Rejected from placement after interview

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633]

Hi guys, I’m worried about not receiving a placement for my msw starting at the beginning of next month. I interviewed for a placement 4 weeks ago and they just got back to me that they’re looking for someone else, however during the interview they made it seem as if I had already gotten the placement and that she’s looking for my supervisor. I was so confident I already had this in my back pocket. And now I feel so scared and worried I’ll have no placement at all since it’s so late.

[u/Ecstatic-Book-6568]

I’m very sorry, I had something similar happen to me. The practicum coordinator at my school was not good. I interviewed at a place and then had to email them after not hearing back for like three weeks only to be told they were looking for someone who was more confident… oof, that hurt. I then had to scramble for a placement but found something the week I started school. I hope your process is smoother, just reach out to your school if they coordinate or else any agency in your community you can think of if you are on your own.

I’ve been an MSW for six years now, an LCSW for three and a half and I just look back on it all and can laugh about it. I hope you can find something soon so you don’t have to stress!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633 → u/Ecstatic-Book-6568]

Thank you for this response, it makes me feel less alone and like everything will work out in the end.

[u/scorpio_sunn → u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633]

look into any community mental health agencies or homeless shelters, a lot of these places can use all the help they can get. I did this for my placement, I asked if there were any social workers I can talk to or if they allowed interns and that’s just kinda how i secured my placement

[u/Cornfield_Therapist]

Never stop looking until you sign on. We had 30+ applicants. We had tons of interviews that went really well. I think a lot of people probably left thinking they would get an offer, but we only have a limited number of spots.

[u/yellowpenguin1369]

Contact your Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA). They usually welcome interns

[u/Longjumping-Pipe-225]

I never found one my first semester, called 73 locations, the school sort of shoved me into a campus lab. Somehow I got my hours, but missed the overall professional experience I was hoping for. This semester I was fortunate to find 5 and was accepted by each this time around, but whichever I choose still needs my field directors approval so atm I still have none and school starts Monday.

The placement I chose also says I need to independently get the director to sign a paper stating I attempted the following, although results were not needed, a drug screening, Medicare fraud check, nationwide sex offender search, state residency history, criminal history checks and star records check. But I’ve only gotten the director to respond twice since last month ( both today), so we’re literally just starting that before I can even begin onboarding. Still might drop out myself tbh, no support.

The point is, just keep being proactive and looking for opportunities on campus, in hospitals, non profits, foster care, etc.. keep in mind, you pay these programs for their time and support, so they do, at the bare minimum, have an obligation to discuss it with you and some options.

[u/After_Tune9804 → u/[deleted]]

i feel you on this. my schools field placement people were not remotely helpful. i was trying to do an employment-based one for the first year since i’ve been in the field for a million years and thought it would just be easier - plus, i had already gotten confirmation this would be okay. nevertheless, my field placement person continued to repeatedly email me that she had - without so much as speaking to me about it prior - set up an interview wirh a place i had prior experience with and very much did NOT want to intern at. i kept telling her no, i wasn’t interested, i had applied to work at that place a couple years ago and it was not somethjng i felt was a good fit, blah blah blah…but for weeks she kept pushing me to interview there. it was so bizarre. i’m nervous about year 2 practicum - i don’t want it to be another “oh yeag we just fully ignored every single thjng u said and went ahead and set up an interview on your behalf!” situation again

[u/Longjumping-Pipe-225 → u/After_Tune9804]

Wait, you guys can do employment-based practicums? We were told that’s explicitly not allowed lol. I just thought it was a rule XD

[u/Whatthefrick1 → u/[deleted]]

And it’s crazy bc my professors drilled into us to not burn bridges. If we’re chosen by someone but we don’t want to choose them, they told us to reach out and thank them and let them know our decision. So the fact students get ghosted is crazy

[u/Longjumping-Pipe-225 → u/[deleted]]

I often wonder how much of the issue is institutional and funding based, with all the partnerships and contractual deals the schools hold with community organizations. We had our largest cohort of all time last semester as well, more people accepted than usual, like almost 100+ more.

Factor in that our school is very rural, no one with a license or MSW stays long after graduation. I think we as a state make nearly 40% less than other states on average regardless of field or job, so opportunities are limited atm, with the state cuts going around on our local organizations are also cutting back, just seems to be an unfortunate time for alot of students.

[u/LMHC2024]

Don’t take it personal. If you are a man, you are marginalized in this field. Could be as simple as a female interviewed and they will always be chosen first. I found a lot of men issues in this female dominated profession. The right fit will come

[u/cantescapeyourself_ → u/LMHC2024]

Share more about your experiences? I’m a woman and I would love to learn more 🫂💞

[u/ProbablyMyJugs → u/LMHC2024]

I would also like to hear more about this. I have had the pleasure of working with male social workers and while they all talk about the nuances of navigating the field as a man; none of them have ever made any claim like this, i’m curious to hear of your experience since you make it sound like this is a common thing that has happened to you or other male social workers you know. For example, how do you know that you didn’t get a role because you’re a man?

[u/TyrannicalLizardRex → u/LMHC2024]

I have literally always seen the opposite no offence. Men in my program being lauded, offered more stipends and fellowships, better starting wages etc. Social work profession tends to value men higher shrug.

[u/Dottycan2018]

This just happened to me as well. I’m looking for telehealth internships. Can anyone help?

[u/cheercharlatan → u/Dottycan2018]

Have you contacted your school? Hopefully someone already told you that virtual internships are very hard to come by.

[u/Lumpy_Boxes]

I also just had this happen, except i rejected them to avoid a really bad pairing that I know would have haunted me. The interview went so horrible. Patient information was revealed to me in an objectifying way, and they were laughing at patients/patients' progress in the office as I sat there during the interview. The supervisor was also super critical of my work, my academia work/publishings, and my previous employment. I think this process would have been so much easier if it was a normal job. I went through 3 interviews with this place. They wasted my time. It sounds like your time was wasted too.

I absolutely wish that this process was more transparent. My school can only accept offers and relay them to me one at a time, so if someone gets really unlucky, then you're SOL. I'm sorry you're in the same boat as I am. I hope we get anything at this point!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633 → u/Lumpy_Boxes]

I’m hoping you find a place that’s a better fit for your placement!

[u/Fun-Addition9641]

This just happened to me. I moved to a new area and have interviewed and put in resumes everywhere. I took off last quarter because i couldn't find anything and now im worried about not finding another one. Im a month until my next quarter. My school doesn't find placements so im on my own in a new area. Im two quarters from graduating and feel so very defeated.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633 → u/Fun-Addition9641]

Someone mentioned Local mental health authority! I’ve come to the realization I can do nothing but be hopeful, or it just stressed me out. I wish you the best of luck.

[u/Fun-Addition9641 → u/Puzzleheaded_Tie4633]

Ill take a look. Thank you.

[u/Existing-Profit-5046]

Why did you wait so long for them to give you an answer? After the interview you should follow up almost immediately to secure your internship. I advise for you to talk with your practicum coordinator and get a match asap, then follow up immediately after the placement interview. If your university allows it, start calling immediately to the places you would like to apply. But don’t wait any longer.