Careers and Employability Service
What can I do with a Degree in Psychology?
Nicola Urquhart
Careers Adviser
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
What we will cover
• The graduate labour market
• What do employers want?
• What skills do psychology
graduates have?
• What do psychology graduates do:
the jobs they get
their typical employers
the further courses they study
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
The graduate labour market in 2013
• Approximately 30% - 40% of
vacancies are open to graduates
with a degree from any discipline
• Employers increasingly focusing
on professional attributes in
addition to transferable skills
• Relevant work experience
increasingly important
• Need for students to think earlier
about their employability
• Employers are expecting to
increase their graduate
recruitment by 2.7% in 2013
What do employers want?
Commercial Awareness
Work Experience
Professional attributes
Extra-Curricular
Activities
Employability skills
Degree awarded at 2.1 or above
What is a career?
• Career choice is not an
event or occasion
• Career choice is a
process
The Challenge
“it can be difficult for psychology
students to become employment
focused because of the breadth
of the degree and its openendedness”
What skills do Psychology graduates have?
• Communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Information technology
• Handling of data/statistics
• Problem-solving
• The ability to work in teams
• Research skills!
Skills and attributes that graduate recruiters are
looking for?
Communication
Adaptability
Self awareness
Leadership
Energy
Contextual/cultural awareness
Report writing
Problem Solving
Adaptability
Numeracy
Positive attitude
Reflection
Confidence
Team working
Integrity
Capacity to develop
Reliability
Drive and resilience
Project management
IT skills
Business and
customer awareness
Enterprise
Enthusiasm/passion
Planning and organisation
Maturity
Jobs directly related to subject
Jobs directly related to your degree
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/howbecome-psychologist/types-psychologists/types-psychologists
•
Clinical Psychologist
•
Counselling Psychologist
•
Educational Psychologist
•
Forensic Psychologist
•
Health Psychologist
•
Occupational Psychologist
•
Teaching Psychology
Jobs directly related to your degree
Educational Psychologist
•
concerned with children and young people in
educational and early years settings – tackle
challenges such as social and emotional
problems, issues around disability as well as
more complex developmental disorders
•
Work mainly in schools, colleges, nurseries and
special units (most employed by LAs)
Jobs directly related to your degree
Clinical Psychologist
•
deal with a range of mental and physical health
problems including addiction, anxiety, depression,
learning difficulties and relationship issues
•
Work largely in health and social care settings such
as hospitals, health centres, community mental
health teams, child and adolescent mental health
services and social services (most employed by
NHS)
Jobs directly related to your degree
Forensic Psychologist
•
concerned with psychological aspects of legal
processes in courts, applying psychological theory
to criminal investigation, understanding
psychological problems associated with criminal
behaviour and the treatment of those who have
committed offences.
•
Work mainly in rehabilitation units, secure hospitals,
social services and in university departments (most
employed by HM Prison Service )
Jobs directly related to your degree
Sports and Exercise Psychologist
•
concerned with helping athletes to prepare
psychologically for the demands of competition
and training
•
Work mainly in universities and private practice.
Jobs directly related to your degree
Occupational Psychologist
•
concerned with enhancing the effectiveness of
organisations and developing the performance,
motivation and well-being of people in the workplace
•
Work with organisations and businesses of all sizes
across the private , public and third sector (most
employed by Civil Service and in private practices )
Jobs directly related to your degree
Psychological Well-being Practitioner
•
developed to deliver recommended low and high
intensity interventions for people with mild,
moderate to severe depression and anxiety
disorders in a system of stepped care
•
Many places including hospitals, community centres
and rehabilitation centres
• http://www.iapt.nhs.uk/workforce/
Jobs where a psychology degree useful
•
Advertising
•
Careers Guidance
•
Counselling
•
Human Resources
•
Market Research
•
Marketing
•
Mental Health
•
Nursing
•
Occupational therapy
•
Probation Work
•
Public Relations
•
Social Research
•
Social Work
•
Youth work
Related jobs, stepping stones …
•
Care Worker
•
Social Worker
•
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
•
Mental Health Nurse / Nursing assistant
