career guide pt1 - tidyhq · areas we have implemented in the career guide this year was a few...
TRANSCRIPT
CoverCareer Guide
Back of Cover
Table of content
1
President's Address.......................................................... 2
Editors' Address................................................................ 3
A Career Path................................................................... 4
You’re a Psychologist… Now what?.............................. 5-6
Career Opportunities in Psychology.............................. 7-9
Jobs with just Bachelors or Honours ..........................10-16
What does FPSA do to Help?.................................... 17-18
Research Assistant Database.................................... 19-20
Work Life Balance........................................................... 21
Simplifying Applications............................................. 22-23
Where else can you get help?.................................... 24-25
Engage with the Community........................................... 26
Navigating the World of Volunteering......................... 27-29
The Psychology Graduates’ Resume.............................. 30
Resume Template...................................................... 31-32
Resume Sample......................................................... 33-35
Gratitudes and References............................................. 36
FPSA President's Address
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The Flinders Psychology Students' Association (FPSA) was founded in 2011 and has been the entity at University that caters to and on behalf of past, current and future
students at Flinders University enrolled in a Psychology degree.
From it's conception; FPSA has grown and now offers annual employability events in addition to its social events namely the careers conference, the volunteers seminar,
and the alternate pathways seminar.
We also offer publications such as this Careers guide you are reading to compliment the services already offered by the School of Psychology and the Flinders Careers Centres. These publications are created by volunteers thankful to people such as yourself whom read your Student publications and make use of the professional
contributions.
Megan Hawes, Christopher Sierp, Alex Joseph and all the contributors deserve a mention here for their amazing work creating this 2017 instalment of the FPSA Careers
Guide series.
If you appreciate our efforts to enhance your learning and evolution into a professional, please contribute to future publications by e-mailing our publications team at
You are already taking the right steps towards a meaningful careers in mental health and relatable areas.
For those of you uncertain about future employment, you are not alone. Try asking yourself the question "how best can I contribute to the profession and/or community with the skills I am learning?" If you aren't sure how you could answer the question;
read the experiences of others in the field on the following pages and you can formulate your own ideas on an appropriate position within the profession.
If you are still unsure, don't fret, as all personal development and especially professional confidence commonly take much time and reflection.
Enjoy reading about the experiences of people working for mental health.
William Parry, FPSA President
Editors Address
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Welcome to the 2017 Careers Guide. We have built upon the foundation that our predecessors have laid and focused a bit more on the three or four year pathways that psychology can take you to. I think this magazine can be considered complimentary of
the past editions as it is not merely a re-production but a new view and focus (older editions are available on the FPSA TidyHQ page). We hope we have put together something that will give you some assistance navigating the scary world of post-
graduation. However, it’s not only post graduation when you need to be thinking about these things, it’s never too early to start getting an idea of where you want to go (even if it
does change). One of the biggest pieces of advice I have heard from lecturers doing interviews for Analyse This is that you need to be open to opportunities and take every chance you are given even if they aren’t what you thought would be of interest to start
with. This year I have started doing more psychology focused volunteering myself and it is very rewarding in it’s own right but also great for me to see that I am interested in the
field in a practical sense. I think volunteering throughout your degree is a fantastic way to enhance both your future and your present. Even if you don’t have all that much time to give it can be thoroughly worthwhile to find something that you can do. One of the new
areas we have implemented in the career guide this year was a few suggestions by current students on how they manage their time and are fantastic to read. Please make us of all you can out of the career guide and don’t hesitate to contact either FPSA or the
Career Centre for more information and help. All the best,
Megan
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You're a psychologist... now what?
So we are all going into this degree thinking that psychology is the career for us but the reality is far harder to grasp than that. It isn’t just becoming a postgrad or not but even those who have trained to become a recognised psychologist have further decisions to
make. Once you are a registered psychologist you still need to decide where you wish to specialise as there are many areas and no one person can cover them all. Through the
Australian Psychological Society’s information we have tried to describe a few of the options below but these are by no means exhaustive. Often the distinction is not in what they do per say (as most assess, diagnose, counsel, research, among other tasks) but in the expertise they bring to the table and the lens through which they view the situation.
