SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

CAREER PLANNING GUIDEwww.ljmu.ac.uk/careers 1A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCES, INSIGHT & SUPPORT SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES Read student and graduate case studies from the School of Psychology

WORK EXPERIENCE

I am working as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist based at Lancaster University on the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology course. Since graduating I spent ten months working at a local department store while applying for relevant jobs in psychology. I also assisted for a short period of time on a Mindfulness Project at LJMU, observing and co-delivering groups to research participants. I then spent six months as an honorary assistant psychologist, followed by eight months as a full-time assistant psychologist both within a complex trauma service (four months into this post I obtained a place on the Doctorate).

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Future aims I hope to qualify as a clinical psychologist in July 2017. At the moment I am unsure of what area I want to specialise in… luckily for me I have two years to decide!

Clinical psychologists work largely in health and social care settings such as hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and social services. They often work in a team with other health professionals and practitioners. Most are employed by the National Health Service (NHS), but some work in private practice.

A significant number of psychology graduates are interested in a career in clinical psychology. Following your degree course in Applied Psychology at LJMU, you would need to complete the three-year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. There are 32 different universities that run this training course. The majority of universities running this course offer NHS-funded places. Many of these universities require a 2:1 or above in your first degree.

CurrentlyPSYCHOLOGY

WHAT IS IT?

Clinical psychology aims to reduce psychological distress and to enhance the promotion of psychological wellbeing. Clinical psychologists deal with a wide range of mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues. They may undertake a clinical assessment to investigate a client’s situation. There are a variety of methods available including psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation of behaviour. Assessment may lead to advice, counselling or therapy.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

GRADUATE CASE CAREERSSTUDY PSYCHOLOGYIN SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 2 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

LAURA BINSALE GRADUATED IN 2012 WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED

Studying psychology Studying psychology at LJMU was a fantastic experience! The variety of modules provided a theoretical understanding and taught me transferrable skills, which can be applied to clinical psychology in practice. The most valuable aspect of my undergraduate degree was the dissertation module. I thoroughly enjoyed conducting my own piece of research and working closely with a research supervisor. This experience prepared me well for my assistant psychologist post and for my current role as a trainee clinical psychologist. My advice to any undergraduate students would be to seek support and guidance from your tutors. I had an excellent dissertation supervisor who was extremely supportive, which I found especially helpful during my final year!

In order to gain access to a paid role after university, it is important to start to gain work experience in a mental health setting during your degree course. Work experience can be difficult to access in some specific areas of psychology, but any related experience of working with children or adults with disabilities/learning difficulties or working in a care home, hospice or healthcare-related environment would be beneficial. This would demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. You can contact the volunteering department of your local hospital to find out about voluntary work opportunities. Websites such as https://do-it.org/ (the national database for volunteering opportunities) list local voluntary work opportunities. You might also want to contact the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology. Their handbook gives information about what sort of work experience is desirable for each Itcourse.isimportant to be aware of the levels of competition for entry to the three-year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. According to figures supplied by The Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology in 2016, 16% of those who applied to the three-year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology were successful in gaining a place on this course (one in six applicants got a place on a course). Therefore if you are considering a career in clinical psychology, it is also imperative to have a back-up plan.

Furthermore, at least one to two years’ paid work experience within a clinical setting is normally needed. Psychology graduates may undertake a range of different job roles in order to gain paid experience, including roles such as support worker, healthcare assistant, behavioural therapist or teaching assistant. Although not all of these roles are traditionally seen as graduate roles, they can provide valuable and rewarding experience within a clinical setting. Some psychology graduates may also find paid employment as an assistant psychologist (for example within the NHS), although there can be high levels of competition for these types of roles.

The selection process and interviews can differ greatly depending on where you are applying. You can read about each University process via the Leeds Clearing House website. I found it beneficial to try to speak to trainee clinical psychologists where I had applied to get their perspective on the interview and any tips. I found role-playing interviews helped build confidence, and refine your potential answers, I would say that this career route is very competitive and there is a lot of rejection along the way. If I was talking to my younger self, I would say not to worry so much about getting on the course. It will happen when it is supposed to, to be kinder and more compassionate to myself, and give myself an internal squeeze (there’ll be lots of tears along the way) but most of all, if this is what you want, then nothing can stop you.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? I think it can be really difficult to go from an undergraduate degree into a paid NHS assistant psychologist post. I therefore worked as a support worker in a homeless hostel whilst in my final year at university, which was brilliant experience. After completing my degree, I also volunteered for ChildLine, which alongside the support worker position helped me secure my first NHS job, as a health care assistant in an adult mental health ward. This experience was invaluable and really helped me get my foot on the ladder for further NHS positions. I worked part-time in the NHS as honorary assistant psychologist for a year before securing my first paid (research) assistant psychologist post. I was in this position for two years, before I had a second assistant psychologist (clinical) post, at which point I then gained a place on the doctorate in clinical psychology.

What three things do you like about your job?

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? After completing my BSc, I worked as a learning support assistant in an SEN school on the Wirral, which gave me the experience and knowledge to work with individuals from all backgrounds and with a variety of complex needs. I then enrolled onto my MSc and worked part-time in schools whilst completing this. After my MSc, I worked for Complex Families in Warrington Borough Council. I monitored, evaluated and analysed data both qualitatively and quantitatively whilst delivering integrated services and interventions to vulnerable families. I worked alongside several partner agencies including health services, schools, the police, and fire services. This gave me the experience of conducting reviews and reports for policy holders and external agencies, collating statistics and analysing data for a wide range of partners across Warrington.

EMILIA TRAPASSO COMPLETED HER PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL IN 2012 AND THEN COMPLETED THE MSC IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AT LJMU IN 2015. SHE IS NOW WORKING AS A RESEARCH ASSISTANT WHILST ALSO COMPLETING HER PHD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL: MINDFULNESS-BASED CONNECTION TO NATURE AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE PERCEIVED STRESS AND CONNECTION TO NATURE. What does your current job involve? Conducting psychological assessments with children, young people and families, with a wide range of mental health needs. Delivering and interpreting psychometric measures, creating bespoke psychological formulations and offering evidence-based interventions based on client need and NICE guidelines. In addition, I provide consultation, supervision and training to colleagues. What do you like most about your job: Building and forming therapeutic relationships with my clients, witnessing changes they make and working within a multidisciplinary team. How did you get to where you are today? After leaving secondary school without the relevant qualifications to study A-level psychology I chose my second favourite subject, media and film studies. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the course, I still wanted to study psychology. I then went on to study a BSc in Applied psychology at LJMU and completed it in 2010, gaining a 2:1 (68%). Instead of doing an MSc, I spent 5 years gaining relevant work experience in a number of different services before gaining a place on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester.

What advice would you give to others when it comes to applying for the Doctorate?

3. Being involved in a big RCT across the country with lots of opportunities to learn from experts.

DR ALEXANDRA CLARK GRADUATED FROM LJMU WITH A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE IN 2010 AND RECENTLY FINISHED THE DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AT MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY. SHE IS NOW A FULLY QUALIFIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Their website has a lot of detailed information about the application process. My main advice for the application is to be creative when writing it, it is a very short application process and you want to sell yourself. Also, if you can, have a clinical psychologist look over your application!

2. Great team/colleagues to work with.

WORKING WITHIN A SPECIALIST CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE (CAMHS).

What does your current job involve?

1. Seeing people’s mood/depression change during each visit – and having them realise they are not alone.

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Tell us about how you got to where you are today?

Don’t give up on your dream, be persistent and determined whilst selfcompassionate and self-caring.

What general advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would get as much experience as possible. Ask if your tutor or lecturer has any research studies they are working on and if you can be involved, getting your name on a publication is an added bonus! Potentially volunteer to gain work experience, but I’m mindful this is not always an option for students. Good luck!

The knowledge I have gained throughout my BSc and MSc have given me a well-rounded view of mental and physical health complications. I have had a variety of work placements and experiences which have guided my knowledge and ability when working with others, specifically those from different backgrounds with a variety of mental and physical health needs.

After my Masters I applied for PhDs and was accepted onto a CLAHRC funded PhD at the University of Liverpool where I have completed a variety of studies, reviews and interventions based around reducing stress levels for those in areas of deprivation through mindfulness-based contact with nature. Alongside the PhD, I have also been completing BPS Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology with an LJMU supervisor.

I was successful for the September 2015 intake and all applications were sent through Leeds Clearing house (https://www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/).

I work in a small team at the University of Liverpool who are trying to improve the outcomes of clinical depression I recruit GP surgeries across North West England, North Wales, Greater Manchester, West Midlands & Yorkshire, with patients from GP surgeries participating in our trial across the North West. I currently recruit patients and GP surgeries onto the trial, completing research questionnaires across a six month period. I also conduct and analyse interviews with GPs and patients who have been involved in the trial.

What support did you receive from the Careers, Employability and Start-Up team? The team helped me write my CV, cover letter, personal statement writing and also interview practice and advice on getting a job. And what advice would you give to our incoming level 4 students? Make sure you check your emails and apply for everything. University is the time you expand your horizons and try new things.

❙ Lots of variety throughout the working week ❙ A supportive workforce ❙ Satisfaction of helping others & making a difference

HEATHER DUKES COMPLETED HER PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE AT LJMU IN 2017, FOLLOWED BY HER MSC IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY IN 2018. SHE THEN GAINED A JOB AS A TRAINEE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING PRACTITIONER AND COMPLETED HER TRAINING IN 2020.

Tell us about how you got to where you are today? From an early age, I had a passion for helping others and an interest in human behaviour. This led to me embarking on an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Health Psychology. Throughout my studies, I was particularly drawn to mental health and factors that led to the development or maintenance of psychological disorders. For my Master’s dissertation, I conducted a path analysis of psychosocial predictors of postnatal depression.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? Support Worker and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Link Worker. What three things do you like about your job?

In June 2017, I began working as a support worker in a residential setting for adults with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and complex mental health needs. I was promoted in October 2018 to the role of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Link Worker, which required me to deliver training to staff around positive behaviour support techniques to improve service users’ quality of life and reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviour. I was also involved in carrying out assessments, running workshops with service users, and creating care plans. This role was extremely rewarding, and working with both support staff and the specialist behavioural team allowed me a holistic experience in this sector. I gained a repertoire of skills for working with individuals with mental health conditions, as well as competence in leadership and teaching/training. I applied for numerous assistant psychologist roles, and was invited for some interviews, but I was unsuccessful each time, due to my lower levels of experience compared to other candidates. I also applied for PhD studentship posts, making the final shortlisting twice, before being told that I had been unsuccessful. I almost gave up at this point, deciding instead that I would seek higher positions within the specialist behavioural team in the company I was already with. However, when I noticed a trainee PWP post in July 2019, I created one last application, whilst keeping my expectations low! This application was successful, and I was invited to interviews with CWP and North West 5 Boroughs. I attended the CWP interview in August 2019, and was offered the job a week later, beginning the role and my studies in October 2019.

What are you doing at the moment? Public Affairs Officer for The Inclusion Initiative at The London School of Economics and Political Science . I also recently finished a masters in International Relations at Newcastle University. What was the application process life for your current role? My application process for my current role involved filling out an application form detailing my personal information, educational history, previous work experience, references, cover letter, hobbies and EDI information. Following this round, I had to send a pitch video for a prospective partner as well as an email in which I would send to the partner. Finally, I had to take part in a 45-minute interview regarding the role. What skills and mind-set traits are important for your day-to-day role? Communication, teamwork and motivation, analysis and research, service delivery, initiative and problem solving, networking and liaison and flexibility. For my role having a mindset of growth is important as the industry I work with is every changing.

Assessment and treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety, within a stepped-care CBT model. Facilitating psychoeducation groups. Signposting and liaising with specialist services that may assist clients into recovery. Studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies – including filmed practical assignments, essays, exams, and portfolio work.

SACHA OGOSI GRADUATED WITH A BA (HONS) IN CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY FROM LJMU AND IS NOW COMPLETING A MASTERS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures

Why did you choose to study Psychology and Criminology at LJMU? In LJMU there were a large range of modules to choose from. Being able to guide my own academic journey was really important as it would define my future career path. I had also seen before I applied that LJMU had a number of careers events that were specifically for psychology or criminology students which I found interesting. How did you make the most of student life at LJMU? During my time at LJMU I took advantage of every opportunity offered to me. I was part of a number of societies, travelled abroad with the university, took part in campaigns and events, internships and student jobs. I truly feel that if I had not gone to LJMU I would not be where I am today. What are your passions and how did they influence your desired career path? I love helping people, adventure and meeting individuals from cultures that are different to mine. That has influenced me to strive for a career in anything related to humanitarian aid/development/ intervention or international relations/diplomacy. How did you work out what you wanted to do after you graduated? In university I was very proactive in trying different things and meeting a variety of people to hear about their experiences. Prior to university I thought I wanted to work in a role regarding international crime/ intelligence. However, my experience in LJMU led me to want a career where I focus on making positive direct impact rather than focusing on the darkness that is international crime.

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Did you face any challenges as a student and what support did you access? There was a stage where I struggled to decide what I wanted to do post university but the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team was very helpful in giving me different options and possible paths.

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What does your current job involve?

What advice would you give to other students wanting to pursue this career path to improve their chances?

Gain experience in any healthcare setting first – the skills and knowledge that you will develop when working with patients is crucial, no matter the role. Utilise the job specification when forming your applications, and take time emphasising what you have learned from your studies and past employment. Expect rejections and try not to feel disheartened when this happens – most practitioners experience a knockback before they get their dream job. Keep applying!

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1. Data queries! Sometimes it can be tedious, but from carrying out my own research, we all know how important it is to ensure data is correct.

1. It feels like we are providing extra care to the patients by having extended contact with the patients and their families.

2. I can apply a lot of my health psychology knowledge to working with patients as I had covered chronic conditions and coping in the MSc.

Tell us about how you got to where you are today?

What does your current job involve? My job in the paediatric research team involved approaching and talking to children and their families about research that they are eligible for. I would consent patient and families into the research and carry out trial procedures such as randomisation to different study arms, or carry out an intervention. I was responsible for data collection and inputting date onto trial-specific databases and liaising with the clinical teams regarding the care of their patients. I work with children with chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

Unfortunately, this is the way of research, but you can’t help but want to give everyone a chance to receive treatment. It’s important to remind yourself that we don’t know what’s best and that’s why we’re doing the research.

What three things are you not so keen on?

What advice would you give to other students wanting to get on and complete the Prof Doc to improve their chances?

I would advise to try to gain some patient experience, to gain personal experience of working with patients, as you gain a new level of understanding about what it is like to cope with chronic conditions when compared to classroom learning. This will help inspire your ideas for the Prof Doc competencies. It may help if you have some research experience or even experience of some of the competencies such as Whenteaching.applying, it is important to not disregard everything you have covered in your undergraduate and MSc degree as this is vital experience that could strengthen your application.

3. I am constantly opening new studies in different health areas, and expanding my knowledge and experience. It’s exciting when opening a new study and the patients tell us how much we’ve helped them.

