These represent people working in the sector, providing training and networking opportunities. They often provide careers support for students and graduates.
They also provide development for people already working in the sector. Follow them on LinkedIn, or visit their websites for news, contacts, work experience and vacancies.
The main professional associations for this sector include:
BPS Divisions - 10 member divisions, including clinical psychology, educational and child psychology, forensic psychology, and sport and exercise psychology
Find professional bodies outside of the UK on GoinGlobal by selecting ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each of the individual country guides.
Making contacts
Making contacts is helpful for success in this sector. Many jobs in this field are gained through networking and speculative applications. Start of with the following:
NCL Spark – our online mentoring platform, with graduates happy to give you advice about the kind of work they do
Recruitment fairs, open days, talks and events give insight and opportunities to make contacts. Events for this sector include Careers Service events and External Events.
Relevant work experience is essential to develop expertise and demonstrate motivation and commitment to psychology. It is also a requirement for entry on some postgraduate study routes, and to achieve chartered status.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) advise that the type of work experience you will need depends on the area of psychology you want to go into.
If you are considering post graduate study, many universities have specific requirements work experience requirements, so contact course providers for their criteria.
Below are websites and articles that can help you find relevant experience:
My Career - graduate jobs, part-time work and placement opportunities
Part-time work can help you develop relevant skills. Care assistant roles, for example, can be useful experience for getting into psychology. To search, see Vacancies Online and Finding a part-time job.
My Career - advertises paid, part-time personal carer, care assistant and support worker vacancies
NHS Jobs – find part-time healthcare assistant or related jobs
Universal Jobmatch - advertises part-time care assistant and similar roles
University psychology departments are sent paid and voluntary vacancies, so check emails from your School. Most paid opportunities sent to Newcastle University School of Psychology will be advertised by the Careers Service on My Career and non-paid opportunities will be sent to Go Volunteer.
Making contacts is essential for success in this sector. Work experience in this field can be gained through networking and speculative applications. You could start with:
NCL Spark – our online mentoring platform, with graduates happy to give you advice about the kind of work they do
The School of Psychology has a Facebook page where you can find out about research projects, information, and opportunities inside and outside the University. Visit the School of Psychology Twitter feed for CV enhancing opportunities.
Gain related research experience by taking part in a psychological project as a participant. Newcastle University staff and students conduct research in various areas of psychology. Newcastle University psychology students engage with research run in the School through the Research Participation Scheme.
This experience will give you awareness of how a research project is carried out. You will be supporting scientific research and contributing to new insights about behaviour. If you are keen, express your interest and network with researchers it’s also possible you may be able to assist with future projects.
Vacation projects
Newcastle University's School of Psychology offers vacation projects to their students. To work on a project, you need to approach the appropriate supervisor as soon as possible. The schemes encourage you to develop your own project ideas with a potential supervisor. With their help, you submit an application. Project applications are assessed on their scientific merit, and academic merit to the student.
Speculative approaches
As well as psychology research, there are also interdisciplinary areas involving psychology. Beyond research interests within the School, research takes place in academic units or groupings including other Faculties, the NHS and elsewhere in Newcastle.
Do your research. Approach academics carrying out studies in areas that interest you with a tailored CV and covering letter explaining your motivation, interest in their work and what you can offer.
Blackboard
Find opportunities to assist with research and research internships on the School of Psychology Blackboardpages.
Use contacts (see above) to ask about Work shadowing. Shadowing relevant practitioners can develop your knowledge of a role and organisation and can demonstrate your commitment in applications. Find organisations or individuals with roles that that interest you and get in touch, always with a named contact.
Be specific about why you are writing to them and what you’re looking for. Show your enthusiasm for the sector and highlight any relevant skills.
Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply – follow up with a phone call or email to show that you’re keen.
Newcastle University School of Psychology offers year-long professional psychology placements. Students from all single honours and joint honours programmes can apply. Use your knowledge and skills in a practical context, and gain an advantage in a competitive job market.
Students undertake placements in a variety of settings, for example working for the NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Police, Newcastle University Institute of Neuroscience, and local mental health support charities. The School has a dedicated placement team who secure a set of placements, or students can source their own placement.
Placement year module
Newcastle Careers Service also offers a placement year module option for undergraduate penultimate year students who opt not to or are unable to take the Psychology Professional Placement year.
Clinical psychology is extremely competitive. To get onto a clinical psychology doctorate, you normally need to have at leastsix months' paid work experience. Many Universities look for at least 12 months clinical related experience.
Experience in areas such as social work, nursing assistant or a care assistant is valuable. Anything that gives you clinical experience with a client can be helpful. The focus is usually on roles which involve direct work with people who have psychological needs.
You don't have to get experience as an assistant psychologist (although that is one of the best ways to get the right experience). It does help if any work done has links with psychologists, so you can show that you understand the role of a clinical psychologist.
You could write your dissertation with a clinician or a trainee.
ClinPsy provides information for aspiring clinical psychologists. Ask questions using the discussion forum, or read answers to frequently asked questions about work experience.
Some psychology students gain experience overseas. An internet search will list dozens of organisations that offer opportunities overseas, at a financial cost. These can be beneficial, but feedback is variable, as the articles below highlight.
Do your research before using an organisation to arrange overseas experience. Read reviews, check their social media pages. Assess what you’re paying for, and whether you should be paying at all. Be clear about the ethical and safety considerations.
If you have any questions about gaining overseas experience or you need help to find opportunities, come in and speak to us and also speak to your personal tutor.
The School puts on regular careers events for students. Look out for emails about these.
As well as giving insight into options available, use these events to do some networking. Ask speakers for advice on how they gained relevant experience. Check if they are happy to connect on LinkedIn. They may be willing to offer you some shadowing or research project work if you are proactive and enthusiastic.
Not all jobs are advertised. You could also approach organisations or find work through networking in the industry.
Find organisations that interest you and get in touch, always with a named contact. Be specific about why you are writing to them and what you’re looking for. Show your enthusiasm for the sector and highlight any relevant skills.
Don’t give up if you don’t get a reply – follow up with a phone call or email to show that you’re keen.
Try the following sites to find organisations to approach:
General
Find organisations on My Career - click on ‘search organisations’ under the Vacancies tab
For the majority of careers within psychology it's essential to have studied qualifications approved or accredited by the relevant professional body.
See the occupational profiles in the Roles and Skills section for full details and relevant links.
Funding for postgraduate study depends on the career area you're entering. Funding for clinical psychology is provided by the NHS and a limited number of bursaries and funded places are available for other career areas e.g. educational psychology. Most people will self-fund their postgraduate study.