•
Healthcare Assistant
•
Research Assistant
•
Learning Support Worker
•
Sports Coach
Researching Careers
• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/clinical_psychologist_vac
ancy_sources.htm
• Overview of the sector
• Job descriptions
• Salary and conditions
• Entry requirements
• Training
• Career development
• Employers and vacancy sources
• Related jobs
Jobs that are not directly related to your
degree
Many employers value
the skills you have
gained more than the
subject
Graduate Schemes
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/graddirectories.htm
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.get.hobsons.co.uk
• www.targetjobs.co.uk
• www guardianuk300.com
• www.top100graduateemployers.com
• www.kent.ac.uk/ces/vacancies.html
Example Graduate Schemes
• Accenture
• Ernest & Young
• Aldi
• EU Careers
• Arcadia
• IBM
• BAE Systems
• L’Oreal
• BBC
• Mars
• Bloomberg
• McDonalds
• British Sugar
• MI5
• Cancer Research UK
• National Grid
• Deliotte
• Penguin
• DFID
• TeachFirst
• Diageo
• BBC
Example Graduate scheme (Bloomberg )
• Finance
• IT
• Media
• Sales
Example graduate scheme: DFID
• Engineering
• Finance
• General Management
• IT
• Purchasing
• Research and
Development
Postgraduate study
• Approx. 26% of Psychology
grads do PG study after
graduation
• Many students work for a year
to fund it or do it part-time
whilst working
• Normally apply middle of final
year. No UCAS can apply to
as many course as you wish
to – 3 or 4 is normal
Where to get work experience …
• Hospitals
• Schools and Colleges
• Nursing Homes
• Sports Teams
• Social Services
• Local Authorities
• Prison Service
• Rehabilitation Units
• At the University
Volunteering Opportunities
• http://kent.prospects.ac.uk/index.html
• www.kentunion.co.uk/eandv/
• http://timebank.org.uk/
• www.do-it.org.uk
• http://vinspired.com/
• http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
• Speculative approaches
Page 28
Using Social Media to Job Search
Twitter
• Follow organisations @BPSOfficial
•
•
•
•
@PsychologyNow @PsychAssistant
Follow @unikentemploy
Get industry updates
www.twitjobsearch.com
Remember everything is public
Page 29
Facebook
• ‘Like’ company pages (Civil Service Fast
Stream, NHS Management Scheme )
• ‘Like’ https://www.facebook.com/UKCES
• Is your profile professional enough?!
Page 30
LinkedIn
• www.linkedin.com
• Search for jobs.
• Use key words in your profile.
• Follow companies.
• Connect with people in the industry.
• Join relevant groups.
Websites to become familiar with
• www.bps.org.uk
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/
• www.kent.ac.uk/ces/l
• https://chpccp.leeds.ac.uk/
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/psychology/employability/
Job Websites
(only a selection!)
• www.jobs.nhs.uk/
• www.psychapp.co.uk
• www.psychminded.co.uk/jobs.htm (including
Assistant Psychologist positions
• www.kca.org.uk
(also offer work based placements)
• www.mentalhealthjobs.co.uk
• www.justice.gov.uk/jobs
(includes Research Assistant
Posts)
HM Prison Service, Probation Trusts (35)
• jobs.communitycare.co.uk/jobs/ (including support worker roles)
• www.lgjobs.com/
Local Government Jobs
• http://voluntarysectorjobs.co.uk
What do psychology graduates do?
What do psychology graduates do? (2011)
• Employed 66%
• Further study 26%
• Unemployed 6 %
• Not available 1%
Employment examples
PSYCHOLOGY-RELATED
•
Assistant Psychologist - Kneesworth House Hospital, Brumon Hospital, Northern
Health & SS Board, Bournewood NHS, National Autistic Society, Kent &
Medway NHS Trust, Cambian Educational Services, Disabilities Trust, East
Court School for Dyslexia, Learning Assessment Centre, NHS Trusts, West Kent
NHS Social Care Trust, NHS Adult Mental Health
•
Psychologist - St Martin's Hospital
•
Psychologist - dstl
•
Psychology Research Assistant - University of Kent
•
Psychology Technician - Huntercombe Manor Hospital
•
Psychology Teacher - Kent County Council (x3)
•
Psychology Lecturer - Canterbury College
Employment examples
EDUCATION
•
Classroom Assistant (x2) - Horndon-on-the-Hill, Noble School
•
Learning Support Assistant (x5) - Axcis Education, Catholic School, Wyvern School, Secondary School (x2)
•
Lecturer (x3) - Canterbury College, University of Derby, Oaklands College
•
Psychology Research Assistant (x2) - University of Kent (x2)
•
Teaching Assistant (x4) - Hong Kong, Weald of Kent Grammar School, JET Programme (Japan), Greenwich
•
Youth Trainer - NACRO
•
Retail Management Trainee - Matalan
HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE
•
Care Assistant (x4) - Oast trust, Essex Social Services, Learning Disabilities School etc
•
Counsellor - Samaritans
•
Hostel Worker - Cambridge Cyreneans
•
Nursing Assistant (x3) - City of London Health Authority, New Sussex Hospital, St. Martin's Hospital
•
Probation Services Officer (x3) - Hertfordshire Probation Service, Kent Probation Service (x2)