I completed a health psychology module as part of my psychology degree, which first ignited my passion for health psychology. This led me to apply for the MSc Health Psychology, which I started in 2013. Throughout my MSc, I became interested in conducting health research. I enjoyed my research project and began to look for research roles within the NHS and universities. Initially, I struggled to obtain a role, which was down to my lack of work experience in research. I then contacted a number of places recruiting research assistants and asked whether I could volunteer. I obtained a role as an honorary research assistant, which enabled me to complete the relevant research training and gain work experience. I began to search for Stage 2 training and found out about the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at LJMU and contacted the programme leader to discuss. I later applied and was offered a place on the Professional Doctorate. I then started to apply for research roles again and managed to secure a role as a research assistant in the NHS. The role acts as my placement, whilst completing the doctorate and I am able to complete some aspects of the competencies at work.

2. When some patients are randomised to standard care!

What three things do you like about your job?

3. I’m the only research practitioner at my hospital. Some studies require a ‘research nurse’ to work on the trial, which leaves me unable to assist some members of my team with some aspects of my role. Study centres are beginning to recognise this and adapt.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today?

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JENNY PHILBIN IS CURRENTLY A TRAINEE ON THE PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AT LJMU ALONGSIDE WORKING IN PAEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIALS AND RESEARCH. SHE COMPLETED HER BSC (HONS) PSYCHOLOGY IN 2013 FOLLOWED BY HER MSC HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY IN 2014. SHE STARTED THE PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE IN JAN 2018.

I worked as a patient activity volunteer during my undergraduate degree on the acute neurology unit at Salford Royal Hospital. I then completed my undergraduate degree and started my role as a mental health support worker whilst completing my MSc. I believe these experiences provided me with patient contact and the opportunity to gain an insight into health conditions. I later volunteered as a research assistant at the University of Manchester on the COVER trial, a study using medical skin camouflage for female prisoners to try to improve well-being. This experience enabled me to obtain a role as a research assistant within the NHS, a role that is used as my placement for the Professional Doctorate. I have since been promoted to a research practitioner, which is now my new placement for the doctorate.

You do not necessarily need to have a placement lined up at the time of applying but you should be actively looking for a paid or volunteer role to act as your placement throughout completion of the Prof Doc. I would also recommend chatting with Mark Forshaw (Programme Leader) before applying as I arranged to meet him before applying and it was very useful to think about the types of research you would like to conduct and the competencies as these are discussed during the interview.

Briefly, can you tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today?

some thought, my experience was not extensive enough for these posts, so I applied for a lower post as a Bank Clinical Support Worker on mental health wards. I matched the person specification and I knew this would be a good way to gain clinical experience with service users in ward settings so that I could apply for Assistant Psychologist posts in the future.

I was invited for interview and offered the job. A few days later, I received a call from the temporary staffing team who had interviewed me saying there was an Assistant Psychologist post that had just been passed to them for a research project that needed someone to start straight away, and that they felt I had the right qualifications and experience to apply. I went for an interview with the two clinical psychologists running the study, and was hired onto their team. Even though this was a very unusual way to be hired as an Assistant Psychologist, it just goes to show that sometimes, changing your application and even applying to a lower level job can pay off in the long run.

What relevant work experience/volunteering did you refer to during the selection process?

The Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team helped me a lot because every year I would go to their “Careers in Clinical Psychology” event which would have speakers from the University of Liverpool, including Trainee Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists with all kinds of information about what experience you might need, alternative routes into clinical training and what they had done to get where they are. I would get the career planning guides every year as I found them so helpful. The case studies were particularly useful because they featured psychology graduates following the career path I wanted to take, so it was a good source of inspiration. I spoke with staff from the Careers Zones on multiple occasions, and each time I’d come away with useful information that I still use today. I really feel as though I’ve used the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at every stage of my application, and I wouldn’t be in this job if it wasn’t for their support. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? My advice would be to use every scrap of information you can! Use the career guides, the employer events, get advice from the Careers Zones - don’t be afraid to ask people if they have any information that might help you because they will have spoken to someone in your situation before!

I used my placement in second year to volunteer with ‘Together for Mental Wellbeing’, a charity I found through the placement fair. They work in in-patient mental health units and meet with service users who’ve been placed under section to speak with them about their right to appeal against the decision, and their right to speak with an Independent Mental Health Advocate. I worked with other volunteers and we would speak to the service users about their situation. This kind of direct contact with service users in a secure in-patient setting has proved invaluable to me as something to write on my CV and talk about in interviews. I really valued being able to sit with people in what could often be a very distressing time in their life and try and find ways to make it a little easier. This experience also helped me to brush up on my knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other legislation, which is something that is applied in all areas of mental health work and is often discussed in interview.

What do you like about your job?

Did the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU help you in any way?

I have an account on the NHS jobs website, and you can set up email alerts for when jobs you might be interested in get posted. Because these jobs tend to attract a lot of applications it’s always a good idea to apply as soon as you see a vacancy so that it’s not taken down.

❙ Being able to travel around as it means you don’t have to be sat behind a desk all day. I spend a lot of my days going to people’s homes to do the consent forms and questionnaires, or going into schools and administering questionnaires to the children.

I work on a research project funded by Health Education England. We are researching whether a Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness based intervention program called the “Team of Life” can help improve resilience in vulnerable children and aid transition between primary and secondary school. My job involves obtaining consent from parents and children to take part in the study, administering questionnaires, conducting interviews, inputting data using SPSS, making home visits and going into schools to do teacher questionnaires.

❙ Working with children is very rewarding and my favourite part. It can be fun and entertaining at times, but additionally it can be taxing and emotionally challenging depending on the child’s situation.

What does your current job involve?

Before I came to LJMU I knew I wanted to work as a Clinical Psychologist. I enjoyed the course here, and worked very hard to get a First Class degree, as well as doing some volunteering in mental health wards for my second year placement and working with my personal tutor on a research project over the summer. After graduating I made numerous unsuccessful applications for Assistant Psychologist posts on NHS jobs. It was quite easy to feel Afterdisheartened!givingit

On the NHS job application there is a section called “Supporting Information” where you write about your experience, qualifications and anything you think makes you right for the job. After I had made a few applications,unsuccessfulIspokewith a careers advisor from LJMU who advised me how to best tailor my application to the job. She had a lot of knowledge of the NHS application process, and told me to structure this section to match the person specification given with the job advert. Using this approach means it’s easier for employers to tick off all the criteria you meet. I was even given a booklet with examples of this at the Careers Zone, and after using this my applications became much more successful!

When I was called for interview I used the person specification again as a guide, and thought of all the examples of how my experiences can relate to the different points listed.

ELENYA HARSTON GRADUATED IN 2016 WITH A DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY AND NOW WORKS AS AN ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST FOR CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL

PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUST GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 6 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

What did the application and selection process involve and how did you prepare?

When applying for the course I sought feedback from my supervisors on completing the application form. Preparation for interviews included attending local assistant psychologist groups and preparing for interviews with peers, keeping up-to-date with relevant literature and news, such as changes in the NHS, and importantly taking time out as the process can easily take over many things in your life.

Voluntary work is also relevant when applying for the course. In interviews I was able to talk about some of my work for a homelessness charity and a few weeks I spent working in an orphanage in India. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?

Attend conferences and network with people. Look out for jobs you are likely to apply for, think about the person specifications and what you can do to develop the required skills and knowledge. When applying for jobs it is also important to think about the person you are outside of work and university. When interviewing, people want to talk to someone interesting. What is it about you that makes you interesting or different? Often people say what is your USP, your unique selling point?

Alongside academic requirements, the courses require applicants to have relevant clinically-related experience. This may include voluntary or paid work, usually in mental health settings, Social Services, services for people with disabilities, etc. Often, applicants have previously worked as assistant psychologists in the NHS or for a private provider where they were supervised by a clinical psychologist. Relevant posts also include working as a support worker, healthcare assistant etc. Research experience is also relevant. Some applicants have previously worked as research assistants or completed postgraduate research degrees. Following the shortlisting process, some applicants are invited for interviews. Each course conducts their interviews in a different way; however the focus is usually on clinical and research knowledge and experience. Some courses require applicants to complete a written test and/or group-based tasks. It is common that people apply on several occasions before securing a place. The Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/index. html) is the place to find out more information about individual courses, entry requirements, the selection process, funding etc.

Preparation for the process involved gaining experience in clinical and research settings including working as a support worker, assistant psychologist and research assistant, and completing a postgraduate degree, i.e. MPhil in Clinical Psychology. I found out about individual courses, their ethos and the applicants they are looking for and thought about a good fit with my values and orientation with regards to a focus on different therapeutic models.

What does the three-year training course in clinical psychology involve?

By the nature of the course, the training is very demanding and requires trainees to juggle many responsibilities. For me, being a trainee clinical psychologist has been both a challenge and a privilege, and I feel a great reward from seeing people that I worked with move from a place of distress to a more positive future. What help and support did you access from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team?

When deciding about my dissertation I made sure that the focus was clinically relevant so that I could draw on my research in potential future interviews. I also sought opportunities to disseminate my research findings and presented them at a conference. I also had a temporary post as a research assistant at LJMU which involved participant recruitment and data collection.

HELENA TUCKER GRADUATED IN 2009 WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY AND COMPLETED HER DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY THE OF IN 2015 STUDY

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The training course has three main elements: academic, clinical and research. Throughout the three years you complete six half-year placements in the NHS working as trainee clinical psychologists. For example, on a child placement my role involved individual and group therapy, family therapy, neuro-psychology assessment, contributing to multidisciplinary meetings, consultation and working with staff teams, teaching and training, and supervision of junior staff, etc. The academic element of the programme involves attending weekly teaching days and completing clinical and service reports, essays and exams. Research is an important part of the programme and you are required to undertake a large research project and complete a doctoral thesis and a viva.

Initially, I began to do some thinking about clinical psychology and what working as a clinical psychologist actually involved. It was important that I found out more about the role in order to commit to the process of gaining experience and applying for courses. While studying at LJMU I worked part-time as a support worker in a residential home for young people with learning disabilities. I sought out responsibilities to work as a key worker and attended and contributed to multidisciplinary meetings.

Build on this in your applications and get people interested in meeting you, whether that is skydiving in your free time or baking cakes for your work colleagues every week.

LIVERPOOL

The selection process for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology courses (DClinPsy) is very competitive. The success rate in 2013 was 16%; one in six applicants got a place on a course. The first part of the process is an application through the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology. You can apply for a maximum of four courses and the deadline is usually in December each year. You will be required to have completed your degree. Courses usually look for applicants with a First Class Honours or a good 2:1. Some courses may consider applicants with a 2:2 but usually a further demonstration of academic ability is required, e.g. a relevant Masters degree. See individual course information for details.

After graduating from LJMU I went on to study for an MPhil in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester. This is a research-based degree and provided opportunities to develop my research skills, present at conferences and network with other researchers and clinicians. While completing the postgraduate course part-time, I also worked as an assistant psychologist in a private brain injury rehabilitation service and then at a memory assessment service in the NHS. These clinical posts provided opportunities to be supervised by a clinical psychologist, carry out individual and group therapy work, service evaluations and audits, staff training, project management and many other roles I was able to reflect on in my DClinPsy application and interviews.

AT

I would say that gaining relevant experience while completing your degree is essential. This may be voluntary work or part-time paid work but do not be afraid to be creative. Speak to tutors in your department about their research and offer help, for example with data collection.

UNIVERSITY

Support from the LJMU Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team was very valuable. I had an individual consultation and was able to discuss the potential career paths after completing my degree. At the end of my time at LJMU, the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team provided support with writing my CV. I was shortlisted for an interview for a mental health rehabilitation worker and the Team provided an opportunity to complete a mock interview tailored specifically to the job. This was a great preparation for future interviews. What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process?

What did the application process involve for clinical psychology and how did you prepare?

GRADUATE CASE

I have always been interested in the study of the human mind. After studying psychology for A-level I knew psychology was going to be an exciting and rewarding degree if I worked hard. I particularly picked Applied Psychology at LJMU because it was applicable to real life and I knew I would gain experience during the six-week placement in second year. The tutors and lecturers were fab and the variety of modules to choose from in third year is great!

SOPHIE JENKINS-ANDERSON GRADUATED IN 2014 WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY. PSYCHOLOGYCOUNSELLING GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 8 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

There are two steps to becoming a chartered counselling psychologist:

Counselling psychologists focus on working with a tailored psychological formulation to improve psychological functioning and wellbeing, working collaboratively with people across a diverse range of disciplines. Counselling psychologists deal with a wide range of mental health problems concerning life issues including bereavement, domestic violence, sexual abuse, traumas and relationship issues. They understand diagnosis and the medical context to mental health problems and work with the individual’s unique subjective psychological experience to empower their recovery and alleviate distress.

My current role I am currently working as a Research Executive at Adelphi Global Research in Manchester. Adelphi conducts market research for the world’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. On a day-to-day basis I update clients with developments in their project and research the topic area to share knowledge of disease/treatment relevant with the rest of my team. Another key part of my role is managing the day-to-day logistics of my team’s projects. This can entail duties such as creating PowerPoints for presentations, analysing data or proofreading links and questionnaires and liaising with the recruitment agencies to ensure the correct participants are being screened in.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Since graduating Since graduating I have completed an eight-week internship in the psychology department under the supervision of Dr David McIlroy. I also went on a fab summer holiday with my pals and was successful in my first job application and started working in September shortly after graduation. I have aspirations of becoming a clinical psychologist so I will be applying for the doctorate in October. Until then I will be enjoying my new job and settling in!

❙ Firstly, you need to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC - 2:2 minimum required). This can be done by completing either a British Psychological Society (BPS)accredited undergraduate degree or a conversion course.

Studying psychology

It is often an entry requirement of the counselling psychology courses to have completed a basic counselling skills course. For more information on where to find counselling skills courses, please contact the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) - http://www.bacp.co.uk /

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

WHAT IS IT?

Counselling psychologists work in hospitals (acute admissions, psychiatric intensive care, rehabilitation), health centres, Improving Access to Psychological Therapy Services, community mental health teams and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. They also work within private hospitals, private practice, forensic settings, industry, education, research and corporate institutions.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

Full details about qualifying to become a chartered counselling psychologist are available from the British Psychological Society (BPS) - www.bps.org.uk/

❙ You will then need to complete a BPS-accredited Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or the BPS Qualification in Counselling Psychology. Following this, you are entitled to chartered status and full membership of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. You will also be eligible for entry onto the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) register, which entitles you to use the title ‘counselling psychologist’.

Forensic psychology is devoted to psychological aspects of legal processes in courts. The term is also often used to refer to investigative and criminological psychology, i.e. applying psychological theory to criminal investigation, understanding psychological problems associated with criminal behaviour, and the treatment of those who have committed offences.

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

❙ Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which you can achieve by completing a British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited degree or conversion course (2:2 minimum required) ❙ A BPS-accredited Masters in Forensic Psychology, which may be available on a part-time or distance-learning basis

Local authorities (LAs) employ the majority of educational psychologists working in schools, colleges, nurseries and special units although increasing numbers are working directly in schools, academies and other educational settings. They regularly liaise with other professionals from education, health and social services. A growing number work as independent or private consultants.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE? You will need the following qualifications:

The universities offering the accredited Masters in Forensic Psychology will decide upon the type and nature of experience required. Identify the courses you are interested in and then approach the course tutors directly to see if they can provide you with a profile of the type of experience a successful applicant will have gained.

They work in a variety of ways including observations, interviews and assessments and offer consultation, advice and support to teachers, parents, the wider community as well as the young people concerned. They research innovative ways of helping vulnerable young people and often train teachers, learning support assistants and others working with children.

