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Best way to get Psych work experience?

Hey

I'm a first-year undergrad looking to get some experience preferably in the mental health sector (or, if not, anything slightly relevant to psychology!). I've trawled through site after site of volunteering oppurtunites but haven't heard back from any of them :s-smilie:

Does anyone have any tips/ideas for different places I could apply to? Any advice would be amaaaazing, thanks in advance! :biggrin:

*subscribes* :ninja:

Yeah I am also interested in any opportunities.

Reply 3

Impossible

If you haven't heard back from those individuals offering voluntary opportunities, I would send a gentle reminder email to ask whether the opportunity is still available. I assume you have emailed or contacted relevant charities? Such as Mind and Rethink. Another option would be to go to your university's volunteering centre to see if they have any projects available.

Have you asked your tutor whether any previous students have found related experience? Ask you tutor whether they can recommend anyone.

One recent opportunity that focuses on the mental health/well-being of students is Mental Wealth UK (http://www.mentalwealthuk.com/). This involves university students setting up a group to promote mental health/well-being on their campus. Your university may already have a group set up :smile:

If you're looking for something relevant to psychology, then charities are a good place to start. After completing my undergraduate psychology degree, I wanted experience in health psychology and promotion - and managed to secure a volunteering opportunity with Terrence Higgins Trust (HIV/AIDS and sexual health charity). It depends on your overall interests really though! :smile:

There may be organisations or charities in your area that specifically recruit students. During my undergraduate studies, there was a local brain rehabilitation organisation which advertised voluntary positions for students.

Hope this helps :smile:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 4

wininghe

thanks for your sharing information

Reply 5

Sui-Kinxtar_kitty

Do mean sittin in a session??

Cuz ur welcome to see my psychiatrist talkin to me:P

Reply 6

~ Purple Rose ~

PS Reviewer

Have a look at www.do-it.org.uk or contact your university's volunteer society - there will probably be one.
Mind and Rethink are good options, as are care homes for people with dementia, day centres etc.

Reply 7

wininghe

Original post by Alimbo95

my dad is a clinical psychologist, so i can try to get you some if you suck my cock?

Alimbo95 is a britain chiken

Reply 8

Alimbo95

Original post by wininghe

Alimbo95 is a britain chiken

Oh ****, that wasn't me who posted that! God, sorry...

Reply 9

*Elizabeth*

Original post by danielle-dansmell

Hey

Does anyone have any tips/ideas for different places I could apply to? Any advice would be amaaaazing, thanks in advance! :biggrin:

Hey, if you're thinking about clinical psychology (you've mentioned mental health sector), then I would definitely recommend obtaining some experience whilst doing your undergraduate degree, but make sure you leave with at least a high 2.1 (ie over 66 average) or a first. Psychology is soooo competitive after undergraduate graduation, so try and obtain as much experience as possible along with good/excellent marks in your undergrad work.

There are some positions which may improve your prospects for future postgraduate psychology training or just for improving your employability.

Volunteering positions
- Samaritans- I'm thinking of joining with them, just to build up my client skills
- Nightline- some universities offer a student led counselling service.
-Victim Support- I briefly volunteered for them (but dropped out due to moving :frown:

)Great training and organisation. Lots of offering one to one emotional support for victims
-Drug and alcohol services- drop ins etc etc.
-Befriender (elderly, learning disability, mental health)

Non graduate positions
- Care assistant (in care homes for older people, adults with mental health problems, adults with learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, physical disability etc etc)
- Support worker (with same client groups as care assistant role).

I managed to obtain care assistant and support work positions with zero direct care experience, so it is possible! (but I had to hide my postgrad educational qualifications!).

Volunteering for university academics

I've seen a few emails pop up from undergrad students asking academics if they would take them on as a volunteer just to obtain experience. Could be a good way of obtaining experience- ie volunteering to help with data input, mail shots, conducting literature reviews etc etc.

Also although you haven't graduated yet, some chartered clinical psychologists MAY take you on as a volunteer to assist them- although this is probably unlikely as most honorary posts are offered to psychology graduates.

