Idea you have a psychology degree what career path did you take?

[zippyswife]

I’m seriously considering a degree in psychology. It’s always really interested me and it’s probably the degree I should have done (rather than the geography one I did do).

Thing is I’m early 40s now and so would need to start a new career from scratch. I’m prepared to do that but just wanted to understand my options. I have been a police officer for 15 years or so and am very Victim focused. Not sure if my experience could assist in my new career?

Should probably add I already have background in child protection- interviewing child victims of crime etc.

My friend works as a forensic psychologist. Might be worth a Google?

Thank you. Do you know what training/work experience she did to get into that field?

I did a psychology degree (and got a first) but found it didn't lead directly or easily to any jobs in itself. I ended up doing a masters along with my mental health nurse training and I'm now a charge nurse on an inpatient mental health ward.

CAMHS practitioner. Did a psych degree, then into a paid training post in the NHS.

did a psych degree many years ago, then teacher training, then political science, years in education/child rearing, now work in DV
I found it very interesting and it has massively shaped the way I think, but not an obvious career route

To be a

Forensic psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist
Counselling Psychologist (not the same as a counsellor)
Occupational Psychologist
Health Psychologist

you have to have a psychology degree, then undertake a doctorate. Doctorate usually takes 3 years. Clinical and educational doctorates have fairly substantial bursaries (and salary after qualifying can be pretty decent, more so if you go private), but these courses are extremely competitive.

Psychology and health and social care teacher. Did a post compulsory PGCE and went into teaching. Now teaching in a sixth form college.

Careers adviser, had to do a masters after the degree in order to qualify. Friends who were on the degree went into Educational Psychology (further training needed), counselling (for which there is also further training) and occupational psychology all of which are directly related. Many others on the course went into non-psychology related careers too though.

It is worth looking at destinations surveys on Prospects for further ideas of things psychology graduates go into...

luminate.prospects.ac.uk/what-do-social-science-graduates-do

It might be worth your while searching for "forensic" and "psychology" on the NHS jobs site. The job descriptions can be quite revealing.

Do you think you want to work in forensics?

If it's kids you like working with then the new post of Mental Health Practitioner in Schools may be of interest www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/news/could-you-be-education-mental-health-practitioner How much salary are you looking for though?

I didn’t personally but friends who did are variously:

• scriptwriter (ex news journo and arts stuff)
• teacher
• Educational psychologist
• civil servant / public services resourcing strategist (I don’t really understand)
• communications specialist / strategist for NGO (ex government comms)
• documentary director

A friend of mine did Psychology at uni straight out of school and now works at about 25 as an administrator for the NHS.

HR. ;)

It’ll be a bear minimum of 7 years until you are a psychologist- more likely 10.
Just a heads up.

Also didn’t mean that to sound negative, I just don’t have it in me to study that long

Social work

If you already have a degree you can do a 1 year conversion Masters.

I have a psychology degree, it's a very good degree from one of the top unis in the country for the subject.

The degree is very statistical with a lot of maths. You'll follow the same stats courses as statistics students until 2nd year. It's all about setting up and running research, and analysing the resulting data. You'll then do other modules that give you a flavour of each different branch of psychology.

Should you wish to use the degree in your work, you then need to do a post graduate degree in your chosen specialism.

The popular specialisms (clinical psychology being the most popular) are practically impossible to get into. The postgrad course is part work based, part uni based and is NHS funded. Think 400 applicants for 4 jobs per year here. If you don't get in you need to wait till next year and reapply again with another 399 applicants.

If you were interested in another area eg counselling, educational etc then the odds are a bit better.

In order to get on to ANY postgrad course you need experience of working as a research assistant which is low paid. There is zero hope of getting onto a postgrad without this work experience, as applicants are ten a penny.

Having said that, I enjoyed my degree and I love the knowledge that it gave me. It doesn't help me in my job at all beyond ticking the box if having any degree. I do wish I'd known this before embarking on a 4 year degree as I would have picked a more vocational subject.

Sorry to echo the misery above but it’s tough! DH and I qualified from a well regarded uni in 2007, I have since completed a Masters and I’m now a social worker (maths and stats is a struggle for me). DH has worked as an assistant psychologist for 9 years in total (private then nhs). Despite his clinical experience he could not get onto a clinical psychology doctorate - the competition is fierce and DH is an excellent clinician but not a natural academic.

He currently works in a forensic setting and is completing a forensic psych Masters. There’s still a way to go until he will qualify as a forensic psychologist. I could go on about friends who’ve also completed psychology degrees, only to discover it wander the route to great things, but I’ll leave it there.

*wasnt (rather than wander)

I have a psychology degree - Im a secondary school teacher!

OP I've just done this - career change to psychology in my 40's. Yes it is a long slog but I am so happy - wish I had done it years ago.

The great thing about psychology is that you are wanted for your experience in life so age is a plus not a minus.

It is very demanding intellectually, but I love that aspect. Also, you will need to volunteer and take a pay drop if you move into it full time but the rewards are so high (to me) that I don't even think about this.

Please PM me if you want more details.

Best of luck.

Psychology and health and social care teacher. It was what I always intended to do. I chose a degree I found interesting and then teacher training.

Following as I am considering exactly the same OP.

Psychology is like law in as much as the vast majority of graduates do not work in related fields as the degree itself does not mean much. As pp's have pointed out, a clinical doctorate position is extremely competitive and you most likely would need to relocate. I really don't think financially and time wise that it would be a good investment for you.