-workers your style of career counselling. Take the opportunity to open doors, communicate, mentor and be a support to someone you may be working alongside someday. The rewards far outweigh any hassle.

Post Script: Practicum students enjoy working on projects that are creative and allow for the development of new skills. We already know the art of photocopying and tolerate it as much as you do. Of course, we understand that it is part of the job and we will do it if you ask. But also ask yourself this: If you trust us to copy, enlarge, collate and staple documents will you also trust us to be career counsellors?

Sheila Mulhern is readying to graduate from George Brown College’s Career and Work Counsellor program. Prior to her training, Sheila worked as a Special Project’s Co-ordinator at an international arts organization in Toronto. She also holds an Honours Degree in Drama and Women’s Studies from McMaster University. Sheila can be contacted at sheilamulhern@hotmail.com.

Wish to discuss this article or what has made a good practicum for you? Add your comments to our discussion group titled: What Makes a Good Practicum?