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56 STUDY SKILLS FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS
an induction session, mid-term review, and training in report writing and
presentation skills. Participants are eligible for awards at local, regional, and
national levels.
3) Unpaid forms of work experience
• Voluntary work: any type of work undertaken for no payment, usually in your
spare time.
(For a scheme that provides assessment and accreditation of part-time and voluntary
work, particularly for school leavers, look at details of the CRAC Insight Plus
programme on www.insightplus.co.uk.)
• Work shadowing: where a student observes a member of staff working in an
organization, and so gains an understanding of what a particular job entails.
Tips: First thoughts on careers
➢ Think about likely career interests and the skills you want to develop.
➢ Use placements to gain a greater understanding of the career choices
open to psychology graduates, whether within psychology or in another
sector.
➢ Consider how much time you can spare while you are studying.
➢ Identify relevant employers with the help of your University Careers
Service and research them using the internet.
➢ State clearly what you can offer them in terms of skills from your course,
other activities and personal qualities.
➢ Successful work experience could make a significant difference to your
career, so treat it professionally.
Some frequently asked questions:
Is work experience really required?
If you are applying for certain postgraduate courses in psychology, it is essential. In any case so
many people have degrees these days that anything that makes you look different when applying
for jobs is helpful. Employers increasingly want evidence that recent graduates can fit in straight
away.
Can I leave this until later?
Use your time at university to get a range of experiences so that you have some idea what you want
to do when you graduate. In your final year you will be concentrating on your exams and project
work.