❙ A BPS-accredited Doctorate in Educational Psychology or, for Scotland only, an accredited Masters in Educational Psychology followed by the BPS Award in educational psychology.

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

The largest employer in the UK is the HM Prison Service. Forensic psychologists are also employed by rehabilitation units, secure hospitals, social services and in university departments or private consultancy.

Competition is fierce for both accredited Masters courses and entry-level forensic psychologist jobs. To succeed in both, it is crucial that you build up as much work experience as possible. You will have an advantage if you can show course tutors that you have mentored young offenders or completed voluntary work with organisations such as the Witness Service or Victim Support.

Daily key tasks can include piloting and implementing treatment programmes; modifying offender behaviour; responding to the changing needs of staff and prisoners as well as reducing stress for staff and prisoners. Forensic psychologists also provide hard research evidence to support practice including undertaking statistical analysis for prisoner profiling, giving evidence in courts, plus advising parole boards and mental health tribunals.

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

WORK EXPERIENCE

Examples of settings in which relevant experience is likely to be gained include working as a teacher, a graduate assistant in an educational psychology service, a learning support assistant, an educational social worker, a learning mentor, a speech and language therapist, a care worker and a worker in early years settings.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

WHAT IS IT?

Voluntary experience of various kinds may assist applicants in demonstrating a breadth of relevant experience. Whatever work experience you have gained, course providers will be primarily interested in what you have learnt from the experience that is relevant to work as an educational psychologist and how you have been able to apply the knowledge of psychology gained through your first degree.

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

❙ Firstly, you need to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC - 2:2 minimum required). This can be done by completing either a British Psychological Society (BPS)accredited undergraduate degree or a conversion course.

To use the title ‘educational psychologist’, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This involves completing a doctorate in educational psychology (or equivalent) approved by the HCPC. Contact the HCPC for more information on the entry requirements for their registerhttp://www.hcpc-uk.co.uk/

Educational psychology is concerned with children and young people in educational and early years settings. Educational psychologists tackle challenges such as learning difficulties, social and emotional problems, issues around disability, as well as more complex developmental disorders.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 9CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

WORK EXPERIENCE

To become a chartered forensic psychologist you will need:

WHAT IS IT?

Applications for the doctorate courses in England are made through the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP). Please contact the relevant institution for more information.

❙ Stage 2 of the BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology, which involves a minimum of two years of supervised practice that requires you to provide evidence of applying psychology in forensic practice. It is possible to complete this stage while working as a trainee forensic psychologist.

Benefits of Student Membership of the British Psychological Society

❙ Free

GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 10 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

In total I spent five years within the Prison Service. I gained many skills and learnt a lot while I was there. I was trained as a hostage negotiator and I also undertook a role as a national trainer where I trained and assessed potential facilitators to deliver offending behaviour programmes. During my time in the Prison Service I also undertook my MSc in Forensic Psychology, which I self-funded and completed parttime over two years. Unfortunately, the prison I worked in did not have a psychology department, so in order to progress with my career I had to look for other opportunities elsewhere. In 2008, I secured a position as a Forensic Psychologist in Training. I have worked in conditions of low and medium security, with male and female patients who are diagnosed with mental illness and/or personality disorder. Every day is completely different and my role involves a variety of tasks, including undertaking risk assessments; completing cognitive functioning assessments; delivering one-to-one and group-based psychological interventions; providing psychological information within multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing to patients’ treatment and risk management plans; developing hospital policies; undertaking research; and developing and delivering staff training.

❙ I feel I am making a difference and helping people to improve their lives.

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Student membership of the BPS provides lots of useful information and opportunities and is one possible option for demonstrating your seriousness about a career in Psychology copy of The Psychologist magazine every month, containing: Articles relating to cutting-edge research in psychology relating to practice in professional areas such as clinical, forensic or educational psychology for psychology jobs and masters courses student magazine, with opportunities to publish your own writing to attend the Student Conference and other networking events to a range of discounts on books, journals and events

❙ Opportunity

After graduating I secured a role in a local prison as Accredited Programmes Facilitator. This role largely comprised of facilitating an offending behaviour programme to prisoners. However it also involved conducting assessments; one-to-one sessions with prisoners; MDT working; and delivering staff training. After two years I was promoted to Deputy Treatment Manager, where in addition to the tasks highlighted above, I was also involved in staff supervision and treatment managing a number of offending behaviour programmes.

❙ Articles

Whilst I have always been passionate about forensic psychology, I wish I had looked into other psychology routes that are available. Many other psychological disciplines can work within forensic settings, such as clinical and counselling psychologists. I wish I had this information at the beginning of my career.

❙ Career-related articles ❙ Adverts

❙ Psychtalk

LOUISE KENNEDY GRADUATED IN 2003 WITH A FIRST CLASS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IS NOW A CHARTERED AND REGISTERED FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST AT A SECURE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

❙ I am constantly learning.

What relevant work experience/skills/volunteering did you have? I volunteered with the Witness Service in Liverpool Magistrates court for approximately two years during my undergraduate degree. I was also lucky enough to spend two weeks with the psychology department in HMP Liverpool. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would advise students to gain as much voluntary experience as possible in order to make their CVs stand out from the rest. Experience will also give them a better idea of whether forensic psychology is the career they want. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again?

The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the professional society that represents all psychologists in the UK. It provides support for psychology practitioners, develops policy and guidelines, and organises conferences and training. Most importantly for you, it accredits the Psychology courses at LJMU and at universities across the UK. They have made sure that every degree course covers the ‘core’ areas of psychology to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue training for a psychology career. This is called the ‘GBC’ – Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.

❙ Access

Three things that you like about your job:

Key points in your career: During my time in Liverpool John Moores University, I also had a voluntary position with the Witness Service at Liverpool Magistrates Court. I worked there every Friday during the final year of my degree and assisted witnesses and victims of crime when they attended court, mainly providing practical and emotional support. I showed them around the courtrooms and sat with them on the days they came to give evidence. For me, this was fantastic experience working within the forensic field and learning firsthand about court processes.

But you don’t have to wait until you graduate to become a member of the BPS! They welcome student members and the cost is about a fifth of what it would be once you graduate: only £25 for one year, or £63 for your full three year degree course. Student membership has the following benefits: Joining is easy and can be done online at: https://www.bps.org.uk/join-us/membership/student-membership

❙ Every day is different.

Briefly describe your current role: My current role involves delivering psychological interventions on a one-to-one and group basis; undertaking risk assessments; delivering staff training; undertaking research; MDT (multidisciplinary team) working; developing policies and procedures and consultancy work.

❙ Being aware of some of the life experiences some prisoners have had to endure in the past can be difficult. Working with people who are resistant to change.

GRADUATE CASE STUDY A CONVERSATION WITH A … FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST DR SUE THOMAS IS A CHARTERED AND REGISTERED FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST AND WORKS FOR NORTH WEST PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (NWPS) SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 11CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

I was asked to provide a full CV, two academic references and a personal statement of a page in length demonstrating my understanding of the role of a forensic psychologist and outlining my research interests and experiences. I was invited to an interview and was asked to submit a 500 word Masters dissertation proposal, which I then delivered a 10-minute presentation on during the interview with two lecturers from the course. What help and support did you access from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team?

PLACE ON

❙ The variety of the work and client groups as we work across all establishments in the North West. Supervising trainee psychologists and seeing them develop and becoming qualified.

I developed an interest in forensic psychology during second year when I completed a placement as part of a module. I spent three days at HMP Altcourse, which gave me a snapshot of the role that mental illness and disorder can play in committing crime. I knew straightaway that this was the area I wanted to pursue a career in, and attending a lecture by a Forensic Psychologist in third year further confirmed this for me. The course at The University of Manchester stood out due to its focus on mental health, and the modules really appealed to me.

A ‘Group Facilitator’ is a very good grounding role. Individual establishments recruit facilitators to deliver programmes for those convicted as sex offenders, violent offenders as well as general cognitive skills programmes. Other roles would be Prison Officers or working within the Probation Service.

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I first met with Hayley Fallon, the Careers Adviser for my course, to discuss the application process and funding for postgraduate courses, as I had no idea about what the process involved. Hayley also showed me the personal statement information sheet which was very useful and enabled me to create a draft CV and personal statement which I presented to Anja Heid, one of the Employability Advisers, in a second meeting. Anja gave me extremely helpful and specific feedback, including ways to demonstrate how my experience made me suitable for the course. I updated my CV and personal statement and Anja responded by email with extremely helpful follow-up feedback on how to make my personal statement more concise, as I had originally written a lot more than a page. Tell us about any work experience or volunteering you have done?

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❙ At the end of the project, I took up the post of Head of Psychology at HMP Lancaster Farms, then moved to HMP Garth. Two years ago I was promoted to my current role.

What three things are you not so keen on? Working in a political environment that appears to be in a constant state of change can be challenging.

❙ You will draw on all of the topics you cover in your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in your work. You need to be persistent i.e. do not get discouraged if you do not get a post on your first attempt.

❙ You need to ensure you have a work/home life balance: you cannot take it home with you! What kinds of work experience and volunteering would you recommend students undertake to increase their chances?

What three things do you like about your job?

There isn’t really a typical day, you cannot predict what will happen and it will vary depending on the grade you are within NWPS. Trainees will be given a variety of work around assessments, interventions, consultancy, training and research as they are required to submit evidence of these competencies for their qualification. Newly-qualified staff will mainly be involved in clinical work (assessments and interventions) with more complex cases and some supervision of trainees. Experienced qualified staff will also have line management responsibilities and regional roles that feed into national agendas. As a Cluster Manager I also have line management and supervision responsibilities. Although I still do some clinical work to ensure I retain my professional qualification I have a more strategic/management role. For example, I oversee all the trainee progression plans and am the contact with the main training route provider. I also sit on national committees with regard to trainee progression and training. I am a negotiator advisor which involves assisting the training of negotiators and attending critical incidents to support the negotiators and advise on resolution strategy.

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❙ Obtained PhD in Forensic Psychology in 2000. Became Head of Psychology at a university and during this time I worked with the Prison Service on various projects. In 2005 I took a career break from the university to work for a European Social Fund/Prison Service project across the UK and Europe. During this time I gained my Chartered Forensic status with the BPS and HCPC registration. Before the end of my career break I was offered a permanent post in the Prison Service.

SECURED

Forensic psychology is a competitive career area. What other roles would you also recommend students explore if they are not successful first time round?

UNIVERSITY OF

What did the application process involve?

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Key points in your career development to date: Graduated in 1992 with a 1st Class honours degree in Psychology and Sociology (age 39).

Interviewing domestic violence offenders at HMP Altcourse for my dissertation provided me with realistic expectations of what a career in forensic psychology would involve. It also helped me to develop relevant research skills and awareness of the many ethical issues that need to be considered. Volunteering at the Whitechapel Centre, a homeless and housing charity, gave me an extremely valuable experience of working with individuals who struggle with mental health. Both experiences developed my interpersonal and communication skills with such individuals and my maturity. I know that these experiences strongly benefited my application as they demonstrated my genuine passion and interest in the area. Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year student again? If I had my time at university again, I definitely would have started volunteering and gaining work experience earlier on, as you have much more free time in first year compared to third. Even if you are not sure about which area you want to go into, experience can help you decide. I also would have looked into Masters courses earlier, so that I could have attended the open day. What are your plans after finishing the postgraduate programme? After my Masters I will complete the BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology to become a Forensic Psychologist, which involves a minimum of two years of supervised practice.  WITH A DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY AND A THE MSC FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH AT THE MANCHESTER

Anything that involves working with those classed as ‘vulnerable’ e.g. elderly people, young people, those with disabilities, ex-offenders, mental health, substance misuse etc. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer work experience or volunteering.

❙ Reading the files and interviewing prisoners is very interesting and challenging.

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EMMA HIGGINSON GRADUATED IN 2018

Any top tips for psychology student wanting to pursue a career as a Forensic Psychologist?

Why did you decide to apply for this postgraduate course?

What does your job involve?

Any experience is relevant as a lot of prisoners have a diverse range of needs - experience working with disabilities, substance misuse, homeless, social services will all produce transferrable skills and relatable experience. Don’t be disheartened if you have to apply for a lot of roles- it is very competitive out there and a lot of organisations advertise externally but already know that someone internally will be getting the role!

I currently supervise a high caseload of low to medium risk offenders that are both in custody and serving their license in the community. I am required to complete risk assessments, develop sentence plans that address their risks and criminogenic needs and deliver one-to-one interventions as well as complete recall and breach reports when service users fail to comply with the conditions of their orders.

What does your current job involve?

To become a chartered health psychologist you will need: Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which you achieve by completing a British Psychological Society (BPS)accredited degree or conversion course (2:2 minimum required); A Society-accredited Masters in Health Psychology ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ‘STAGE 2’, DOCTORALLEVEL QUALIFICATIONS: The Society’s Qualification in Health Psychology Stage 2 (QHP Stage 2) A Society-accredited Doctorate in Health Psychology

Health psychologists are represented in a number of settings, such as hospitals, academic health research units, health authorities, university departments and also in consultancy practice. They may deal with problems identified by healthcare agencies, including NHS trusts and health authorities. This is in addition to also working alongside other medical professionals such as GPs, nurses and rehabilitation therapists. Health psychologists may also deal with organisations and employees outside the healthcare system.

WORK EXPERIENCE The universities offering the accredited Masters in Health Psychology will decide upon the type and nature of experience, if required. Identify the courses you are interested in and then approach the course tutors directly to see if they can provide you with a profile of the type of experience a successful applicant will have gained.

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

I prepared by looking through the person specification/job description and thinking of ways I have demonstrated those skills in previous roles and imagining potential questions they might ask so that I could sound confident when relaying my answers.

DEGREE

WHAT IS IT? Health psychology is concerned with people’s experiences of health and illness. Health psychologists use their knowledge of psychology and health to promote general wellbeing and understanding physical illness. They are specially trained to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness as well as supporting people who are chronically ill. Health psychologists promote healthier lifestyles and try to find ways to encourage people to improve their health. For example, they may help people to lose weight or stop smoking. Health psychologists also use their skills to try to improve the healthcare system. For example, they may advise doctors about better ways to communicate with their patients.

NHS-funded Stage 2 training places may require you to have a number of years’ experience working in relevant areas such as working with people with physical health problems, supporting people to make lifestyle changes, population-based interventions, or undertaking research and evaluation.

Three things that I like about my job:

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?

In Scotland, an NHS-funded Stage 2 training scheme employs a number of trainee health psychologists each year. This allows achieving Chartership through the Society’s Qualification in Health Psychology. Currently, there is not an equivalent funded Stage 2 training scheme for the rest of the UK; however, some institutions and funding bodies do offer trainee health psychologist roles or funding for training.

Tell us about how you got to where you are today? After I graduated from LJMU, I completed a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire and was volunteering during this time as an Appropriate Adult within police custody suites. Once I graduated from my Masters, I moved to London and got a job working as a resettlement officer across two prisons (a youth and adult), which involved finding housing and employment opportunities for inmates, as well as addressing any other resettlement needs they have such as debts, child concerns etc. After 18 months, I was promoted to manage the resettlement team which enabled me to engage more closely with partnership agencies to source opportunities for prisoners and qualified me to complete risk assessments in order to allocate inmates correctly to staff. Whilst not necessary, having prior experience of working one-to-one with prisoners (both youth and adult) and completing risk assessments helped me get my current role as a probation officer. I also find it beneficial that I have knowledge of the processes inside the prisons now that I work for an external organisation.

