psychology careers – getting your first post making the pitch, avoiding the pitfalls brighton 2009...
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Psychology CareersPsychology Careers– getting your first post– getting your first post
Making the pitch, avoiding the Making the pitch, avoiding the pitfallspitfalls
Brighton 2009
David Carew
Chief Psychologist/ Head of Profession
Department for Work & Pensions
AimsAims
Factors for success in the labour marketFactors for success in the labour market Opportunity seeking and creationOpportunity seeking and creation Presentation – making the pitchPresentation – making the pitch Career self-appraisal - explorationCareer self-appraisal - exploration Practical solutions – your questions Practical solutions – your questions
answeredanswered How to maximise your impact on How to maximise your impact on
employers employers
Objectives for the sessionObjectives for the session
By the end of the session you should have By the end of the session you should have a clearer understanding of how you can a clearer understanding of how you can develop yourself and manage your career develop yourself and manage your career prospectsprospects
Current Employment TrendsCurrent Employment Trends
Concept of self managed career Portfolio careers Specialist Vs Generalist roles Managing your employability Importance of CPD Critical career mangement behaviours Career health checks 5 year planning
Occupational DestinationsOccupational Destinations
University professor/lecturing (48%)University professor/lecturing (48%) Research in private sector (15%)Research in private sector (15%) Work independently as consultant (13%)Work independently as consultant (13%) Research in not for profit or government (12%)Research in not for profit or government (12%) Research in a university (10%)Research in a university (10%) Manage in private sector (6%)Manage in private sector (6%) Start own business (6%)Start own business (6%) Manager in not for profit or government (5%)Manager in not for profit or government (5%) Non-college teaching (5%)Non-college teaching (5%) College administrator (3%)College administrator (3%)
www.phd-survey.org
What determines career choiceWhat determines career choice
What you know – who you knowWhat you know – who you know How good is your network?How good is your network? Making links to opportunityMaking links to opportunity Individual preferences + personalityIndividual preferences + personality Prospects for progressionProspects for progression Pay and rewardPay and reward Perceptions of ‘available’ opportunitiesPerceptions of ‘available’ opportunities Need for securityNeed for security Appraisal of one’s own talents and skillsAppraisal of one’s own talents and skills
Critical Employability SkillsCritical Employability Skills
Motivation and EnthusiasmMotivation and Enthusiasm Team workingTeam working CommunicationCommunication Flexibility and adaptabilityFlexibility and adaptability Initiative and pro-activityInitiative and pro-activity Ongoing developmentOngoing development
First degree Masters First degree Masters PhDPhD
Lack structured work history of Lack structured work history of work experience – dilemma work experience – dilemma
Marketable workplace skillsMarketable workplace skills
Self-motivationSelf-motivation Information managementInformation management Evidence based reportingEvidence based reporting Critical evaluation and analytic skills Critical evaluation and analytic skills Report writingReport writing Project managementProject management Organization abilityOrganization ability
Think carefully how you present these skills to a Think carefully how you present these skills to a potential employer potential employer
Graduates with a disabilityGraduates with a disabilityMature GraduatesMature Graduates
The Box of Thoughts! The Box of Thoughts!
How to identify the job that best How to identify the job that best suits yousuits you
Top TipsTop Tips
Existing skill sets and achievements – Existing skill sets and achievements – document in a portfoliodocument in a portfolio
Get some outside opinionsGet some outside opinions Choose a career path that suits your Choose a career path that suits your
personalitypersonality Formulate career and skills development Formulate career and skills development
objectivesobjectives Research the companies and Research the companies and
organizations in your chosen sectororganizations in your chosen sector
Top Tips [2]Top Tips [2]
Always on the lookout Always on the lookout Ask probing questions at interviewAsk probing questions at interview Never make a career choice based on Never make a career choice based on
moneymoney Always try to achieve a sensible work life Always try to achieve a sensible work life
balancebalance Escape from your comfort zoneEscape from your comfort zone
Know your worthKnow your worth
Significant value to individual employersSignificant value to individual employers Important to UK economy and labour Important to UK economy and labour
marketmarket
But…But… A survey published by UK Grad suggests A survey published by UK Grad suggests
73% of PhDs have no idea or only a vague 73% of PhDs have no idea or only a vague idea of their career aspirations when they idea of their career aspirations when they begin their research degreebegin their research degree
A recent experience….A recent experience….