General Practice Psychologists The most general type of psychologist. Often these people will have expert skills from
another area that can help them to specialise their psychological skills in treating clients. Often have focused interests in one area.
⁃Example titles: ⁃ Child Psychologist
⁃ Coaching psychologist ⁃ Ergonomic psychologist ⁃ Media psychologist ⁃ Military Psychologist ⁃ Social psychologist
Clinical neuropsychologists These psychologists focus specifically on the brain and are very important within medical
fields. They are experts on the physical and psychological aspects of what our brain can do and in rehabilitation and can be vital in helping or testing when things are abnormal.
Clinical Psychology Have a direct interest in mental health and developing the best strategies for helping
people. Differ from counselling psychology in the specifications of their areas of interest.
Community Psychology In the face of adversity to a specific area a community psychologist can be vital in helping normality to re-form. Often they will work with groups from the particular population to find
solutions that will attain the best outcomes given the culture and resources available.
Counselling psychology ⁃ With a focus on interacting with people needing assistance in the form of counselling they are often the one on one type image that people have of a psychologist. Although their field
is also much broader and they can work on programs or group settings as well.
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Educational and developmental psychologist Considers the way people develop over the lifespan and can assist in many situations by
providing a unique perspective through the developmental lens.
Forensic psychologist The justice system is a multidisciplinary area with psychology being one of the large
contributors to finding ways of making the system fairer and more accurate. Or where that is impossible, giving the most evidence based research to assist with understanding of the
possible foibles of techniques.
Health Psychologist Creating the link between psychological factors and physical health. Often working in the
area of promoting health, they strive to prevent illnesses where possible through interventions and information.
Organisational Psychologist
To get the best out of the workforce an organisational psychologist can be an essential facilitator. They can assess and develop strategies that are used to maximise different
areas of the work environment from the physical layout to interpersonal relations.
Sport and exercise psychologist Sports and exercise psychologists strive to optimise performance through factors that have
empirical research behind them.
Australian Psychological Society (2016), Areas of Psychology, Retrieved August, 2017, Retrieved from http://www.believeinchange.com/Home/About-Us/Areas-of-Psychology
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A question we get asked a lot at the Careers Centre is “What can I do with my Psychology studies?” One reason for this is that Psychology encompasses a broad range of study fields, and can potentially lead you in a multitude of directions and sometimes even to positions you’ve never even heard of before!
Here are just a few examples of where we have seen Psychology graduates go – and this isn’t exhaustive:
Graduate programs: Three and four year Psychology graduates have gained positions in graduate programs at both State and Federal levels – such as Department of Defence, Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Department of Social Services, Department of Immigration and Border Protection and so on. Graduate Officer positions in SA government have included commencing as a Graduate Human Resources Officer and working as a Graduate Officer with Housing SA (a division of the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion).
Higher Education: graduates have gone from administration to School Management, admissions roles, disability Advisor roles to widening participation in higher education programs, and more.
Rehabilitation, Recruitment and Employment Services Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant: SA Career Consultants Workplace Rehabilitation Consultant: DP Workplace Solutions Recruitment Consultant: Hays Disability Employment Consultant: Status Employment.
Research and Technical Non Invasive Brain Stimulation research assistant: University of Adelaide Epidemiological Research Officer: Department of Health Senior Sleep Technologist
Community Education Officer: Hutt Street Centre Projects Officer: Time for Kids Child and Youth Worker: Baptist Care (SA) Inc. Specialised Residential Care Worker – Secondary: SYC Support Worker - Towards Independence: Salvation Army Anglicare: Transition Worker
Human Resources Graduate Officer (Organisational Development): the then Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology Graduate Organisational Development Consultant: the then Department for Families and Communities
Career Opportunities in Psychology
Where will my degree take me?