Graduate positions in Psychology

Then assuming you leave with a good 2.1/1st and have some relevant experience, then you could apply for graduate positions in psychology (ie Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant in Psychology etc etc). Some graduate psychology jobs require 1yrs worth of relevant experience as well as at least a 2.1 (some even say psychology graduates with a First only!!) as well as a record of relevant publications (!). It is possible to obtain psychology grad jobs with a 2.2, but definitely harder as some job selectors immediately 'bin' anyone with a 2.2 regardless of postgraduate qualifications. Assistant Psychology positions are extremely difficult to obtain given level of competition, but it is possible :smile:

Graduate positions in psychology tend to be very competitive, which is why I'm emphasizing the point of getting good undergrad marks and some experience whilst studying for your undergrad.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 10

staring.space

I would have a look at working with cancer charities, if you're looking for another route to go down. I've been in touch with Macmillan in my area and they have a programme on at the moment for helping older people deal with cancer, so as soon as I get back to university I'm going to hopefully get involved with that.

I'd get involved with the local community rather than trying to apply on a big basis. I'm not entirely sure of qualifications or formalities, but maybe contacting your local hospital and seeing if there are any support groups that you could possibly assist in? Could be a good place to start.

Also, on an even more local scale, does your university have any peer support counselling groups (where students can opt to do "counselling" and talk to students that are having problems)? A bit of training often comes with this, and can be a fantastic way to open doors into more specialised work - and I'm sure the training will also look good, even just at a basic level.

Reply 11

skotch

Don't know if it's been mentioned but the best thing to do is what are known as speculative applications. There's no harm in just emailing someone at a company/university/hospital etc. and asking about whether they have work experience opportunities even if they don't mention on their website, then just send a cover letter and CV so they can get back to you.

Reply 12

becca_c

Is all this volunteering interchangeable across different strands of psychology? I'm doing Forensic Psychology but it's impossible to get anything in that field.

Reply 13

*Elizabeth*

Original post by becca_c

Is all this volunteering interchangeable across different strands of psychology? I'm doing Forensic Psychology but it's impossible to get anything in that field.

It can be done! I know a friend of mine volunteered in an offenders unit! Also volunteering for a Forensic Psychologist-FPs (as an honorary assistant psychologist) also counts as relevant experience! FPs can be found on the BPS website (under find a psychologist). I sent out a large mail shots to clincial psychologists in my region which led to a long term 1 day a week placement which led to a paid post eventually.

I think what's important is being able to reflect on any experiences- ie what have you learnt about yourself, others etc etc. I think working with different client groups within relevant settings either as a volunteer or via a paid post is really good experience, regardless of particular specialism! There's loads of overlap as well across the professional disciplines- ie mental health is relevant to clinical, health, forensic and child psychology.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 14

skotch

Original post by becca_c

Is all this volunteering interchangeable across different strands of psychology? I'm doing Forensic Psychology but it's impossible to get anything in that field.

Try prisons/young offender institutes?
Forensic might be quite hard. Maybe try and get some experience researching with or shadowing a criminologist academic?

Reply 15

becca_c

Original post by *Elizabeth*

There's loads of overlap as well across the professional disciplines- ie mental health is relevant to clinical, health, forensic and child psychology.

That's what I'm hoping. When I was 14 I volunteered in a school for children with special needs and I really enjoyed it, so I'm thinking maybe I can do something like that again.

Reply 16

*Elizabeth*

Original post by becca_c

That's what I'm hoping. When I was 14 I volunteered in a school for children with special needs and I really enjoyed it, so I'm thinking maybe I can do something like that again.

The client skills built up during these types of placements will be applicable to all different professions (not just within psychology!). Such positions should enable you to reflect on various situations both as you as an aspiring professional and also reflections on indviduals with 'special needs' at an individual and societal level- which are all important skills and insights!

I started in a very similar voluntary placement (pupil support assistant volunteer in a secondary school) which I add to my professional psychology doctoral applications as it comes under relevant experience.