1. NIBPS & PSI Joint Careers Event What to do with your psychology degree
Dr Barbara McConnell
Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Studies

2. Overview What next after doing your degree?
Marketing yourself effectively
Questions

3. What next after doing your degree?
Overview
What next after doing your degree?

4. Why study psychology? 2nd most studied degree in UCAS
2014, graduates in psychology
20/25% of all graduates go onto further study in psychology in subsequent years

5. Psychology Graduate Destinations – Class of 2014 - HECSU

6. Psychology Graduate Destinations – Class of 2014 - HECSU
Applied Psychologists

7. There are lots of professional training pathways in psychology....
Clinical Psychology
Counselling Psychology
Educational Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Health Psychology
Neuropsychology
Occupational Psychology
Sport & Exercise Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Counselling Psychology
Educational Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Health Psychology
Neuropsychology
Organisational Psychology
Sports Psychology

8. Psychology Graduate Destinations – Class of 2014 - HECSU
Career Pathways

9. Retial, childcare, legal -
Variety of Jobs

10. Why study psychology? “Least likely graduate to be unemployed – 8.3%”
“Psychology graduates are highly regarded by employers and have a good chance of finding employment. This is because the skills they acquire are transferable across many careers” HECSU, 2010
“Least likely graduate to be unemployed – 8.3%”
The latest graduate research from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (2010)
IT 16% unemployment

11. Skills gained studying a psychology degree
Communicate effectively, both face-to-face or in writing.
Understand, analyse and use complex data.
Retrieve and organise information from different sources.
Handle primary source material critically.
Engage in effective team work.
Solve problems and reason scientifically to consider alternative approaches and solutions.
Make critical judgements and evaluations to gain different perspectives on a question.
Be sensitive to contextual and interpersonal factors, including behaviour and social interaction.
Use personal planning and project management skills to become more independent and pragmatic.
Be computer literate
Psychologists have a diverse range of skills, from effective communication to planning and project management.
On completing an accredited psychology undergraduate or conversion programme, you would have the skills to:
comprehend and use data sufficiently by understanding, analysing and presenting complex ideas
retrieve and organise information successfully through various sources
engage in effective team work
problem solve and reason scientifically to consider alternative approaches and solutions
make critical judgements and evaluations to gain different perspectives on a variety of issues
be sensitive to contextual and interpersonal factors, including behaviour and social interaction
use personal planning and project management skills to become more independent and pragmatic

12. Mature attitude attentiveness Respond to others
Interest in people

13. What lies ahead for the Psychology Class of 2016?
So what lies ahead of the 2016 class of psychology graduates
More difficult in some ways – tough market, increased competition
But also more opportunities and greater awareness of opportunities
Important for you to market yourself, know your skills, strengths and experiences
Skills that are relevant to applied psychologist are also marketable to all employers
Whatever path you choose, it is important that you navigate the graduate recruitment market effectively. This means understanding what graduate recruiters want, developing the skills and gaining the experience required for success and marketing those skills and experience effectively.

14. 2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
Good grades are important but they don’t differentiate you any more – they are becoming a ticket to apply for a job

15. The ‘perfect’ graduate applicant
Work experience
EmployabilitySkills
Drive & motivation
Academic achievement
Understands the role
& organisation
Engaged with their community

16. Employability Skills – What?
Psychologists are best placed to gain excellent employability skills because of the very nature of psychology and the degree they study
But in additional to the skills leaned through your degree, you can gian skills

17. Employability Skills – How?
Work experience – part-time / summer jobs
Internships
Volunteering
Clubs & societies
Class Rep / Peer Mentor / Student Ambassador
Student competitions

18. Marketing yourself effectively
Overview
Marketing yourself effectively

20. Matchmaking What is the employer looking for?
Qualifications
Experience
Knowledge
Skills/competencies
How do you match up – (evidence-based)
Read between the lines – what do they really need?

21. CV’s & Applications Top Tips
Good structure & presentation
Tailored
Skills section – give evidence!
Complete yet concise
Factual
Positive
Error free
Tailored – to the job description. Recruiters are matching you against job duties & criteria – do you fit?
Make the recruiters job easier..
Professional
Error free
Consistent
Appropriate Language
Give Evidence of your skills – it’s not enough to list off skills such as Teamwork, Communication – give some concise examples of these in work or in college
Good structure & presentation
Tailored
Complete yet concise
Factual
Positive

22. 30 seconds to make a good impression…

23. Strong, clear verbs Planned Organised Designed Analysed Presented
Delivered
Developed

24. Cover Letters – so important!
Always accompany your CV with a cover letter
An opportunity for you to personalise your application – to stand out, 1st chance to make a strong impression
To demonstrate your suitability for the job by focusing on key strengths & experience

25. Be a STAR at interviews Situation: Describe the situation or problem.
Task: Describe the task you had to
complete / role you were assigned
Action: Describe the actions you took to complete the task successfully and any obstacles your overcame.
Result: Highlight outcomes achieved.

26. Play the recruitment game
Telephone interviews
One to one interviews
Group interviews
Assessment centres
An effective application gets you an interview
.. Your application has done it’s job

27. Assessment Centres Presentations Group exercises Individual exercises
Psychometric testing
Competency based interviews
Social events
Designed by psychologists to improve graduate recruitment effectiveness

28. 2013 GradIreland Graduate Salary and Graduate Recruitment Trends 2013
88% of graduate employers believe relevant work experience enhances employability
can help you find an internship both in NI and ROI

29. Internships For the company it’s… testing the waters
Avoiding risk
Assessing ‘fit’
For the graduate it’s…
Getting work experience
Putting theory into practice
Developing skills
And lots more…
Get work experience
Put the theory into practice
Enhance your CV
Develop and hone transferable skills
Build your network & make contacts
Test your career options
Potential trial run for graduate job
Earn some money

30. Top Tips for Psychology Graduates
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket - Have a plan A, & a plan B…
Know yourself
Be flexible
What’s so special about you?
Manage your own career
Quality applications - do your research
Start networking & be opportunity aware

31. Resources www.bps.org.uk ww.psihq.ie www.prospects.ac.uk
Graduate Recruitment Tests:
70,000 hits a month mostly from graduates

32. For further information:
Web: Telephone: +44 (0)