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And a few examples of where some graduates’ careers are progressing, with developing experience and in some cases, further study: Youth Worker/ FLO Case Manager: DECD Project Officer for Get-A-Place: SYC Organisational Development/ People Performance Consultant/Associate: Locher Human Resources, Group Head of Talent: with a company that has won a Times 100 Best Companies to Work for award. Disability Adviser: Higher Education Managing Director: Helping Heroes Rehabilitation Service Human Resources Consultant The United Nations Development Programme working in Bangladesh on projects such as Community Based Disaster Management in Asia and Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Officer. Community Programs Lead Consultant: SA Water
Want to know more? Download ‘The Ultimate Careers Guide for Psychology’ – an all encompassing booklet covering how to navigate your opportunities and providing specific insights into over 10 sectors ranging from community, counselling and mental health to research, human resources, marketing careers and more. This is available in the Careers section of your Psychology FLO topics.
Graduate Program Pathways These employment programs are offered by some employers – generally state and federal public sector and large commercial organisations (across consulting, technology, banking, resources andother sectors). Recruitment for these programs takes place from as early as February in some cases to May, and some can even advertise later in the year. Essentially, if this path interests you, you need to start early to maximise your opportunities. Many programs will involve relocation interstate. Final year tertiary students of a variety of degrees and sometimes recent grads can apply. You can find out who is recruiting graduates by visiting the following websites, as well as signing up to our jobs emails and coming along to our Careers expos. Unigrad: www.unigrad.com.au/home/ Graduate Opportunities – www.graduateopportunities.com/GradConnection: http://www.gradconnection.com.au/ Grad Australia: https://gradaustralia.com.au/home
Some examples: Department of Health You should have a genuine interest in health-related issues and working in a public service environment. You may work on a number of different aspects of health policy and programmes, contribute to decisions that affect national policy, work with various stakeholders and more.
TAC (Transport Accident Commission) Graduate Opportunities - Claims Graduate This two-year Graduate Program consists of at least three rotations within their Claims Division, and graduates from a diverse range of disciplines are considered. The Claims Division plays a pivotal and valuable role in assisting people injured in a transport accident maximise their recovery and independence.
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You can go anywhere!
Randstad Graduate Program - Recruitment / HR The role of a Candidate Resourcer and Recruitment Consultant is varied and challenging. You will learn the full end to end recruitment process, which will include sales KPI's (making promotional calls to new clients, visits, referrals) to build a profitable portfolio of clients in a specialist industry and manage client and candidate relationships.
Department of Human Services Recruiting future employees from all disciplines. The Australian Government Department of Human Services is responsible for the development of service delivery policy and provide access to social, health and other payments and services.
Department of Social Services Offers different streams for example: Generalist graduates will work in policy, programme, delivery, regulatory, legal and compliance areas and corporate support. The Data and Analysis stream enables graduates with numeric and analytical skills to work on strategic social policy initiatives and programmes, at the centre of the Australian Government’s social policy agenda.
Department for Communities and Social Inclusion The department delivers a wide range of programs and services in a variety of business units and divisions including Ageing; Disability; Social Housing; Youth Justice; Communities and Partners.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare In most years the AIHW opens a graduate intake round in June–July. New graduates commence in ongoing statistics-related roles across the Institute. They seek graduates from a wide range of disciplines, including (but not limited to): epidemiology, health sciences, economics, social sciences, statistics, and demography.
Other organisations that have offered Graduate programs and/or recruit from a variety of disciplines include: Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Comcare, Department of Defence, Linfox, Australian National Audit Office, Commonwealth Bank Group, Accenture and more.
Human Resources
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Tell us about your role? I work for the Government of South Australia in strategic human resources - my role involves
workforce planning and resourcing to develop my organisation’s employees into the workforce we need to deliver on the Government’s strategic vision for South Australia.
What is the most rewarding aspect? What is the most challenging aspect?
Every day is a challenge but in the most rewarding way - HR is all about people so it’s not without its own difficulties, but it’s always great to see value in the work that you’re doing to support employees across the department and help them to achieve their own goals and
outcomes.
What have you studied? I studied a Bachelor of Behaviour Science and a Master of Educational Psychology.
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work?
In my experience, human resources is made up primarily of people from a business background - so in having studied psychology I’m able to offer a different perspective on managing and developing employees, as well as a strong background in research and
analysis.