AND

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A PROBATION OFFICER

HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

❙ It is rewarding when you successfully rehabilitate a service user’s life and can see them making positive changes ❙ There are plenty of progression routes and opportunities to specialise in other areas

Professional Doctorates will generally require you to have access to suitable opportunities for placements, and some courses will require you to have these arranged before you enrol.

❙ Days always vary and are never boring

GRADUATE CASE STUDY

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What did the application/ selection process involve and how did you prepare? The application process involved completing a personal statement and providing a CV. If you were successful at this stage you were then asked to complete a simple writing and maths test online. If successful you were progressed to an interview with two senior managers. The interview involved questions about what you can bring to the role and your experience and there was also a 10-minute role play exercise. The role play involved one of the interviewers playing the role of an un-cooperative service user while the other observed how you dealt with the situation- you had to facilitate a supervision session with them and discuss particular topics that were provided on a prop card upon arrival.

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www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures

HEATHER LORD GRADUATED IN 2013 WITH A IN PSYCHOLOGY AND IS NOW IN SHE WORKS FOR LONDON COMMUNITY REHABILITATION COMPANY (MTC).

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WANDSWORTH.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

12 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Within these roles, I supported individuals with mental health problems as well as delivering accredited offending behaviour programmes including the Sex Offender Treatment Programme and the Enhanced Thinking Skills course. I learnt so much from this experience and it really highlighted my passion for therapeutic behaviour change interventions.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? I think it important to get as much experience as possible both personally and professionally – I have gained as much from my life experiences as I have done from work experience. This has really benefitted me in completing both the MSc and Prof Doc. Ensure that you embed reflection into your work from an early stage – the more you do this the more it becomes automatic. Also, don’t worry if things don’t go to plan – things won’t always work out as you had hoped but there is always learning to be taken. Finally, don’t rush to reach your destination – the journey is just as important and if you take your time and embrace opportunities and challenges you will gain a lot more from your academic studies and work experience.

Tell us about how you got to where you are today? After completing my BSc in Applied Psychology I applied for various graduate schemes to gain my ‘big break’ into the working world. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful; fortunately, this spurred me on to further study. The same year I commenced studying on the MSc in Health Psychology, which sparked an interest into a potential career path working in the health sector. The course enhanced my employability by the breadth of knowledge and transferrable skills gained. It was following on from this (and various volunteer experiences) that I secured employment as a stepped care therapist. My employer allowed me to further develop my knowledge and skills by supporting my access to the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology course. I have been studying on this for the past two years and I plan on completing in the next six months. It has been a period of continuous personal and professional development and I have enjoyed being on this journey at LJMU.

GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 13CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

GRADUATE

LUCY HUTCHINSON COMPLETED HER BSC IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY (2015), MSC IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (2016) AND IS NOW UNDERTAKING THE PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY HERE AT LJMU ALONGSIDE HER ROLE AS A STEPPED CARE THERAPIST/ TRAINEE HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST AT PEOPLE ASSET MANAGEMENT.

After a number of years working in prisons, I wanted to gain experience of community services and gained a service manager position with a national substance misuse charity. This involved managing a team of 21 to deliver treatment and support to drug and alcohol users.

SHE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM IN BRADFORD LOCAL AUTHORITY

❙ Finally, be persistent. There will be many rejections especially in the working world so keep learning and adapting. CASE STUDY

NICKY KNOWLES COMPLETED AN MSC IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY IN 2019 AND STARTED AS A PROF DOC TRAINEE AT LJMU IN 2019.

My next role was with the same charity as a National Quality Improvement Lead and provided a great opportunity to further develop leadership skills. Again, this was really challenging but enabled me to lead national projects and support service improvements across the 200 services. Whilst in this role I decided to undertake an MSc in health psychology, which reignited my passion for psychology and my desire to become a chartered psychologist. Health psychology was new to me but I felt it really fitted with my values and beliefs and also my professional experience. I enjoyed it that much that I applied for the Prof Doc at LJMU half way through the MSc and was so excited to be offered a place dependant on my MSc results. I started the Prof Doc in 2019 and initially made really good progress. However as time went on I was experiencing challenges and felt my placement (as a national quality improvement lead) might not be the right fit. This felt like a really tough time – I loved my role and my manager but didn’t think it would help me get where I wanted to be. I started looking at jobs and quickly saw an advert for a Public Health Specialist. On reading the job description I felt the job was made for me! It was focused on my strengths and the things I enjoy and would offer great opportunities for development and for evidencing the prof doc competencies. I had a really positive intervention experience, which was unusual for me, and was so happy when they offered me the position. I started in role in October 2019 and have since been adapting my training in response to the change of placement. What does your current job involve? I have a very diverse role – I manage three staff members – an advanced public health practitioner and two training officers. I am the theme lead for drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which means I am responsible for commissioned services across the district aimed at changing these behaviours. I also lead on certain aspects of Living Well – Bradford’s whole system approach to reducing premature and preventable morbidity and mortality. I manage the communications, engagement and social marketing elements as well as managing the training academy which offers training to health and care professionals, communities and individuals across the Bradford district.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?

Tell us about how you got to where you are today? After graduating from university in 2001, I really wanted to become a forensic psychologist and therefore started volunteering with HMP Wakefield. From this experience, I gained a position as a psychological assistant, initially at HMP Moorlands before going back to HMP Wakefield.

❙ Don’t be afraid of seeking your own employment opportunities, even if a job isn’t advertised, contact companies by sending your CV and a cover letter to explain why you may suit their company – this is how I got my current role! But, if it doesn’t generate employment straightaway it could lead to voluntary opportunities or even may mean that your interest would be noted for any future roles.

❙ Seek as many voluntary opportunities as you can – whether they are one week, one month or one year. They all count; it’s what you offer in these roles and what you take away from the experience that matters. Write about what you have learned or understood from a certain experience. These are handy to talk about in an interview setting where you may need to give concrete evidence of your skills and qualities.

What does your current job involve? I primarily conduct psychological wellbeing assessments with individuals in different lines of work/employment. This is to triage them to access therapeutic interventions and also support them by offering written advice to their employers on how they can support their employees’ wellbeing at work. I also visit client sites to offer training on various mental health-related topics. In addition, and as part of my Professional Doctorate qualification, I design, deliver and evaluate CPD training workshops and conduct research.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? Prior to starting this role I worked in the retail sector, which provided me with good organisation, customer service and time management skills. All transferrable skills to any work place. In order to gain relevant research and clinical skills, throughout all of my studying (BSc and MSc) I sought various volunteering opportunities with lecturers at LJMU (research studentships) and volunteered at a local hospital (shadowing and general volunteer duties). Perhaps the most beneficial and suitable was my volunteer experience at Childline, which really allowed hands-on ‘clinical’ experience in terms of supporting and helping children and young adults.

Neuropsychologists may be employed within the National Health Service (NHS), and also in the independent sector within both private and not-for-profit charitable organisations. Pay is on the same scales as clinical psychologists. However, many senior neuropsychologists substantially supplement their income by undertaking private medicolegal consultancy as expert witnesses in personal injury cases.

Christina has since secured a trainee clinical psychologist role for an NHS trust.

WHAT IS IT?

Neuropsychologists most commonly work in acute settings, usually in regional neuroscience centres where their main focus is on the early effects of trauma, neurosurgery and neurological diseases. They also work in rehabilitation centres providing post-acute assessment, training and support for people who have sustained brain injury, or who have other neurological problems.

Neuropsychology is concerned with the assessment and rehabilitation of people with brain injury or other neurological disease. They work with people of all ages dealing with patients who have had traumatic brain injury, strokes, toxic and metabolic disorders, tumours and neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropsychologists require not only general clinical skills and knowledge of the broad range of mental health problems, but also a substantial degree of specialist knowledge in the neurosciences.

❙ The Society’s Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN). Those that have completed accredited postgraduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology will be eligible for exemption from part of the Society’s Practitioner Full Membership Qualificationbps.org.uk/careers-education-www. training/society-qualifications/ neuropsychologyclinical-neuropsychology/clinical-

GRADUATED IN 2014 WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY NEUROPSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 14 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

The university offered many opportunities to develop my skills and improve my chances of getting into the right career. The course itself was efficiently run and the staff were constantly altering their teaching methods so students’ needs were met. The content of the course was extremely interesting and keeps students engaged throughout their three years. Over my three years at LJMU, I was a course rep for Applied Psychology, and was heavily involved in open days and applicant days, and these helped develop my confidence and communication skills. Future aims I would like to complete a PhD in Neuroscience and go on to publish ground-breaking research in the field.

To become a Practitioner Full Member of the Division of Neuropsychology you will need: ❙ Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This is achieved by completing a Society accredited degree or an accredited conversion course (2:2 minimum required) - www.bps.org.uk/ node/683/ ❙ Accredited postgraduate training programme that gives eligibility for membership as a chartered psychologist through the clinical or educational training route.

My current role Working as an Assistant Psychologist in a private neurorehabilitation care home specialising in the rehabilitation of young people with brain injuries and strokes, I administer cognitive tests and work with a psychologist to help patients achieve their rehabilitation goals. Since graduating I was selected for the Curriculum Enhancement Internship, run by LJMU. This gave me the opportunity to work as an intern for David McIlroy over the summer on a project concerning the effects of personality and self-efficacy on academic performance. I then moved to Ascot, where I came across the opportunity that led me to my current role as an Assistant Psychologist. I have now moved to Birmingham but have continued in the same role.

CHRISTINA CUSACK

WORK EXPERIENCE

Neuropsychology is a post-qualification discipline, in which you first need to be a chartered psychologist within the field of clinical or educational psychology.

Studying psychology

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

WHAT IS IT?

Sport psychology’s predominant aim is to help athletes prepare psychologically for the demands of competition and training. Examples of the work sport psychologists carry out include counselling referees to deal with the stressful and demanding aspects of their role, advising coaches on how to build cohesion within their squad of athletes, and helping athletes with personal development and the psychological consequences of sustaining an injury.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

The universities offering the accredited Masters courses for Occupational Psychology will decide upon the type and nature of experience required. Identify the courses you are interested in and then approach the course tutors directly to see if they can provide you with a profile of the type of experience a successful applicant is likely to have gained.

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

Occupational psychology delivers tangible benefits by enhancing the effectiveness of organisations and developing the performance, motivation and wellbeing of people in the workplace. Occupational psychologists apply the science of psychology to work. They develop and apply a range of tools and interventions, including psychometrics and assessment, learning and development, stress-management, organisational change, coaching and job design.

❙ Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which you can get by completing a British Psychological Society (BPS)accredited degree or conversion course (2:2 minimum required);

❙ Completion of a BPS-accredited Masters in Occupational Psychology - also referred to as ‘Stage 1’. For information on universities offering accredited Masters degrees, check the list of BPS-accredited courses on the BPS Careers websitebps.org.uk/careers-portalhttp://www.

WHAT IS IT?

WORK EXPERIENCE

WHERE DO THEY WORK?

There are three steps in the process of becoming accredited by the BPS as a charted occupational psychologist:

❙ Completion of a BPS Doctoratelevel Qualification in Occupational Psychology, QOccPsych - also referred to as ‘Stage 2’. Competition for the Masters course is moderate to high, depending upon the course. Many courses expect at least a 2:1 Honours, plus relevant work experience.

Relevant experience in personnel/human resources and business/management is a strong advantage for both postgraduate study and employment. You must be employed in a relevant role in order to complete the period of practice as a trainee occupational psychologist essential for the Stage 2 course with the BPS.

Examples of the work they do include optimising the benefits that can be derived from exercise participation and helping individual clients with the implementation of goal setting

To qualify as a practising sport and exercise psychologist you will need to complete: ❙ A degree in psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) leading to the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership GBC (2:2 minimum required);

Once you have completed Stage 2 of the BPS QSEP you will be eligible for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and can use the title ‘sport and exercise psychologist’.

Exercise psychology is primarily concerned with the application of psychology to increase exercise participation and motivational levels in the general public.

Some sport psychologists work as private consultants or hold full-time positions with professional sports teams or national governing bodies of sport. Most combine their consultancy work with teaching and research or also work in other areas such as the clinical and occupational domains.

❙ A BPS-accredited MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology; ❙ Stage 2 of the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP), i.e. two years of supervised practice.

Exercise psychologists combine consultancy with teaching and research careers. The work of exercise psychologists might involve GP exercise referral and setting up and evaluating exercise programmes in employment, prison and psychiatric contexts.

SPORTPSYCHOLOGYOCCUPATIONALANDEXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 15CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

WORK EXPERIENCE

Occupational psychologists work with organisations and businesses of all sizes across the private, public and third sectors. You will find occupational psychologists working in government and public services, in leadership development centres and in consultancies. They work alongside other professionals such as managers, HR staff, union representatives, training advisors and specialist staff within client organisations.

Practitionersstrategies.typicallyspecialise in either the sport or exercise branches, although some work equally in both fields. WHERE DO THEY WORK?

For entry on to a Masters course you will also need relevant work experience. Practical experience in sports performance or in areas such as coaching, fitness and exercise instruction, health promotion and PE teaching will be useful. Contact course providers to find out how much experience they are looking for. The information in this guide has been adapted from the BPS careers website. To find out more about the routes into various branches of psychology, please refer to www.bps.org.uk/careers-in-psychologyhttp://

Sport and exercise psychologists work in a wide range of settings with a diverse range of clients participating in recreational, amateur, and elite levels of competition.

Any tips for those interested in pursuing a career in research?

❙ I enjoy being able to continue learning through researching and challenging myself to reach new levels of understanding. I learn something new every day!

Throughout my third year, I developed professional relationships with my dissertation supervisor and lecturers, and sought advice about how to pursue a postgraduate research career. This was important for building a rapport and creating a good impression.

Don’t be scared of stats! Statistical analysis was always really daunting for me, but I found it very different when I was running analysis on my own research. It was much more exciting, because I was interested to know whether or not I had found significant results and why. Pursuing a career in research is challenging and you will be able to face difficult questions and overcome your doubts – it is very rewarding.

What have you done since graduating from LJMU? After graduating I applied for a couple of PhD studentship positions at LJMU and was eventually successful! I have recently completed my PhD focused on psychophysiology, motivation and listening effort. Why did you decide to pursue postgraduate study? I enjoyed my undergraduate study immensely, and I felt drawn to several domains in psychology. Therefore, I considered a wide range of career options, including counselling and clinical psychology, human resources and primary school teaching. However, whilst completing my dissertation in my third year, I realised my passion was research! I was inspired by the prospect of continuing my studies into PhD level, and progressively challenging myself and expanding my knowledge of psychology. The idea that my research will contribute to enhancing knowledge in the field, and eventually inform practice to benefit individuals in real life is really motivating.

Research underpins much of the teaching and practice of psychology as it provides the evidence-base for psychological theory and the effectiveness of treatments, interventions, tests and teaching methods. Typically academics or researchers in higher education undertake both research and teaching and lecturing.

I also volunteered to present my dissertation research and data at the BPS student conference; this allowed me to develop my ability to articulate scientific information to a lay audience. I also referred to a lot of the experience I gained from my dissertation, for example, data collection, using SPSS and scientific writing skills.

Since completing her PhD at LJMU, Kate has secured a new post as a Research Associate at Lancaster University.

