University graduate & can't find a job ANYWHERE! Please please help!

patchwork_cat

I am sorry if this is amazingly ignorant, but as a Psychology graduate are you qualified to counsel people? If so, or if you just needed a short course, would it not be an idea to set up as a counsellor offering CBT and NLP, certainly around here the NHS are supposed to offer CBT, but in reality don't. Also EMDR is an area with a shortage I believe. I would certainly pay a reasonable amount for a counsellor that knew their stuff and could create a tailored, finite programme.

Ducky101

No, an undergrad psychology doesn't qualify you to be a counsellor. Counselling is a related but separate field requiring a counselling degree or course. I've looked onto this myself and sadly these courses are not cheap!

OP, have you considered looking into your local housing associations? Lots of them have supported housing projects or hostels for people with mental health issues, addictions, family breakdown etc all of which are relevant to clinical psychology. My first job after graduating with a psychology degree was in a young women's hostel. May be worth looking into, especially as housing assocs are usually non-profit making and in my experience look favourably upon voluntary work as well as paid work.

If that's a non-starter how about care or support work in residential homes? They're not all for older people, there's plenty catering for those with learning disabilities, children with disabilities, even dementia would be relevant to what you want to do.

Badger_Lady

I'm another one who works in research and design (at a senior level), and does recruit psychology graduates. So we are out here!

My advice to you is to really prove 'thought-leadership' while you have some spare time. Set up a professional Twitter account and start a blog on your insights into aspects of human behaviour, and in particular how it may apply in a business situation. Tweet your blog entries, follow high-profile industry people and really try to raise your own profile there. It's one of my favourite sources for finding bright young talent.

And yes, any paid or unpaid work you can find in between would be fabulous.

I wouldn't recommend moving out until you've established yourself, but I've got great central London digs for £90 a week (including bills) through these guys - check them out: http://uk.cameloteurope.com/508/0/available-now-for-live-in-guardians/adventurous-living-and-working-as-a-live-in-guardian.html

System

dancingfairy wrote: »

I guess you've tried letting everyone you know that you are looking and available? have you updated your facebook status to reflect this? perhaps even made a post or 2 about it to remind all your contacts? Also have you checked there is nothing on any social network site that is putting people off?

Of course, I'm on twitter etc. purely for job searching. I've told all my relatives/friends that I am job searching & to tell me if they hear about anything (most of my graduate friends are also unemployed though).

I always go into stores to speak to managers, so far this is the only way I have managed to get interviews. All of my online applications have been ignored/rejected.

lexilex wrote: »

Psych positions are just so few and far between, especially up here. I live in Hull and I think I've seen maybe three psych related jobs in the whole time I've been looking.

Nobody from my grad year have secured any psych related jobs yet. I haven't given up yet though. I've been looking in London over the past few weeks, but situation there is just as bad.

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I am sorry if this is amazingly ignorant, but as a Psychology graduate are you qualified to counsel people? If so, or if you just needed a short course, would it not be an idea to set up as a counsellor offering CBT and NLP, certainly around here the NHS are supposed to offer CBT, but in reality don't. Also EMDR is an area with a shortage I believe. I would certainly pay a reasonable amount for a counsellor that new their stuff and could create a tailored, finite programme.

To qualify as a psychologist you need to do further work (MSc/doctorate) in a chosen field. To do this you need to get onto a post graduate course. Unfortunately, these are near impossible to get onto, even more so in this climate. Nobody I know has a place yet. If I had known it was so competitive I wouldn't have done a psychology degree. 120+ psychology graduates from my course and not one of them is on route to becoming a psychologist. They don't tell you this when you apply.

Hipperty

I'm keen to get an update on how you are getting on in your job search?
I have a daughter who is keen to study psychology at uni and am worried about how she will ever manage to find work in the future!
How is your search going?

wantsajob

Hipperty wrote: »

I'm keen to get an update on how you are getting on in your job search?
I have a daughter who is keen to study psychology at uni and am worried about how she will ever manage to find work in the future!

Just to clarify I am not the OP, but did post my experiences in this thread. I haven't managed to find anything yet, not even supermarket work etc. I do have an interview/presentation assessment at the ONS next week though, after passing the written exam a few weeks ago. Like I said though, I think the majority of the problem is the fact I have Asperger's Syndrome, and therefore don't come across as well as people without my difficulties in interviews.

I think the key, as with any degree course, is to have a clear view of where you're going and want to end up - and whether there's a realistic chance of getting into that line of work. Psychology is certainly one of the more popular courses, so probably requires more thought and consideration. Going into it just because you're interested in the subject and hoping something will come up is probably a bad idea. I wish I would have done something involving computing or a statistics degree. Then again, I guess there would be no guarantees of a job in those sectors either. The jobs market is not very good for everyone at the moment.

NewCustomerOnly

I expect you have probably tried this already but have you thought of the charity/counselling/support sectors? Even work as a classroom assistant would be good experience for your cv? just a thought - good luck! maybe next time we'll get a government that actually cares and at least tries!

MrChandlerBing

Unfortunately, this is generally what happens to people who spend thousands of pounds to study psychology.

Its a farcical as media studies and twice as popular. Its obscene that so many people are allowed to do it, because you all end up in the same situation.

wantsajob

MrChandlerBing wrote: »

Its obscene that so many people are allowed to do it, because you all end up in the same situation.

As you point out, it brings money in to the Universities. I often muse that had I been interviewed to go to University, I'd never have been enrolled and achieved a first - yet cannot get a job. Although of course a University would never refuse a paying "customer".

Psychology is a useful subject in some ways though. I think many go into it with unrealistic expectations of what the subject entails (those who did not study it at GCSE or A level). Many students are surprised when statistical analysis comes along. Sadly there is still the popular misconception that Psychology can never be a "proper" science. The ONS and Government Fast Stream schemes both are happy to accept applications from people with Psychology degrees.

I dare not comment on the usefulness of media studies as I have not studied it, and know people often misunderstand Psychology as a subject.

System

Hipperty wrote: »

I'm keen to get an update on how you are getting on in your job search?
I have a daughter who is keen to study psychology at uni and am worried about how she will ever manage to find work in the future!
How is your search going?

I am sorry to say I am still unemployed. I got a few interviews and did some part-time min-wage work (cleaning jobs etc). I spend a lot of time doing volunteer work, and teaching myself new skills so I don't get depressed about my situation. I have not gotten a place onto an MSc either.

Unfortunately this is the exact situation for all of my friends at the moment too.

Honestly, if I could go back 5 years I would not have done Psychology or any other degree that does not lead directly into work (vocational courses like medicine, dentistry). It's just not worth it.

I could give you a list of 5-6 books you can read to gain the same knowledge as I did on my Psychology degree. The only difference will be that I paid £25000 for a printed piece of paper that says 'Psychology' on it. Seriously, don't bother.