What are your tips for success for psychology students? Psychology is a very broad field so it’s a great opportunity to explore different parts of it and
find what really interests you and what you might be good at (and these may not be the same thing!). It’s also a degree that allows you to build a great set of skills to use in the workplace, so don’t hesitate to explore other career possibilities if you find your passions developing in
that direction.
Can you get a job with just bachelors or honours?
Matt Kilgariff
Absolutely! There are a range of opportunities out there for psychology graduates without postgrad work. We have put together a few profiles of graduates in the workforce at the
moment. There are even more options beyond the jobs listed here.
Support Worker
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Tell us about your role? I am a Support Worker at in the Salvation Army Towards Independence Program. We are a supported
accommodation facility that is funded for individuals at risk of homelessness. Due to comorbidity factors that arise from homelessness we have a strong focus on relapse prevention, working from a harm
minimisation philosophy, for those clients that present with addiction challenges. My role is incredibly diverse and can vary from supporting clients through transitioning into or through the program, to
pseudo counselling sessions, to crisis intervention. A majority of my time at work is spent as a sole worker on a rotating fortnightly roster with support available to me either over the phone or in person for
certain critical instances. What is the most rewarding aspect?
Definitely the clients, seeing positive changes and the appreciation they have for the support that is provided. I also appreciate working for a program that is client focused, the constant learning, the
autonomy and supportive colleagues. What is the most challenging aspect?
Definitely the clients! Organisational and funding constraints also provide challenges. What have you studied?
I completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences at Flinders University in 2012. I had the opportunity through my workplace to do a fully funded Diploma in Community Services – Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD). At the beginning of 2015 I commenced Postgraduate studies at the University of Adelaide in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also a qualified Reiki Healer - for me, focusing on
the individual from a holistic perspective is vital when facing the challenges that life presents. What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work?
I am a mature age student so I had an extensive employment history to back up my studies. However I had never worked in Social Services; as such I focused on gaining casual/part time employment in
Mental Health Services whilst I did my undergraduate studies. I also participated in everything that I had the opportunity to. I had a mentor each year of my undergrad, volunteered and built a network of
resources, be it people or information. I went to the Careers Centre and got support in presenting a professional resume as well as interview techniques.
In the environment I was seeking work my GPA wasn’t a consideration. Employers wanted to know what else I had done, what made me stand out from all the other people applying for jobs that had university degrees. I believe it was my willingness to step out of my comfort zone, participate; turn up to events even though I didn’t know anyone and make sure that my theoretical knowledge was backed up by
practical experience. What are your tips for success for Psychology students?
Go to the Careers Centre and use the amazing staff and resources they have there. Self-determination and self-efficacy I believe are determining factors in your pathway once you complete your studies. At university there is a plethora of resources and supports in place to ensure that you do well. Like the
clients in the program I work for, it is up to you to access them, take advantage of the opportunities they provide you so that you can fulfil your passions and dreams. What are you going to do to stand out from
your fellow students, at Flinders, across the state and across the country? Best Wishes in your journey. May you be forever learning and stretching your comfort zone.
Katie Stevens
Human Resources
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Tell us about your role? I’m currently working as the HR Advisor at Cancer Council SA in our two people team. I work in a generalist capacity looking after Industrial Relations, Recruitment, Employee Relations, Reporting, Contracts and the day to day situations. I previously worked in
Organisational Development and Recruitment both internal and consulting.
What is the most rewarding aspect? Providing advice to staff on any issue they can come to me with using industry knowledge and past experience. Also, HR is an ever changing game so having to be on top of current
affairs is enjoyable.
What is the most challenging aspect? The fact it is ever changing; there’s always something new to know and consider e.g. a
new piece of legislation, a change to the Awards etc.
What have you studied? I studied a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) with a major in Management.
I’m also constantly attending HR seminars and workshops to keep up to date in the field.
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work? I’m not entirely sure – my experience is probably quite varied for my age which could be
viewed favourably by an employer.
What are your tips for success for Psychology students? Take any opportunity that presents itself – it sounds rough but as a fresh grad, no
professional opportunity is beneath you. The best role I ever had was my first role as a Team Assistant to a team of Organisational Development consultants and Psychologists. I
was in an administration heavy role, not necessarily using my degree knowledge, and it was perfect because it was my first role in a professional workplace and I could use the opportunity to learn how to conduct myself in that environment without the pressure of a
high capacity role.
Ellen Syme
Residential Services/Youth
Housing Team Leader
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Tell us about your role? I work as a Team Leader in residential housing for Youths. My day in day out duties involve
managing staff, maintaining a 24/7 roster, working with many different services and organisations for the benefit of the youths, case noting and risk management and
assessment.
What is the most rewarding aspect? The most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing the young people happy, when they are just
kids being kids.
What is the most challenging aspect? The most challenging aspect of the job is that it's not really a job that you can just leave at work. It's a 24/7 organisation, which means often I'm thinking about work l when I'm not at
work.
What have you studied? I have completed a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours.
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work? I believe my knowledge of childhood trauma and development stood out to my employers. I
had also volunteered with several different organisations which demonstrated that I was willing to put in the hard work to get where I wanted to be.
I firmly believe what stood out the most, is that I was able to demonstrate that I had great leadership potential which is a key aspect for the role.
What are your tips for success for Psychology students? Volunteer while you still have the freedom, without the pressure of needing to find work.
Apply for loads of different jobs, you never know what employers are looking for. Work closely with other students. I had a great group of peers that helped me out when
needed, but more importantly made uni enjoyable.
Chelsea Stokes
Advanced Practitioner in an
NGO
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Tell us about your role? I work with vulnerable children and families who may be affected by family violence, mental health, substance abuse issues &/or intellectual disability. My role is primarily to focus on the needs of the child as a priority, but to support the families in order for the child overall
health and wellbeing is fostered.
What is the most rewarding aspect? Being able to provide support to families who may require practical assistance, whether its
related to parenting support or meeting an individuals range of psychosocial needs.
What is the most challenging aspect? Vicarious trauma is a huge part of the role, but being unaware of the impact. Also, not
always being able to get the outcome you’ve originally anticipated, but ensuring that you do your best to make a positive impact on the lives of these families.
What have you studied? I studied a Bachelor of Psychological Science, and have gone back to study Occupational
Therapy, whilst working part time.
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work? Experience and confidence in my field and knowledge of the area.
I would say that when I graduated it was due to me having completed volunteer work which provided me with practical experience during completion of my psychology degree. I have
experience working in community services, which has increased my confidence andknowledge.
What are your tips for success for Psychology students?
I would strongly recommend seeking volunteer &/or paid work in a relevant field that interests you in the area of psychology. Otherwise if you’re unable to do this I would
recommend picking a defined interest in the area to specialise in a particular to ensure you stand out above other graduations. Post graduate studies would be beneficial to further
consolidate your area of interest, as job prospects for psychology graduates can be difficult to find and secure.
Natalie Zuluaga
Provisional Psychologist
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Tell us about your role? I work with children and young people in schools who have various disabilities and
learning difficulties. My role is to work with and provide recommendations and strategies to assist teachers and parents to best support their children's needs.
What is the most rewarding aspect?
Working with school staff, parents and young people to better support their learning and well-being. Receiving feedback from parents and teachers about the impact my
work has had on positively influencing outcomes for each child.
What is the most challenging aspect? Limitations to my work capacity and ability to utilise all aspects of my psychological
knowledge.
What have you studied? Bachelor of psychology (hons)
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work? Work experience and relevant work placements/volunteer positions
What are your tips for success for Psychology students?
Determine an end goal for the psychology field, focus on a specific area and aim to network and gain experience in this area. Aim to clearly understand the domain of
psychology you want to end up working in and focus efforts for placement, volunteer work and work experience in this area.
Consider opportunities for further study in an area of interest as further study is likely to be a minimum requirement for potential job security
Niki Caire
Theraputic Children's worker and an Animal
Assisted Therapy Consultant
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Tell us about your role?I work with children and their families who
have been impacted by trauma, particularly those who have experienced domestic
violence and homelessness.