Think outside your subject areaThink outside your subject area Gain transferable skills – attend seminarsGain transferable skills – attend seminars Talk to people outside academiaTalk to people outside academia Take time out after PhD to gain work Take time out after PhD to gain work
experienceexperience Don’t be afraid to do something differentDon’t be afraid to do something different Don’t let setbacks get you downDon’t let setbacks get you down Ask yourself if a post doc is for you?Ask yourself if a post doc is for you?
Informed decisions Informed decisions
Insight not hindsight!Insight not hindsight!
And although 54% of respondents used their And although 54% of respondents used their careers service as an undergraduate, only a careers service as an undergraduate, only a quarter have visited during their PhD. A third quarter have visited during their PhD. A third have never been to a careers service at all and have never been to a careers service at all and almost half have never been to an employer almost half have never been to an employer presentation.presentation.
A quarter of postgraduates do not know which A quarter of postgraduates do not know which type of organisation they expect to join when type of organisation they expect to join when they finish. Yet 43% expect to be paid more they finish. Yet 43% expect to be paid more because of their PhD, while a third have no idea because of their PhD, while a third have no idea how their PhD will affect their salary.how their PhD will affect their salary.
Recruitment AdvertisingRecruitment Advertising
Indicates sort of people soughtIndicates sort of people sought Include standard qualifications requiredInclude standard qualifications required Proven achievers and vibrant individualsProven achievers and vibrant individuals
Preparing for employmentPreparing for employment
Not just what you have done in last 3 Not just what you have done in last 3 yearsyears
Wider self appraisal of talentsWider self appraisal of talents Dedicated time to career planningDedicated time to career planning
Selling your skills to employersSelling your skills to employers
What makes you unique?What makes you unique? Employer concerns of too narrow a focusEmployer concerns of too narrow a focus Employers prize detailed knowledge and Employers prize detailed knowledge and
analytical thinkinganalytical thinking PhDs relatively small cohort in the labour PhDs relatively small cohort in the labour
marketmarket Competitive (edge)Competitive (edge) Self awareness of skills acquiredSelf awareness of skills acquired
Making the pitchMaking the pitch
Be clear why you want to work for Be clear why you want to work for companycompany
Show willingness to learnShow willingness to learn Identify where your skills are most relevantIdentify where your skills are most relevant Propose thinking for a solution to a Propose thinking for a solution to a
business problembusiness problem Know the language of the businessKnow the language of the business Create right impression in recruiters mindCreate right impression in recruiters mind
Getting your first postGetting your first post
1.1. What sort of job do you want?What sort of job do you want?
2.2. What is important to you in this What is important to you in this job?job?
3.3. What do you not want?What do you not want?
4.4. What can you offer?What can you offer?
5.5. Where will you get it?Where will you get it?
6.6. How will you find it?How will you find it?
BIG 5 BIG 5
CV – leave the talking until the interviewCV – leave the talking until the interview Foresight – ideas – its what your aboutForesight – ideas – its what your about Network – speculate but don’t over sellNetwork – speculate but don’t over sell Up-skill – keep fresh and informedUp-skill – keep fresh and informed MOT – every 6 months MOT – every 6 months
Some pointersSome pointers
Keep CVs short and focusedKeep CVs short and focused Highlight core achievementsHighlight core achievements Be clear about your specific contribution(s)Be clear about your specific contribution(s) Be careful about over sellingBe careful about over selling Be prepared! - think on your feetBe prepared! - think on your feet Research thoroughly – be clear not vagueResearch thoroughly – be clear not vague Work on your interpersonal skillsWork on your interpersonal skills Involve others in giving you feedbackInvolve others in giving you feedback Find out what interests employersFind out what interests employers Read popular press as much as journalsRead popular press as much as journals
Be different!Be different!
Cultivate unusual hobbies!Cultivate unusual hobbies! If all else fails at least you will have If all else fails at least you will have
something to talk about at the interview!something to talk about at the interview!
Psychologist Appointments - Psychologist Appointments - www.psychapp.co.ukwww.psychapp.co.ukBritish Psychological Society – British Psychological Society – www.bps.org.ukwww.bps.org.ukThe Guardian Newspaper – The Guardian Newspaper – www.jobs.guardian.co.ukwww.jobs.guardian.co.ukThe Independent Newspaper – The Independent Newspaper – www.jobs.independent.co.ukwww.jobs.independent.co.ukGraduate resources - Graduate resources - www.grad.ac.ukwww.grad.ac.uk
Job & Information SourcesJob & Information Sources