SHE

IN 2015

To become a Chartered Member of the Society in the field of teaching or research in psychology, you need Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and five or more years of supervised and assessed professional activity. The research route will normally include taking a PhD or equivalent research experience.

RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 16 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

What relevant work experience/skills/volunteering did you refer to during the selection process?

WHAT IS IT? Research in psychology requires the application of skills and knowledge to scientifically hypothesise about an aspect of human behaviour, then to test it, analyse it and communicate the results.

What do you enjoy about it?

HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

❙ Collecting novel data is really exiting.

SLADE GRADUATED

KATE FROM LJMU WITH A DEGREE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY. IS NOW A PSYCHOLOGY PHD RESEARCHER ON A STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AT LJMU

WHERE DO THEY WORK? Most researchers are employed in higher education institutions or specialist research units; however, others are employed in a wide variety of contexts including the food and drink industries, pharmaceutical industries, marketing, government departments (such as the Ministry of Defence) and the NHS.

❙ I love having the opportunity to produce innovative results and eventually make a difference to people’s lives in the real world. What was the application and selection process like for your PhD? I applied for the PhD studentship through the LJMU website. As it was a studentship, the research idea was already outlined with funding in place. I emailed the director of studies with my CV and a cover letter. I was then invited to an interview with a panel of doctors and professors at the university, including my director of studies and another of my supervisors. I was nervous, but I had already had an unsuccessful interview for another studentship, so I was more prepared and knew what to expect. I prepared by researching interview questions and practising my answers. I also looked into the research area and read relevant literature; this meant I would be ready for any questions regarding the area and specific proposed research.

Lifelong alumni membership www.LJMUConnect.com LJMU Connect, the home of our alumni community, gives you the tools to: Import your LinkedIn or Facebook profile to register today at: (Re)connect Stay in touch with your friends wherever life takes you Get ahead Boost your professional network and find the people you need to know Get involved Hear about and attend social/networking events, reunions & lectures Give back Share your top tips with current students and inspire future www.ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduatewww.ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduategraduates Whether you are looking to specialise, change direction, enhance your earning potential or boost your employability, staying at LJMU for postgraduate study is a great investment in your future success, with increased earnings of up to 18% for postgraduates compared to graduates. Source: BBC GET A 20% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR LJMU POSTGRADUATE COURSE To discover more, call 0151 231 5090, or go to: SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 17CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

I work for Arctic Shores - a behavioural-based psychometric provider. This basically means we help employers make better people choices (recruiting the right staff) and people make better career choices (getting the right jobs). The psychometric we use is presented in a game-like format which can be downloaded onto a candidate’s smart phone or desktop via an app. My job involves working closely with clients (the recruiter) to build a ‘profile’ of success for that particular job role, and the candidates applying for this role are then compared to this ‘profile’. I run qualitative analysis (workshops, interviews, job shadowing) and quantitative analysis (SPSS) then present the ‘profile’ findings back to the client.

Three things that I like about my Job:

Tell us about how you got to where you are today? Even though I completed a psychology degree, I’ve always been interested in business and have been very business minded from a young age. After I graduated, I felt a little lost and was still unaware that there was a career path I could take in the field. I originally applied for an MSc Clinical Psychology at Lancaster University as I thought this was the best route for me. I was rejected from the MSc and was told to gain more research in a clinical setting. I completed an eight-week training course in CBT and managed to get a placement at a school mentoring high school students with depression and anxiety. A couple of months in, I realised this path was not right for me and that is where my career search began again. I remembered loving my ‘Work Psychology’ module at LJMU so I did more research in that field. I found that the University of Manchester ran an MSc Organisational Psychology at their Alliance Manchester Business School. So I applied and started in September 2017. During the first few months, Arctic Shores came into our ‘Selection and Assessment’ lecture and spoke about the behavioural-based psychometric. I found it fascinating, so I emailed the company asking if they were taking on any part-time positions. I managed to get an interview which led to me securing a position as an Assistant Business Psychologist in their Manchester office, working two days a week alongside my MSc. It was hard work and a long commute, but so worth it! After I completed my MSc I was offered a full-time position and took the plunge to move to London! I was promoted to a Business Psychologist six months later. I’ve been with Arctic Shores for nearly two years and have loved every second of being here.

Things I’m not so keen on: Workload can be challenging at times. I joined the company during its ‘start-up’ phase so hours can be long, but it does not go unnoticed. My role is so rewarding so there is very little I am not keen on!

❙ Flexible working hours in my role. Arctic Shores does not run by the typical nine to five office rules – we have flexibility to work from home.

❙ Every day is different! Every client and every role I work on has different job analysis outcomes. My days can involve delivering workshops to stakeholders in the company, running one-to-one high performer interviews, running data analysis with SPSS, presenting my findings back to clients etc.

❙ Being able to provide equal opportunities to all candidates. The problem with traditional psychometrics is that they have been proven to have bias, particularly in minority groups. The great thing about the Arctic Shores behavioural-based assessment is that we are able to reduce the bias in the selection process which leads to a more diverse sample.

GRADUATE CASE OTHERSTUDY CAREER OPTIONS SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 18 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES CAREER PLANNING GUIDE www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE & CASE STUDIES

TARA FRANKS GRADUATED WITH A BSC (HONS) PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE IN 2016 AND IS NOW A BUSINESS PSYCHOLOGIST AT ARCTIC SHORES.

What advice would you give to other students studying psychology to help them with careers choices? Do your research. If you find a particular module you enjoy – there is a career out there in that field! I know most people on my course wanted to go into Clinical or Educational Psychology because that is heavily advertised. However, there are so many other opportunities in different sectors so don’t be afraid to do an MSc in something slightly more niche. Also, moving to London was the best decision I made – especially for job opportunities. Widen your job search to all countries and cities you wouldn’t mind living in and take every opportunity that comes to you.

What does your current job involve?

PLANNING GUIDEwww.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE &

❙ Treating common mental health problems and helping patients reach recovery from their disorders.

As well as being Deputy Clinical Lead I also manage a caseload of patients who I diagnostically assess and treat using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I treat patients with OCD, PTSD, health anxiety, social phobia, specific phobias, panic disorder and depressive disorders. I use psychometric and client selfreported measures to identify the effectiveness of the CBT protocol used within a course of therapy.

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The most important thing is to ensure that you have relevant experience. We are looking for experience of working with individuals experiencing common mental health problems. This can be in a paid or voluntary position. I would recommend during university to try and volunteer with services such as the Samaritans. This will then allow you to gain more paid clinical experience after university or assist you to access a trainee PWP job. Computerised CBT services are excellent places to start to gain experience and would look desirable on your application.

❙

❙

It is an extremely competitive career and trainee posts will close within hours of them opening on NHS jobs (www.jobs.nhs.uk).

MELISSA BETT IS THE DEPUTY CLINICAL LEAD AND A HIGH INTENSITY COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST AT WARRINGTON PRIMARY CARE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYCAREER

How do you become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner or High Intensity Therapist in the NHS? I applied for the position of a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) following two years’ post-university experience in the field of mental health. I became a qualified PWP after completing my Postgraduate Certificate in Low Intensity CBT Interventions at LJMU. I developed as a qualified practitioner for three years, including completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Practice in Primary Care Mental Health at The University of Manchester and a PWP supervision qualification from UCLAN. This ensured that I could clinically supervise trainee and qualified PWP’s.

A CONVERSATION WITH A … HIGH INTENSITY THERAPIST

❙ www.jobs.nhs.uk/ ❙ www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies

What three things do you like about your job?

I have shortlisted and interviewed for many Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Trainee High Intensity Therapists over the years. I would recommend you ensure that your application identifies how you meet the essential criteria for the position, because if it doesn’t you won’t be shortlisted. Get your applications in fast, as these jobs close within hours with hundreds of applications!

www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 19CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Also look out for trainee assistant practitioner jobs within IAPT, as these roles will allow you to eventually move into a trainee PWP post.

❙ Training – I have completed three postgraduate degrees within my IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) career, all of which have been fully funded by NHS England. Supervising and developing qualified and trainee practitioners. What three things are you not so keen on? IAPT is target driven – the service and individual practitioners have monthly targets to meet. This can be stressful, however it is with the overall aim to ensure our service is effective, productive and to improve our waiting lists. Clinical audits – a very lengthy process. Very, very long meetings I have to attend.

Every day can be different with my job so it’s difficult for me to describe a typical day. I am the service’s Deputy Clinical Lead which includes attending multi-disciplinary meetings with secondary care services to assess and accept suitable patients for psychological therapies. I may be supervising practitioners or providing clinical guidance to staff or external agencies. I am also responsible for the clinical governance of the service and therefore I ensure practitioners are using the appropriate and most effective evidence-based treatment, so I could be completing clinical audits. I am also responsible for ensuring our service meets its contractual targets and therefore I regularly review discharged patients to re-engage them back into psychological therapies as well as ensuring we increase access to therapy for local community groups.

❙

Useful websites:

In 2015, I became a Trainee High Intensity Therapist within the Warrington service. This included completing a Postgraduate Diploma in High Intensity CBT Therapy at The University of Chester. After qualifying as a HIT, I then achieved the role as a step two lead/HIT at the service. This included being a line manager to PWP’s and a clinician. I remained in the post until 2017 where I then achieved the role as the service’s Deputy Clinical Lead. What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? After my undergraduate degree, I spent two years gaining clinical work experience in the field of mental health prior to IAPT. I worked firstly as a community support worker with adults with mental health disorders and following this I worked in a CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services) psychiatric ward as a clinical support worker. This experience was vital in helping me to acquire a trainee PWP role. What advice would you give to undergraduate psychology students wanting to pursue this career route?

What does your job involve?

20 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

My top tips for applying for a graduate scheme are:

❙ Don’t get disheartened if you’re not successful. I was rejected by nine different schemes before I got my job. What I wish I had known as a student: How much help the university offers to improve your employability, such as CV support, careers advice, work experience opportunities etc. I regret not making the most of the resources available.

What does your job involve? Supporting planning applications for a wide range of new developments such as residential and transport schemes and taking them through the whole process.

❙ Practise the online tests - it can make all the difference.

❙ Diversity/flexibility: there are so many different themes within the projects I work on which makes every project interesting and challenging (HS2, M5 motorway modelling, new Thames crossing, housing developments, lawsuits etc).

❙ Getting the inside scoop! Most clients come to us with planning applications before they are made public, so we usually know what is going to be built around the country before anyone else.

The NGDP provides me with training, development and a qualification, so I can apply for management positions in local authorities at the end of the two-year scheme. It fast-tracks my career in the public sector and gives me the opportunity to have placements in key strategic areas across the council, such as policy, social care, transformation or human resources. Councils across the country are involved in the scheme giving you the ability to choose where you want to work.

Three things I like about my job: ❙ I get to work on a variety of multi-disciplinary projects and so my job is very interactive with chances to build good working relationships.

Why did you apply for a graduate scheme? A number of reasons! I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do after university but knew that many graduate schemes accept any degree subject, so I applied for a variety of positions. You can also climb the career ladder quickly and most have some form of qualification to complete at the same time, which puts you in a good position to advance your career quickly. The competitive starting salary is also a perk for a first job after university!

SPOTLIGHTSTUDY ON GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES OF PSYCHOLOGY

SCHOOL

For more information about the Peter Brett graduate training scheme: https://www.peterbrett.com/careers/graduates

The application process took about six months in total from the closing date to the final interview. During this time I registered my interest and eligibility, and then completed four online tests (verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning skills along with my understanding of the NGDP key behaviours), a video interview, a halfday assessment centre, and finally my interviews at my chosen councils.

❙ Don’t apply unless you can see yourself doing the job. Do some research into the scheme – it will be obvious in interviews if you’re not really bothered.

Tell us about your role.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures

What was the recruitment process like?

For more information about the National Graduate Development Programme: www.local.gov.uk/national-graduate-developmentprogramme

Top tip for current students: Work experience is key! Make as many contacts in the sector you are interested in as you can – connect with people on LinkedIn and ask tutors if they know anyone in the industry.

AFTER GRADUATING WITH A GEOGRAPHY DEGREE IN 2018, CHLOE DUGGAN PROGRESSED INTO THE PETER BRETT GRADUATE PROGRAMME AS A GRADUATE TRANSPORT PLANNER.

AFTER GRADUATING WITH A HISTORY DEGREE IN 2017, GEORGE LANDALE GAINED A PLACE ON THE NATIONAL GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (NGDP) AS A NATIONAL MANAGEMENT TRAINEE.

GRADUATE CASE STUDY GRADUATE CASE

❙ Don’t be put off by how long the process takes.

What work experience and volunteering did you refer to in the selection process? During my voluntary work and university placements I came into contact with service users of different ages, genders and with a variety of often complex issues. Throughout the selection process, I had to demonstrate how I interacted with service users with particular emphasis on having good communication skills and being able to develop relationships based on trust. For more information about the Think Ahead scheme: https://thinkahead.org/

SUCCESSFULLY GAINED A PLACE WITH MARKS AND SPENCER AS A GRADUATE MANAGEMENT TRAINEE (SELLING). GRADUATE CASE STUDY

What attracted you to the Teach First graduate scheme? You gain experience in the classroom from day one, which is different from other teacher training courses. Typically, participants on the programme spend 39 weeks in the classroom teaching. During this process, you get continued support from your placement school, your university and also alumni of the programme. Over the two years on the programme you work towards a PGDE (postgraduate diploma in education). What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare?

For more information about the Marks and Spencer graduate management trainee programme: https://careers.marksandspencer.com/early-careers/graduates

RUBY BURNTON GRADUATED FROM LJMU IN 2019 WITH A DEGREE IN BIOLOGY. SHE

What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare?

What attracted you to the Marks and Spencer graduate scheme? I was attracted to the high-quality training and career progression opportunities. The M&S graduate scheme looks for candidates who are interested in innovation, and I feel I can bring new ideas and aid the direction the company wants to take. M&S also provide opportunities to experience their different departments through a series of rotational placements.

What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare?

In the second year of the programme, you are able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and practise as a newlyqualified social worker while getting paid a standard social worker salary.

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I have a passion for mental health and the Think Ahead programme focuses on this. Additionally, there are no student loans or tuition fees to worry about as all costs are covered by a bursary during the first year.

The first stage was an online application form, followed by an invitation to complete three online tests - situational judgement, an ability test and a personality questionnaire. Once the results of these tests were screened, I was invited to an assessment centre. The day consisted of being marked completing different tasks including a group discussion, analysis exercise, solo presentation and a role-play. The final part of the day was an interview with a member of senior management. To prepare, I thoroughly researched the company to ensure I was aware of their values, current challenges and any new directions they were taking with products and campaigns. I also booked an appointment at the Careers Zone for help preparing for the assessment centre tasks and more importantly for the interview.

What attracted you to the Think Ahead scheme in particular?