•
Rehabilitation Support - Libra Health Group
•
Residential Social Worker (x2) - Hammersmith & Fulham, Ravenswood Village
•
Social Care Worker - Sussex Autistic Community Trust
•
Special Needs Assistant (X2) - Haringey Education Support, West Sussex County Council
•
Therapeutic Teacher - Caldecott Community
Further study examples
•
PhD - Kent, Greenwich, Institute of Psychiatry
•
MPhil - Kent
•
MSc (eg in Developmental, Forensic, Health, Occupational, Social) - Kent, Bristol,
Southampton, Cranfield, Essex, Guy's Hospital, London, LSE, UCL, Manchester,
Oxford, Nottingham, Sheffield
•
MSc HR Management - Middlesex
•
MSc Nursing - Essex
•
MSc Occupational Therapy - Essex
•
MSc Research Methods - Kent, Liverpool, Reading
•
MA - Brunel, Canterbury Christchurch, Kent, King’s College London, Lancaster,
Oxford Brookes, SOAS
•
MA Social Work - many & various
•
PGCE (Primary & Secondary Teacher Training) - many & various
•
PG Dip Psychotherapy - Kent
•
PG Dip Mental Health - Southampton
•
PG Dip Speech Therapy - Greenwich
•
Graduate Diploma in Law - College of Law
What if I’m still stuck?
• Make the most of
opportunities (planned
happenstance)
• Think about it little and
often
• Make an appointment
to speak to a careers
adviser
How the Careers and Employability Service can
help you.
What we do
• Careers Talks and Workshops
• Careers Library: Employer Directories, Occupational Profiles, Books etc
• Comprehensive Web Pages
• Careers Employability Award (CEM) on Moodle
• Vacancy Database
• Alumni Careers Network
• Annual Careers and Recruitment Fair
• Drop In - Quick Query
• Careers Guidance Interviews
Careers and Employability Service
Web Site: www.kent.ac.uk/ces
Careers and Employability Service Web Pages
• I want to work in ….
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/psychology.htm
• What can I do with my degree in
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychol.htm
• Choosing a Career
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCare
er.htm
• Interviews (includes assessment centres and
psychometric tests etc.)
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm
• Example CVs & Covering Letters
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
• Employability Skills
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm
Careers Employability Award
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm
 The module takes about 12 hours to complete
 But this can be done at your own pace
You do this by completing:
 9 quizzes
 3 short assignments
 1 feedback form
Comments from students who have completed
the award.
• “I liked the fact that the assignments relate to how you
would fill in answers on a graduate job application step
by step and provides examples of how to fill it in.”
• “I really enjoyed the quizzes. They effectively
highlighted the gaps in my knowledge, as many of the
answers surprised me. I also found the module on
creating my own CV very useful, these skills will be
invaluable for tailoring my CV to particular jobs.”
• “There is a wealth of information about everything; I
especially liked the individual information about
specific job types and the advice given about interview
skills.”
Vacancy Database
• All vacancies sent to the Careers and Employability
Service by employers, whether for graduate jobs,
sandwich placements or vacation
work/internships are entered on this database
which offers:
• Email alerts of new vacancies which may interest
you
• Employers notifying vacancies are often
specifically targeting Kent graduates, so
competition for jobs is lower than on other
vacancy sites
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm
Attend Careers Talks and Workshops.
• A Career in Sales
• Champions Life Academy
• The Network
• CRCC (Asia, China Internship
Programme )
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/calendar/
(Student Skills and Employability)
• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casev
ents.htm
Speak to an adviser:
• Quick query, drop in and
speak to an adviser
10.30am -12.30pm and
2.00pm-4pm Monday to
Friday.
• E mail
careerhelp@kent.ac.uk and
an adviser will respond to
your query.
• You can also book a longer
career guidance
appointment over the phone
or pop in.
Action Points
• Gain relevant work experience (Work Experience Scheme)
• Gain relevant research experience (Research Experience Scheme
– 2nd Years!)
• Gain experience of working with people ‘in receipt of mental health
services’
• Learn to reflect and to relate even what may seem menial tasks to
your learning!
• Use Social Media in your networking and job search
•
Don’t give up, on average it takes 3 years from graduation to a
place on a doctoral course
• Make use of the Careers and Employability Service
Careers and Employability Service
You can download a copy of this presentation
at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm