1. Nigel Royle Careers and Employability Service
1st Year Psychology
Nigel Royle
Careers and Employability Service

2. Broad career pathways and researching your career Career planning, skills awareness
Opportunities to develop your employability while at university
On line Career Centre resources

3. Psychology BPS professional areas
This slide shows all the BPS recognised branches and all of these routes will require further specialised study which many of the speakers later on will explain their own branches. For any of the others who are not represented today the Bps website is a uesful resources detailing all the accredited courses for each branch of the discipline.
What proportion of students go on to qualify for branch registration?
Difficult to give an accurate figure but probably between 10 and 20%.
Most psychology graduates are working in other professions or careers more or less related to their first degree subject. If going into psychology perhaps look for options which are less popular.
Many have to go and gain substantial work experience outside and apply for courses later voluntary/paid – may have part time jobs other work etc.
Courtesy of BPS website

4. Psychology/ Social Science
Other Career Directions
Teaching, Social work, Nursing, OT, Guidance, Addiction, Welfare Rights, housing, advice and support work, psychology
HR, Management, marketing, finance, IT, communications, logistics, recruitment, sales, public sector management, Law
Psychology/ Social Science
Grad
Social
Media
Research
Business
Journalism, film, TV production, communications/PR
Security Services MI6, MI5, GCHQ, civil service, Police work and Prisons service
Security and government
Academic Research
Social Research
Government research

5. How do career plans emerge?
Eureka moment?
I’ve always wanted to ….
My careers adviser, teacher, etc told me I should
Trial and error
Part time job leads on to a full time job
Networking/connections
Advertised jobs
Line of least resistance

6. Researching your career options
BPS.org.uk ,
prospects.ac.uk
(what can I do with my degree)
(What jobs would suit me questionnaire)
Post grad study search
Targetjobs.co.uk
On line career centre

7. Employers like Psychologists…. especially when they can show
Strong Scientific principles and rigour
Numerate and statistical techniques
An understanding of human behaviour, motivation, learning processes, communication, individual differences, how the mind processes information etc
People based skills – communicating, helping , supporting, listening, questioning
Research skills
Analysis, critical thinking
Initiative
This slide describes some of the particular skills that Psychologists accumulate throughout their studies whilst gaining knowledge of their subject matter
It is particularly important that you articulate these to employers.
Do employers want these skills – invariably yes.

8. UWS and HEAR Higher Education Achievement Record
UWS graduates onwards
Transcript of modules plus +
Section 6 Additional verifiable Activities
Awards and prizes
Students Union
Agreed university student roles and activities

9. How to improve your Employability.
PLACEMENTS and WORK EXPERIENCE
GAP YEAR
PART-TIME WORK
How to improve your Employability.
VOLUNTEERING
Enterprise RELATED ACTIVITIES
Student Rep.
Student Union Activities
ENTERPRISE
Business Games and Competitions
Hobbies/interests

10. Voluntary experience – examples
One Giant leap (Sense Scotland) Activity Assistants (mental health) Renfrewshire Association for Mental health Circles Network – Mental health advocacy Samaritans Bipolar Scotland NHS volunteers
work with people with mental health problems.

11. Get active within University
Student Societies
Student Campaigns/
Sustainability Hub volunteers
Student representative
Student Guides
Routes for All
STEM Ambassadors
Peer Assisted Student support

12. UWS Volunteer Recognition Award
Get university recognition for skills gained through your volunteer activity
Student reps, sports clubs, societies and any
External volunteering
Awards: classic, leadership and strategic depending on level of responsibility
Register on Banner.
Follow guidelines on VRA moodle module

13. Enterprise Initiatives :
SIE intern Paisley - Tanja Paivarinta - Tuesday 1st November from 11am to 1pm Student Hub - Fresh Ideas challenge UWS Enterprise Services Discuss business and innovation ideas with Gillian Fleming (Accelerator programmes, funding, enterprise skills development)

14. Enterprise workshop Workshop: “Future proof your degree”
Thinking about the future world of work in a systematic way, pondering what products and services may crop up in your field
Paisley Campus A100 16th November :00

15. UWS Careers Service
Professional advice on your CV, application and interview
Professional career guidance
On line vacancy site
Volunteering, part time work, internships

16. On line Careers Centre

17. Booking a careers appointment or event
For appointments from next week….
Go to and follow the link to new on line careers centre
Sign up using your university network log in
Click on my calendar and choose your campus
Select a suitable appointment time
Job done!

18. Key messages for YOUR career
Many career paths are open to psychologists
Start your Careers planning now
Register with the On line Careers Centre
Use the self assessment resources to get ahead
Look for additional activities to stand out

19. Thank you!