It was very rigorous! The first stage involved completing an online application form describing specific examples when I had shown Teach First competencies. I was successful and then invited to a daylong ‘development centre’, which involved a one-to-one interview and a group discussion on an educationrelated topic. The final task was to deliver a seven-minute lesson from a list of topics to two Teach First employees who were in character as pupils of the age you were teaching. Self-evaluation forms a large part of the day and after the group task and the mini lesson, I had to evaluate how I thought I performed and what I would do differently next time. For more information about the Teach First graduate scheme www.teachfirst.org.uk/our-programme

MARK COLEBOURN GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN 2019 AND SECURED A PLACE ON THE THINK AHEAD PROGRAMME, WHICH TRAINS GRADUATES TO BECOME QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL WORKERS. GRADUATE CASE STUDY

Top tip for graduate scheme success: Definitely make sure you get a part-time job or begin volunteering as soon as you can, even if it isn’t in a directly relevant field as it helps you to develop interpersonal skills and experiences you can refer to during the interview process. Interviewers will ask you for examples of times when you have demonstrated relevant skills, so the more experiences and examples you have the better! During my interview, I referred to my part-time job as a customer assistant and the strong customer service and communication skills I developed. I also discussed the many transferable skills I gained from my degree, particularly those important to the graduate scheme, such as my ability to work in a team and my interpersonal skills. I also detailed my leadership skills from my voluntary post as a sports coach.

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

The application process was split into three stages:❙ Online application form, which included making two short videos. ❙ An online situational judgement test (SJT). An assessment centre which required taking part in a number of activities linked to the day-to-day work of a mental health social worker

www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 21CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

2019 BIOLOGY GRADUATE KATIE FISHER SECURED A PLACE ON THE TEACH FIRST GRADUATE SCHEME AS A TRAINEE SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER. GRADUATE CASE STUDY

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❙ Working with lots of different people from all different walks of life. What are the challenging aspects of the job? This role is very demanding because you’re at university and in work full-time. Revision and essay writing in your own time over evenings and weekends is sometimes required. Having a high caseload of patients as a trainee is quite overwhelming, and it increases as the year goes on/ as you qualify. Sometimes patients that might not be relevant for an IAPT service end up being treated in an IAPT service, when really, they might need secondary care. Sometimes patients may end their own life during therapy, and this is very difficult for everyone involved in their care, as well as their family and friends. This is very uncommon; however, it might be at the back of your mind when working with high risk patients, which is naturally difficult.

Tell us how you got to where you are today?

Skills and experience needed Evidence of academic competence and achievement in a relevant field of study Clinical experience in a relevant field of mental health service provision – preferably primary care Both of the above are essential criteria as competition for this training is very high across England. Gaining entry onto this training route is highly competitive, so to be successful, it is essential that you have gained paid or voluntary experience in a mental health-related role, ideally in a clinical setting. Experience in CCBT (Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) as delivered by mental health charity Self Help (https://www. selfhelpservices.org.uk/) or NHS trusts like MerseyCare, or experience of working as a voluntary counsellor for the Samaritans or ChildLine can also be very useful. https://www.mind.org.uk/media/494424/we-still-need-to-talk_ report.pdf childline/volunteer-childline-helpline/

The term IAPT stands for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. In 2008 the way in which psychological services were commissioned and provided in England changed to what is known as the ‘Stepped Care’ model (Clark 2011). Depending on the complexity of the mental health problem, people are able to access psychological therapies that meet their needs. Professional staff include cognitive behavioural practitioners, counsellors, interpersonal practitioners, psychodynamic practitioners and a new workforce – the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP). At LJMU we deliver the PWP training. PWPs are trained to deliver what is known as low intensity psychological interventions to people who are experiencing mild to moderate levels of anxiety and depression (Papworth 2013, Clark 2011, Bennet–Levy et al 2011). How to become an IAPT practitioner? Currently at LJMU, all IAPT PWP training is delivered in conjunction with IAPT services. PWP trainees are employed on a year-long contract while they are completing the 12-month PWP training. They are typically salaried at band 4 Agenda for Change (www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/working-in-the-nhs/pay-andbenefits/agenda-for-change-pay-rates/), even if they are not working for the NHS. On successful completion of the programme, the employing service may offer the newly-qualified PWP employment but this will be dependent on service need. Employment is obtained via successful job application and these posts are advertised on a number of websites including NHS jobs, local third sector organisations’ websites – e.g. Healthy Minds, Insight Health or Mental Health Matters and in job centres. The costs of the PWP training are also currently covered by the employer. At LJMU we are looking at providing the option of students self- funding and are currently working with a service to identify a high quality clinical placement that meets PWP trainee needs.

❙ https://www.samaritans.org/volunteer-us ❙ https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/volunteering-nspcc-

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For postgraduate route (level seven) – an undergraduate degree (preferably 2:1 or above*) is required in a field relevant to mental health – e.g. psychology, mental health nursing, social work. Experience of working in a mental health setting is also needed, preferably in primary care.

Useful links ❙ https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/iapt/ ❙ https://www.clinpsy.org.uk/forum/ ❙

❙ The balance between being at university and at work, and being able to apply new skills learned in the work environment.

SPOTLIGHT ON A CAREER AS AN ... IAPT PRACTITIONER INTERESTED IN A CAREER AS AN IAPT PRACTITIONER? CAREERS ADVISER HAYLEY FALLON LOOKS AT HOW TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THIS FIELD.

*Applicants who do not have a 2:1 in their first degree but who have a good breadth and depth of relevant clinical experience will be considered. For the undergraduate route (level six) – successful applicants will be able to demonstrate successful academic study and progress at level four and five in a relevant field (e.g. Diploma in mental health nursing, Dip HE social work) and experience of working in mental health, preferably in primary care. Both routes provide identical training. All students, regardless of exit level, study together.

What is IAPT?

Entry requirements The IAPT programme at LJMU can be accessed through both a postgraduate and undergraduate route. The award/qualification at the end is the same but trainees on the different routes will be assessed on their academic progress in a way that accurately measures the level of study they are undertaking. ( www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/accredited-coursestraining-programmes/psychological-wellbeing-practitioner-trainingcourses/psycholo)

What three things do you like about your job? Helping people be their own therapist, improving their wellbeing and giving them tools to manage their mental health difficulties and reach their goals.

ZOE LAWRENCE IS AN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A TRAINEE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING PRACTITIONER GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 22 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

My role involves conducting patient-centred interviews to identify areas where a patient wishes to see change, making accurate assessments of the risk a patient poses to themselves and others, making decisions on the suitability of new referrals, and referring unsuitable clients to alternative services or ‘stepping-up’ their treatment to high-intensity psychological therapy. I am also responsible for case management and treatment at low intensity/ step two. This includes providing low-intensity interventions, such as psycho-educational interventions, guided self-help, computerised CBT, as well as assisting in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

What does your current job involve?

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My first helping role was as a support worker when I was 16 for a child with complex needs. During my second year at university, I completed a placement with a mindfulness company, and then volunteered there for the rest of university until I graduated. I also volunteered at an art and drama therapy centre. My first job after graduation was as a special educational needs teaching assistant. I then gained a role as a mental healthcare assistant in a psychiatric ward, where I worked for about a year. I then secured an honorary assistant psychologist role in a general hospital on a heart and lung transplant unit and a pain clinic. After that, I landed this role as a Trainee PWP. I believe my mental healthcare assistant and assistant psychologist roles were very important to secure my current position. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare? The application process for my current role involved applying through the university (UCL); however the other roles I applied for were all through NHS Jobs. I prepared to relocate for the job – as this is a very competitive role I applied all over the UK – and moved to London for my current job. I spent a lot of time researching and reading materials online, such as the Reach Out manual. I had two interviews and they were both very different, but both quite intense. I read a lot around the background of IAPT and possible interview questions. Some interviews may require a role play, most are an hour in length and include a psychologist, line manager and lecturer on the panel. Another thing to note is that trainee PWP roles go up on the NHS website and within the same day go down (sometimes within a few hours) due to a large number of applicants, so have a template ready to adjust accordingly to each job you apply for, to make sure you submit before the job gets taken down. Also set up alerts to your email for when the roles go live on NHS jobs. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Try and get a range of experience working in the community and in a hospital, with different roles. Tailor your applications specifically to the job spec and use headlines and bullet points to show how you meet all the essential and desirable criteria in order, or they might not even bother reading it. They receive such a high volume of applications, so it is important to make it as easy as possible for them to follow and offer you an interview. Do a thorough amount of research before interviews so you’re confident and able to answer any questions they might throw at you. This was my second time applying – perseverance is key for such competitive roles – so don’t give up!

I am also a senior supervisor in the team and work closely with my colleagues to support them in their clinical work. I co-ordinate any mediation requests that come into the service from our trust and, occasionally, external trusts. As a fully trained mediator, I am able to mediate between two parties and I am also trained to work with group mediations. I occasionally have to respond to traumatic incidents that may occur on the wards in our trust, and this involves delivering either individual or team debriefs to members of staff who have been involved in traumatic events.

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What do you wish you’d known when you were a student? I wish I had been more prepared for the variety and complexity of the referrals that I have encountered over the years; nothing prepares you for that and you learn so much through experience and CPD. I also think that students need to be well prepared for dealing with risk situations and need to be very aware of the organisation’s safe-guarding policies and practices. Self-care is also very important in this line of work and it is essential to have a good work/life balance and to enjoy activities outside of work.

It can be competitive pursuing a career in counselling. What advice would you give to psychology students wanting to pursue this career route? It is a competitive field, but if your passion and commitment show through, hopefully success will follow. It is important to gain experience in various settings, if possible, as this helps to inform you about the wide variety of referrals that may come your way.

For more information about careers in counselling and counselling psychotherapy:

Three things you’re not so keen on: It is very difficult to identify three things I am not keen on! However here goes… The detailed admin and record keeping that has to be completed. The number of emails that I receive from my managers and other areas of the trust which also need prompt attention. As this is such a busy service, there can be a lack of time for reflection (other than in supervision) and I am kept busy with the numbers of clients that I have to see in a day. In an ideal world, some more time in between appointments would be beneficial and provide time to reflect on the last client seen and prepare more thoroughly for the next one. How did you get into this career? My journey into this career began many years ago when my children were young and I wanted to do something to keep my mind active, so I completed a night class in psychology. I loved the mental health aspect of the course and then accessed an Introduction to Counselling course at the University of Chester. I then signed up to the Diploma in Counselling, gained a distinction, and thought I may as well go on and do the Masters in Counselling Studies. Throughout this time, I worked for a bereavement and loss charity and then carried out my student placement in an occupational health setting for my local council. I applied for a job in primary care and worked in and out of various GP practices for the next seven years, as well as working in a number of occupational health settings.

❚ British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): www.bacp.co.uk/crs/Training/careersincounselling.php

The most rewarding aspect of my work is delivering individual therapy and engaging clients in a process that can change the way they function in life; the rewards are often both satisfying and touching. I enjoy my position of responsibility and being able to offer sound clinical advice to my colleagues based on 20 years of experience in this field. It is very rewarding when my colleagues consult with me and we can work our way through a potential problem. Initially, I was reluctant to become involved in conflict resolution, but I now thoroughly enjoy my role as a mediator and having the opportunity to enable two individuals to find their way through a conflict situation and to gain greater understanding and respect for one another’s differences. I have assisted in delivering conflict resolution training with my manager and this has helped me to gain greater awareness of how people’s past experiences in their families can influence the way they manage conflict in the workplace. This is very interesting work and the outcomes can be unpredictable!

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What does your job involve?

❚ UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP): www.psychotherapy. org.uk/

A WITH A COUNSELLOR ALISON WILLIAMS IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING COUNSELLOR FOR CHESHIRE & NHS OF

CONVERSATION

Offering your service as a volunteer counsellor is also a helpful way of gaining a post in an NHS setting and there is a lot of knowledge to be gained from working alongside other experienced counsellors and joining in group supervision sessions. In our service, we value an integrative approach and all of our counsellors have training in a number of theoretical approaches to inform their work. We always look for BACP-accredited counsellors when we are looking to employ our therapists and I highly recommend this as a way forward.

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WIRRAL

Three things you like about your job:

PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 23CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

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FOUNDATION TRUST SCHOOL

I also act as clinical lead on occasions and support our other counsellors and admin staff with clinical queries and complex referrals. My post involves working with various stakeholders and collaboration with occupational health services, human resources and managers of the trust, amongst others.

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Most of my work is clinical and I deliver one-to-one therapy to employees of our trust. I currently have a caseload of 45 clients, but this can vary depending on the number of referrals into our service. I manage a high caseload by seeing clients fortnightly, or with even longer gaps, depending on where they are up to with therapy and their circumstances. I receive regular supervision on a one-to-one basis and also in a group setting. I am able to confer with our head of service and also the clinical team manager with regard to complex cases and for support in my work.

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24 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Think of some key, basic psychological theories – e.g. attachment theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, conditioning etc and how you have considered/used these in your work with young people. In preparation I considered how these had applied to specific children I had worked with and how that informed the way I worked with them. I also came up with some ideas for research I might do for my thesis. This was in addition to generic interview prep (e.g. safeguarding, strengths and areas for development, situations I’ve found difficult and how I’ve handled them, multi-disciplinary working etc).

In around April/May, all applicants are notified of success (or not) through the AEP portal and if you are successful at more than one place, you must choose a course.

Practice “applying psychology” everywhere. Psychology is applicable in every situation and the more practised you are at spotting it and thinking critically/reflecting, the easier it will be to do in applications/ interviews. In my interview for an Asst Ed Psych position I was required to give a presentation of how I’d used psychology in my work with children. I discussed a rewards chart we used in a youth club I’d worked at and how it basically used operant conditioning. However the rewards were not meaningful or many children so then discussed the adaptations I would make to it. This kind of critique can be applied to any situation and will be useful as you go through the application process.

Although a 1st class degree isn’t necessary (2:1 or further study), most people in my cohort (who did a psychology undergrad) received a first. Most also have Masters degrees. Try and demonstrate your academic calibre through your undergrad to avoid feeling like it’s necessary to do further study in between.

Application is made through the AEP (Association of Educational Psychologists). You need to describe your prior work and how it relates to psychology, a work reference and an academic reference and then your personal statement. Personal statement really should be aimed at what the courses you are applying for are looking for. Manchester University have a person specification available which I used to structure my personal statement. Shortlists are made from this application which happens December-January. Interviews are offered to the shortlisted applicants. The interview consists of different things at each university –some have tasks which you need to prepare for (e.g. presentations), but some are more question/answer sessions.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in Educational Psychology?

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures

There is a Facebook group called Educational Psychology – Doctoral Applicants which is really useful to join. Even if you don’t apply that year, you get to follow the process through others and also consider questions other people are having.

ELLIE BOYLAN IS AN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE WHO IS CURRENTLY A 3RD YEAR TRAINEE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER WITH A PLACEMENT AT SEFTON MBC. HER RESEARCH FOCUS USES LEGO THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DIFFICULTIES.

I still work with children pretty much every day, but don’t feel “stuck” as I would teaching a class. I don’t necessarily have strong/long lasting relationships with the children, but I meet so many and am now pretty skilled at building a rapport very quickly. The work is both logical, in terms of generating hypotheses about why a child is struggling and recommending strategies to alleviate this, as well as creative in working with other professionals to problem solve a particular difficult situation.

Working as a supply TA gave me a great range of experience and even now, when people are discussing schools/setting with me, I quite often have a bit of knowledge of what it’s like as a setting from spending a day/week there in that job. It didn’t take much experience to get that role (as it does for permanent TA roles) and you can start as soon as you finish uni rather than waiting for opportunities to come up.

Don’t expect to get on the doctorate unless you have quality experience with children and young people. Volunteering is valuable, as is paid work, but it has to be quite extensive. Colleagues in my year have been teachers, TAs, assistant psychologists, social workers etc. You don’t have to be an assistant psychologist.

A CONVERSATION WITH AN … EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST

My experiences have been a mixture of gaining experience working with young people with a range of needs and abilities, combined with necessary work to pay the bills. It doesn’t all need to be Ed Psych focused and sometimes the fact that the psychology in a job isn’t glaringly obvious can make you think critically a little bit more. What advice would you give to other students studying Psychology at LJMU to increase their chances of getting into Educational Psychology?

I spent a year at a specialist school as a TA, which I loved, but decided I needed to add to my experience and being employed for more than a year as a TA at one school was not broadening my experience, so I applied for a PGCE. This was useful to do and greatly increased my experience and understanding of the pressure on teachers, but also showed me that teaching was something I definitely did not want to do. I also applied for lots of jobs I wasn’t quite sure about, which was demoralising, but gave me some application/interview experience. I was beginning to have conversations with people about at what point I might give up applying for the doctorate and forge a different career path when I gained the job as Assistant Educational Psychologist. Resilience and persistence is key. Three things you like about the course: It’s what I want to do. There is a mixture of academic and placement work, but 3-4 days a week I’m doing the job of an Educational Psychologist. I’m also completing a thesis, so contributing to wider psychological knowledge. In September, I presented a poster about my research at an international conference in Edinburgh and in my first year, I presented at the International School Psychology Association conference in Manchester alongside some other trainees.

I was interested in Educational Psychology from around 16, completing my A Levels when we did an education module. However, I also liked criminal psychology. Throughout my undergraduate degree, we covered both and I felt I would make more of a difference with educational psychology, but also wouldn’t be able to cope long-term with criminal psychology. I also enjoy working with children and my work experience post-graduation in all sorts of settings cemented my decision of pursuing a career working with children. Tell us a bit about how you got to where you are today, what steps did you have to take. A looong journey. I first applied for the doctorate during my final year of uni (this is essentially a waste of time as you will not be accepted until you’ve graduated). I then carried on with my part-time job and tried to get as much experience with young people/people with additional needs as possible. I carried on with my work placement from my third year module, volunteered lots and emailed loads of companies. I made a lot of contacts by talking to people and through hobbies and did bits of work/volunteered on projects here and there. As soon as I’d finished my exams at LJMU (the week after), I signed up with Connex, a supply teaching agency and spent the last few months of that academic year working as a supply TA at a range of specialist settings across Liverpool.

What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare? Application process starts around October. Many universities have open evenings which are 100% worth going to.

What skills and experiences would students need to develop to be successful in HR?

Make sure you know your employment legislation inside out - current, prospective and case law – this will impress a panel. Do your research about the company; they will have a HR strategy and numerous policies, so do your homework and understand the direction the HR team are going in and the complexities of the core business of the organisation you are applying for. Lots of HR staff overlook this and become insular, focusing their energies on core HR matters, and often losing sight of the bigger picture. Ensure you demonstrate your willingness to undertake continuous professional development (including the CIPD).

When you work in HR, there really isn’t a typical day, as your primary job is dealing with employees and an interrupted day becomes the norm.

What does your job involve?

Good people skills, the ability to influence, strong listening skills, the ability to be firm and use softer skills when required and interchangeably. It can be quite a difficult job which some people don’t expect and you need to develop your sense of resilience.

Prospects also has a good overview of this career route: https://www. prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/human-resources-officer

❙ Dealing with a diverse mix of people daily.

There are various entry routes into human resources and competition for entry is generally fierce. Applying to a HR graduate training scheme is one possibility. Early application is strongly advised for such schemes. You could also try sending speculative applications for graduate roles.

Key points in your career development to date: Successfully obtaining the MA in Human Resource Management and then becoming a fellow of the CIPD did change the course of my career in a very positive way. Becoming a manager for the first time was quite daunting but it is enjoyable and rewarding and can of course be challenging. The first time I delivered a presentation to senior managers was quite overwhelming but you can improve with practice and are able to influence key HR matters by building your confidence in this area.

Three things you like about your job:

❙ Managing a great team of people who are dedicated to improving the organisation and getting the best out of staff.

Any words of advice for someone who wants to get into this career area? I still believe that CIPD membership is relevant and important if you are serious about developing a career in HR. It’s worth the effort and you will stand out against other candidates to potential employers.

Employees frequently come to you with matters they wish to discuss and which are of course very important to them; it’s important that you don’t lose sight of this and that you are accessible to staff or you will be closed off to what is really happening in the organisation.

There is usually some time in the day dedicated to policy development. The employment legislation framework in the UK changes at such a rapid pace that we have to be sure that all our policies and procedures reflect current changes and best practice.

SPOTLIGHT ON A CAREER IN ... HUMAN RESOURCES

Many organisations are beginning to see the benefits of ensuring the wellbeing of employees so there are lots of new initiatives to ensure a healthy workforce which the HR manager may get involved in. This can be anything from helping manage stress and absence to more innovative ideas such as workplace fitness challenges and promotions about healthy eating.

Any final top tips for the recruitment process?

Although this area of work is open to all graduates (particularly those who have studied business, management, and human resource management), having a psychology degree can also be a particularly relevant qualification and useful for this career path.

Human Resources (HR) can open doors to jobs in many sectors. You can build your career internationally or at home. From media to engineering and from banks to charities, pretty much every industry and company will need the expertise of a HR professional. HR officers for example develop, advise on and implement policies relating to the effective use of staff within an organisation. Their aim is to ensure that the organisation employs the right balance of people in terms of skills and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to employees to enhance their performance and achieve the employer’s business aims.

I usually start the day by working through e-mails; these can range from guidance on a recruitment and selection process, training and development, absence management to queries about the interpretation of policies and procedures or payroll questions.

Although it is possible to enter HR work without being professionally qualified, for middle and higher management posts employers will prefer an accredited qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR and people development - www.cipd.co.uk

WE TALKED TO SAMANTHA BIRKETT, PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER IN HUMAN RESOURCES AT LJMU, ABOUT HER CAREER AND ASKED FOR HER TOP TIPS FOR THOSE WISHING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THIS AREA. SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 25CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

HR managers are often asked to assist when staff who work together experience interpersonal issues; sometimes this requires some form of informal resolution such as the facilitation of a mediation process which the HR manager would be responsible for. I will spend some part of most days talking to our trade union colleagues; many organisations have developed strong working relationships with their trade unions and can often tackle difficult issues in partnership.

Some graduates move into HR after having experienced placements in several areas of an organisation as part of a general management training programme. Starting in an administrative role in an HR department also provides useful experience, and it is possible to get promoted into HR management if suitable positions arise.

❙ It’s great when you get to offer the successful candidate the post they have worked so hard to get or when you can resolve an employee’s problem. It can often be something minor but it still gives you a sense of satisfaction, and you can really feel that you have made a difference.

Every organisation is different and so is the way their HR function operates. From generalist roles to specialist positions, there are many different functions, depending on the organisation’s size and needs. For more information about the varied roles in HR, check out the careers section of the CIPD website - http://www.cipd.co.uk/

HR managers tend to lead various teams within the HR function so a lot of time can be spent in meetings with staff, discussing their workload and any other matters they may be working on such as training and development initiatives, recruitment and selection, staff surveys and organisational change.

HR officers are involved in a range of activities required by organisations, whatever the size or type of business. These cover areas such as working practices, recruitment, pay, conditions of employment, negotiation with external work-related agencies, assisting in implementing business change and equality and diversity. What qualifications are required?

3. I get bored easily so I need new challenges regularly. I am lucky in that my job allows me to face new challenges all the time. I recently got involved in a large-scale research study investigating whether the application of a human rights-based approach to dementia care can lead to improvements in the care people with dementia receive. This has encouraged me to revisit my research skills (so do listen when you have research lectures – you may need the information one day!)

A CONVERSATION WITH A … CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST DR SARAH BUTCHARD IS EMPLOYED AS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST BY MERSEY CARE NHS TRUST, A LARGE MENTAL HEALTH TRUST SERVING LIVERPOOL, KNOWSLEY AND SEFTON.

Three things you like about your job:

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today? I have always been interested in working with people and so even before I knew that I wanted to pursue this career, I tended to look for opportunities that allowed me to support people. Over the years, I have worked or volunteered in; a day centre for people with intellectual disabilities, a play scheme for children with a variety of special needs and a mental health unit for working age adults. It can be very competitive pursuing a career in clinical psychology. What advice would you give to psychology students wanting to pursue this career route? The best advice I could give, although it sounds obvious, is to get the best degree you possibly can. Clinical psychology training is extremely competitive and almost all candidates have the basic requirements. Given that most courses will receive in excess of 20 applicants for each place on the course, they need to discriminate between people in some way. Often this is via degree class. There has always been a requirement to obtain at least a 2.1 or a 2.2 plus a Master degree to pursue a career in clinical psychology, but as competition increases, it is getting harder to win a place on a course with a 2.2. So, whilst I would still recommend trying to gain relevant experience during your degree, if the choice is between dedicating time to your studies or gaining experience I would choose the academic work. You can always gain relevant experience after your degree but you can’t go back and get a better degree class!

How did you get into this career?

What does your job involve?

What do you wish you had known when you were a student?

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 26 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Three things you’re not so keen on:

1. With a varied role comes a varied, sometimes extremely high, workload!

2. It can be extremely frustrating when services are restricted due to financial pressures. Everyone is aware that we are living in times of austerity and working in mental health services, we see the consequences that social inequalities can have on an individual’s mental wellbeing. It is disheartening when you can see the solution to a person’s difficulties but financial or social factors make this impossible.

I graduated from the University of Manchester in 1999 with a BSc in Psychology. I went on to work as an assistant psychologist, which provided me with a good understanding of the practical application of psychological theory and helped me understand the context and settings in which clinical psychologists operate. Having obtained a place on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology I completed six sixmonth placements in a variety of clinical settings which gave me a clearer idea of the kind of clinical psychologist I wanted to be as well as the clinical area I wanted to work in.

Over more recent years, there has been a marked shift in the role of clinical psychologists away from one-to-one therapy towards a broader application of psychological theory to inform service development. I also spend time using the skills I have in evaluation to ensure that the services we provide are of a high quality and meeting the needs of the people we serve.

I first became interested in clinical psychology when I was at university, but unfortunately was not well supported in this. Despite being on track to receive a good degree, I was told that it would be almost impossible to secure a place on a training course – this obviously wasn’t true. What I would say however is that it is important to consider whether this is a career that you are truly interested in, as there is a lot of hard work involved in being successful in obtaining a training place. There may be multiple knock backs and hurdles but if you are passionate about pursing clinical psychology as a career, I would certainly recommend it.

3. Travelling with work can sound glamorous but given that I’m not so keen on early mornings, getting the 7am train to London regularly is not a treat for me!

SHE IS ALSO VICE-CHAIR OF THE BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S FACULTY FOR PSYCHOLOGY OF OLDER PEOPLE (FPOP) AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL BOTH AS AN HONORARY LECTURER AND CHAIR OF THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMME TRAINING COMMITTEE.

It is very difficult to describe a ‘typical day’ as my job is so varied, which is why I enjoy it so much. I work in an older people’s community mental health team, and as such a large proportion of my time is spent seeing people aged over 65, or people living with dementia, for psychological support. This can be individual therapy but often is more systemic in nature working with couples, families and wider organisations. I am often referred people who are experiencing cognitive difficulties but the cause of these difficulties is unclear. I complete neuropsychological assessments with these people to provide a clearer understanding of the difficulties they are experiencing. Another aspect of my role is the development and facilitation of groups. We currently have a packed programme of groups running to support people living with dementia.

1. My favourite aspect is the clinical work I do in dementia services. Historically it was believed that there was no role for clinical psychology in dementia services due to the progressive nature of the cognitive impairments. Working in dementia services has made me re-evaluate my beliefs about the role of a clinical psychologist and I now feel that striving to help people achieve their full potential, whatever that might mean for each individual, is of vital importance. This has led to many developments in dementia services and I am proud of the quality of psychological services now on offer to people living with dementia.

In addition to this I am involved with various projects related to my role as vice chair of FPOP which ensures that I am never bored!

2. I particularly enjoy working with a variety of different colleagues. Whilst I value the contact I have with other clinical psychologists, I also enjoy working in collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines. I believe that we should consider all aspects of an individual when we work with them and this means working in a multidisciplinary way. Differences of opinions can also arise and it forces me to question my own assumptions and values.

A CONVERSATION WITH A … COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST DR PAM JAMES IS A SELF-EMPLOYED COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST (INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONER). THIS DIFFERS FROM THOSE COLLEAGUES WHO WORK IN AN ORGANISATION, SUCH AS THE NHS. THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE HAVING A TEAM OF OTHER PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE SAME BUILDING FOR DISCUSSION; THE PACE OF WORK IS NOT SELF-ORGANISED AND THE WORK IS SALARIED. THE KINDS OF ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTED BY CLIENTS ARE SIMILAR. What does your job involve? My day is planned in advance and I have a closely-managed diary, between the hours of 9am and 9pm. I work from a part of my home that has been set aside to see clients. I have appointments with four clients a day which is the most manageable number. Some have been referred by their GP, by a psychiatrist, by self-referral through one of the directories or through an insurance company. I also see counsellors and other therapists for supervision; I have a voluntary involvement in the British Psychological Society and so there are emails to attend to in connection with this. I am also an academic supervisor for students’ theses on a doctoral training course in a university and a practice supervisor for students on a BPS training course. Much of this work is online, or via telephone and Skype.

My own route was a little different as I followed a research route after my undergraduate degree, then I had an academic career in colleges and universities. During this time and in parallel with working, I trained part-time to be a counselling psychologist. Although there were several years of intense activity, the advantage has been that I was able to apply much of the psychology that I learnt into my current Perhapspractice.a final word is about remaining open to your own experience and the experiences of other people. Counselling psychologists are always in supervision which is a place to confidentially discuss casework and remain as self-aware as possible. It is also necessary to maintain continuing professional development (CPD) which keeps an open view on different aspects of working and is also an arena to be in touch with colleagues.

Train to be a counsellor after your psychology degree, then train on the BPS route to be a counselling psychologist. This route is called the Qualification (doctoral level) and all the details are available on the BPS website. The other route is to study on one of the 13 doctoral programmes in counselling psychology that are situated in England and Scotland.

A fixed number of 20-day funded internships are available to level 5 and 6 students. In a range of disciplines, the internships will be with local employers, working on graduate-level projects. opportunities will be advertised via Unitemps, LJMU’s own recruitment agency.

For either of the two routes mentioned above, you will need to look very carefully at the entry requirements. It’s helpful to think about where and how you might like to train as a postgraduate, when you are still an undergraduate. This will help you to make decisions about how to manage your available time.

Three things you like about your job: I can work at my own pace. It is good to see people and apply the knowledge and training gained to help them directly and I can plan the variety of the day. Three things you’re not so keen on: I do like nearly every part of the job, so it’s not so easy to list things that aren’t ok. I receive payment from a number of different sources and have to manage an invoicing system and keep records as a selfemployed person. This task is necessary but can be time-consuming! It can be very competitive pursuing a career in counselling psychology. What advice would you give to psychology students wanting to pursue this career route?

Get voluntary and paid experience working with different people in different cultures; don’t worry too much about the nature of the task. Make sure the environment is physically safe. Start this voluntary involvement when you are an undergraduate and make sure that you have enough time for your degree studies!

Internship

www.ljmu.ac.uk/LJMUinternships For more information, visit: LJMU DISCOVERY INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 27CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Marketing is a popular career choice amongst many graduates and as a profession it offers challenge, excitement and variety. You don’t have to have studied marketing either to get into the industry.

It is by no means only business and management graduates that develop successful careers in marketing. Having a good understanding of consumer behaviour and the ability to evaluate market research data makes psychology graduates sought after for entry-level positions in the marketing sector. Working in marketing can be a varied and interesting career. Some marketing jobs primarily involve research skills or data analysis, others demand creativity and interpersonal skills, and many require a mix of logical thinking, drive and excellent communication skills.

SPOTLIGHT ON A CAREER IN ... MARKETING WE CHATTED TO LJMU ALUMNA JO DENYE WHO IS HEAD OF MARKETING AT TEACH FIRST. WE ASKED ABOUT HER MARKETING CAREER TO DATE AND HER TOP TIPS FOR ENTERING THIS PROFESSION …

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) defines marketing as ‘the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably’. The well-known 7 P’s highlight the sequence in the marketing process: develop your Product, get the right Packaging, Position it in the marketplace, Promote it at the right Price to achieve a reasonable Profit, with the right People. You can find out more about the marketing sector and the various roles available on the Prospects website: www.prospects.ac.uk/marketing_ advertising_pr_sector.htm

What do you wish you had known when you were a student? University really is one of the best times of your life. Looking back I certainly wish I had made more of the freedom. If I had my time again I would have travelled a lot more and made more of the summer breaks.

28 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

What skills and experiences would you say students need to develop to be successful in marketing? Interpersonal and communication skills are important in any role but especially important in marketing. You’ll be required to build an understanding of the consumer as well as the needs of the client, and balance lots of stakeholder relationships.

One of the beauties of working in marketing is the many opportunities to specialise in certain areas such as market research, digital marketing and direct marketing or diversify into other related disciplines such as public relations and advertising. New entrants into the industry will typically start their career as a marketing executive but, in a world where branding and re-branding is commonplace this job is sometimes known as product manager or assistant brand manager. Another popular entry level position is that of market researcher. What qualifications are required? Entry levels vary but most employers require a degree. I started with a 2.1 in Business Studies from LJMU and then went on to gain my CIM postgrad. It’s not essential to do a postgraduate qualification, but it does help with progression.

Key points in your career development to date: My first role after graduating was a key point in my career. I joined a marketing start-up as the first full-time employee. I was totally in at the deep end as I had to do everything from finding new clients and pitching to developing and delivering strategy and campaigns. A baptism of fire but a great experience. Another key point was moving to Australia. I quit my job and arrived in Sydney with no job or place to live but a few weeks later I managed to land a job and sponsorship. The biggest thing I took away from the experience was confidence.

Generally when I’m recruiting I consider experience and attitude to be just as important as qualifications. My degree was a four-year sandwich course which I believe really helped me at the start of my career, as it enabled me to gain some tangible experience.

Working in graduate recruitment I also see the pressure that students are under these days to increase their employability and focus on career planning. My advice would be not to worry too much and make sure that you remember going to university is also about the experience and not just the job at the end of it. Any final top tips for the recruitment process? My biggest piece of advice would be to just go for it. If you can demonstrate your enthusiasm and passion it counts for so much and will really set you apart. You can always learn new skills but you can’t teach someone how to have a good attitude. Getting some tangible experience and committing to your own development is also really important. It took me a while to realise it but the best thing you can do for your career development is ask for feedback. Where would you recommend looking for a graduate job in marketing, advertising and PR? Many organisations promote their vacancies through university careers services, careers fairs and on their own graduate vacancy pages. However, many specialist marketing and PR publications have dedicated job websites for marketing, advertising and PR jobs:

Building up your network of contacts is also very important, as smaller businesses and marketing agencies may use informal recruitment practices to find candidates. Creating and maintaining a profile on LinkedIn is another way to find employers and potential work. Many companies advertise their graduate opportunities on social media, so ensure that you regularly check the Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages of marketing-related companies.

Any words of advice for someone who wants to get into this career area? Gain as much experiences as you can. It will really set you apart in the job market. I know my year in industry helped a lot when I was first starting out. Also don’t be afraid to try a few different things. My degree was in business but I did work experience in HR and marketing to try and figure out what I wanted to do. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s something you love and then it won’t feel like work at all!

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

Three things you like about your job: Overall I would say that working for a charity is one of the things I like the most about my job. It’s really great to feel that the work you are doing is making a difference. At Teach First our vision is that no child’s educational success is limited by their background. Every day I know that the work I am doing is having a direct impact and contributing towards that vision. When it comes to marketing, the thing I like most about the work is how varied it can be. There is always a new challenge and the opportunity to be creative. One day I could be on a photo-shoot for a new campaign and the next presenting to our business leaders council or meeting potential applicants at our events.

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❙ Campaign: www.campaignlive.co.uk/ ❙ Marketing Week Jobs: https://jobs.marketingweek.com/ ❙ PR Week: www.prweek.com/uk

www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures

Depending on your role you may also need some specific technical skills. As digital marketing becomes more and more important as a means of communicating with and building relationships with customers, those with IT and web skills will increasingly be sought after by employers.

Briefly explain what your job involves: Marketing is about identifying demand relative to a product or service and developing ways in which consumers can engage or purchase that product or service. For me in my role at education charity Teach First, this means taking strategic responsibility for our recruitment brand. Now the largest graduate employer in the UK, my team are responsible for the attraction of candidates to our Leadership Development Programme (LDP).

Creativity is also essential. Depending on your role, you may be required to write copy for marketing materials and press releases or help with the layout and design of media. On top of this, your work may involve contributing to the ideas stage of planning a campaign.

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) also provides a useful overview of the industry, including some advice for graduates on entering the sector: http://www.cim.co.uk/more/getin2marketing

❙ Psychiatric facilities – Here I worked on various different wards providing patients with art and sensory projects. These skills allow for preparation for discharge back into the community or halfway mental health homes.

❙ Special needs day centres and orphanages – Here we were able to organise art tasks, musical activities and social games.

What was your experience like and what did it involve? My experience with SLV.Global was out of this world. I was not sure what to expect and how I would cope with being away from home and working in a different country, as I am a home comforts kind of girl. However, I found it very surprising how quickly I became accustomed to life in Sri Lanka, and it soon became my second home. I really liked the way of life, the way of work and the kind nature of the Sri Lankans. During my placement, I was involved in various different projects. I worked alongside a fantastic team of volunteers and locals to provide support and learning in various different services. I worked within:

The application process is easy. You complete an online application form on their website, and once they have reviewed this, they offer successful applicants a time slot for a telephone interview. If you are successful at that stage, you will receive an email to offer you a place.

Once you have chosen a time period and duration for the placement, they set up a portal with all the information and deadlines you will have to meet in preparation for your placement. They will email you and guide you through the whole process. The team are beyond helpful! How do you feel it has benefited you? This opportunity has benefited me in so many ways: the experience I gained is invaluable, the people I have met have become family, the skills I learnt will be skills I will never forget, and my confidence has most definitely been boosted. This opportunity opens your eyes to a completely new world and once you have seen it, there is no going back. The placement has not only benefited me emotionally, but also intellectually. I have learnt that nothing can stop you achieving, as long as you put hard work and passion into what you want to achieve.

Never underestimate the importance of water! Always take a litre of water around with you. Always travel as a group on the weekends; it’s safer and more enjoyable! Last of all; make the most of everything you do! Take notes, write a diary and take loads of pictures, because you will miss it when you return!

During the first year of my degree, I was worried that I did not have enough experience in the mental health field, so I decided to research mental health placements. I found it difficult to find relevant work experience or placements that would fit in with my university life. Luckily, I stumbled upon the SLV.Global webpage. The more I researched what they offered and where they offered the placements, the more I wanted to be a part of the team. The fact that they offer placements that are purposely made to fit around university life sold it to me as well as all the fantastic aspects of the projects they offered.

What did you enjoy most and least? There wasn’t really anything that I didn’t enjoy on this placement because I had a fantastic time both on the projects I was assigned to, the home life and the friends and family I made and of course the traveling with my adopted family. However, I was very nervous about the English project because I am not very confident in my English skills and I am dyslexic. I found that I really enjoyed this project and found that I returned back to England with better English language skills than when I left for the placement. If I had to pick my favourite thing that I did in Sri Lanka other than all the fantastic projects I was involved in, this would definitely be the team building weekend in the jungle. I thought I knew what teamwork was before this weekend, but I was so very wrong! The jungle weekend really highlighted how important teamwork is. Activities such as white water rafting, cliff jumping and simple group problem-solving tasks could not be achieved without the team pulling together.

❙ English teaching – Here our responsibility was to teach basic English to children, young adults and the elder generation.

I would 100% recommend this opportunity to other students, as they will earn invaluable skills and experience. You will definitely learn who you are and what you are capable of. I have come away from this experience with a better view on life. If you have the opportunity, do it, you will not regret it!

What did the application process involve?

Tell us about SLV and how you found out about this great volunteering opportunity?

The purpose of all the projects listed is to promote positive mental health and develop the individuals’ social and confidence skills. All projects also allow individuals to develop their basic English skills and give volunteers the opportunity to learn Sinhala (the language spoken in that area of Sri Lanka).

Any top tips for this kind of experience? Do not be afraid to jump into uncomfortable waters; it is usually the scariest opportunities that are the best and most invaluable ones. Do not over-pack, as you can find anything over there. Although take plenty of sun cream and bug spray! They do not sell that surprisingly.

❙ Mental health care homes – Here we involved residents in art activities, creative activities, cooking skills, dancing and singing activities and speaking English.

❙ Meditation workshops – Here we had the opportunity to learn a little more about the culture and the religious background of where we were working. We were able to practise different types of meditation techniques alongside a Buddhist monk.

Psychology graduate Sammy Norton about her five-week experience in Sri Lanka as a volunteer teacher with SLV

Would you recommend other students do this?

❙ Addiction clinics – Here we attended addiction clinics delivered in a group format that allow former and current addicts come together and talk as a group to express how they are coping with a psychologist present. All individuals are able to develop friendships with others within the group. This makes the road to recovery a little easier when they have access to support not only from professionals but also others who are in similar situations.

THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 29CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

Although a placement is not a requirement or option on my course, I thought that by doing a placement year it would help me to stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for graduate jobs in the future.

The second stage was the assessment centre, which was very nerve racking! There were about ten candidates on the day and around 15-20 assessors that spent the day with us. They assessed us during a group work task and then in an interview situation. We also had a chance to talk to the current interns and ask any questions. Finally, we were asked to write a few pages on what we thought we could bring to the company and why we wanted to work for them. Around two weeks later, I received a phone call to say they were considering me for the role in marketing, as well as HR and wanted to ask me a few more questions to assess my suitability. The questions focused on how they thought I would be able to cope with having effectively two jobs and two line managers. A few hours after the second telephone interview I was offered the position!

Do you have any long term career plans? How will your placement help you? Yes, I would like to secure a graduate job with a company in a human resources department and work towards my CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualification with their help. Hopefully, with a year’s experience at Airbus UK, I will be able to either return on completion of my studies, or get a job at another similar large graduate recruiter.

Where did you find out about the internship?

I received an email from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU with an attachment regarding the job specification and information about the company.

I emailed my CV to the Employer Engagement staff from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team and then received an email inviting me for an interview with the company Director. I got an Employability Adviser to check my CV before I sent it to highlight the skills I had which were required for the role and attended a workshop with a Careers Adviser on the types of interviews and how to prepare most effectively.

How did your placement year come about?

Has the placement helped you with your long-term career plans?

JESSICA MCKENZIE IS AN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE WHO ARRANGED A PLACEMENT YEAR AT AIRBUS UK. WE SPOKE TO JESSICA ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES ON PLACEMENT

SOPHIE QUAYLE IS AN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE WHO DID AN LJMU-FUNDED INTERNSHIP AT SOCIAL START-UP PLACED AS A PROGRAMME ASSISTANT CASE STUDY

What was the recruitment process like for your placement year?

Volunteer. Whatever it is you want to do, offer to do a few unpaid hours to gain experience. I volunteered in the HR department in my part-time job on four separate days. That may not seem very much but those days provided me with the experience I needed to secure my placement. Any other top career tips? Keep your options open. Studying a certain degree doesn’t mean you are confined to a certain career. I chose to study psychology, applied for a HR job and was offered a marketing one! I am hoping that somewhere along the way I will find which area will suit me and find something I really enjoy. The flexibility means that if I’m not keen on one area, I can then venture into the other!

Tell us a little bit about your internship?

What did you enjoy most? I loved being involved in the planning and organising side of things for the workshop activities and engaging with the public to find out their thoughts and ideas on how their local built environment could be improved. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

As a Programme Assistant I worked closely with the PLACED Director and delivery team to develop education and consultation programmes to teach a wide range of people across the Northwest about architecture and the built environment. I supported two core projects: an Easter School workshop for young people to gain an insight into urban design and planning and an outreach programme to raise awareness about the value of people having a voice in their built environment. I wanted to do this internship because I know how important it is to build up as much experience as possible during the time you are at university and to make yourself stand out from other candidates. I also thought the role sounded very interesting and felt I could demonstrate all the essential skills they were asking for.

What did you do during your placement? My role was split between two departments at the Airbus Broughton site and I reported to a human resource manager and a marketing manager. Although I was an intern, my role was exactly the same as other employees in these departments, which means I gained lots of valuable experience.

With the outreach programme and Easter workshop, I had to interact with people of all ages which enabled me to develop my interpersonal and engagement skills by learning the most effective way to communicate with each age group. I was also able to improve my IT skills, specifically with Microsoft Excel which I was less familiar with when filling in the details of applicants.

LJMUstudyingstudentsPsychologyAppliedtoyouwouldadviceWhatgiveotherattoimprove their employability?

Firstly, I needed to complete a fairly standard online application form. I also had to write a short covering letter explaining why I was applying for the role in question. For the job I was applying to, you had to be studying towards a business or HR degree, which I am not, so I had to outline why I thought my Applied Psychology degree could also help me in a career in HR.

At first I wasn’t sure I would be successful in getting one as I know how competitive they are. Nevertheless, I applied to several large companies close to my hometown and seven months later I received a phone call asking if I would like to go for interview!

What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? I think being part of a society is a great way to meet new people and also demonstrates to future employers that you are an active and sociable person. Also, as LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly common way for jobs to be advertised, making sure you have a fully completed page, and asking previous employers or academic tutors to write you a recommendation would further help to show potential employers what an asset you would be to their team.

I plan to go into HR initially and then work with young people in an employability/careers advising position, so being able to work with young people in the Easter School and then people of all ages in the outreach project was very helpful in helping me to deal with a variety of people.

INTERNSHIP

INTERNSHIP CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 30 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES

I also made sure I thoroughly researched the company and looked at previous projects they had done, so I could show I was genuinely interested in their work. How do you feel that the placement has benefited you?

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 31CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES Meet your future employer or get clarity on your future direction &EMPLOYABILITYCAREERS,START-UP EVENTS To see what’s coming up, go to: studentfutures.ljmu.ac.uk Events include: ❙ Careers and employability sessions ❙ Start-Up events and meet-ups ❙ Employer events ❙ Recruitment fairs ❙ Guest speakers

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