What is the most rewarding aspect? Feedback from parents saying that their
children are coping better as a result of my work with them.
What is the most challenging aspect?
Hearing the adverse and traumatic experiences of children and families.
What have you studied?
Bachelor of Psychological Science, Graduate Certificate in Developmental
Trauma, Graduate Diploma in Psychology Advanced (Hons)
What has made you stand out to
employers when applying for work? Experience and confidence in the work
What are your tips for success for
Psychology students? Get experience, network with professionals
in the field
Mel JonesTell us about your role?
I work in a team that assesses whether or not people are suitable to work around children and vulnerable people. I am
primarily responsible for the initial stages of assessment.
What is the most rewarding aspect? The most rewarding aspect would be
knowing that I am working to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable people.
What is the most challenging aspect? Being exposed to sensitive information.
What have you studied? I studied a Bachelor of Psychological Science and have a Master degree in
Forensic Mental Health.
What has made you stand out to employers when applying for work? Having a higher degree and a winning
personality. ;)
What are your tips for success for Psychology students?
Utilise all the resources available to you at your university that can help your
professional development.
Admin Officer
Holly Saric-Vokovic
What does FPSA do to help?
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The Volunteers Seminar is a great opportunity for students to listen to and receive information about volunteering options related to psychology.
We heard from organisations such as Drug Arm, Corrections, Inspire Mentor and Research Assistants. These provide different ways to gain experience in psychology related areas, including working with children, learning about research or simply working with people. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and employability skills particularly in a chosen area. It is a way to connect with the community, build your job skills and future
opportunities, develop personally, gain valuable skills and knowledge as well as networking with possible future career opportunities.
For your chance to volunteer, often visiting the website of the chosen organisation and contacting them via email or phone is a great way to begin! Below are some organisations
we heard from at the Seminar if you are interested: Inspire Mentor: http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/services/mentor/inspire/
DrugArm: http://www.hoa.drugarm.com.au/support-us/volunteer Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/support-lifeline/volunteer
Corrections: http://www.corrections.sa.gov.au/community/volunteering There are plenty more, just look up their websites to find out more…
The Degree Options and Careers Seminar was hosted by Lydia and Meg, and was used to provide information to students about the different degree pathways they can take.
As Meg explained, it is the time to start gaining experience while at university for your future careers. By volunteering, planning ahead and using your extra-curricular activities to combine
and get you the experience and knowledge you need to get a career. Lydia discussed the different degree pathways students can take within their degree. This
included the opportunities students have after completing the three year Bachelor degree, the four year Honours degree and the different options in gaining a Masters or a PhD in
psychology. This was also a great opportunity for students to ask questions and clear up the many difficult decisions to make while studying psychology. While not everyone will complete
and Honours or Masters in psychology, That does not mean there are no careers and this was discussed during this seminar. It helped students become more confident in their choice
of degree and also about their future opportunities in careers. Any information from this Seminar or about the different degree options in psychology can be
found in this careers guide or in the careers section in FLO under most of your psychology topics.
Volunteers Seminar
Degree Options and Careers Seminar
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The Research Methods are run for Research Methods 2 students. Many students Find Research Methods 2 difficult due to the amount of information to learn as well as the incorporation of the
computer program SPSS. These workshops offer a chance for students to come together and ask questions, get additional
worksheets and information from lecturers and PhD students. It also allows opportunities to discuss the assignments and study for exams.
In past years this has helped many students to get a better understanding of Research Methods 2 and to do better than they expected. As statistics are an integral part of psychology and research, as well as assisting in reading journal articles and in your study, this is highly recommended for second
year psychology students.
The Careers Conference is held in semester two and is the biggest careers and education event of the year for FPSA. It entails a whole day worth of speakers from many different areas of psychology
discussing the different careers paths people with a psychology degree can take to have a career in many different areas.
Studying psychology is a great way to open many career options to a person, but can also be daunting and confusing. There are many areas in psychology and as such there are many different careers.
This Careers Conference has people from areas such as SAPOL, DCSI, Researchers, Defence Force and many other areas in which people with a psychology degree are employed.
There is a free lunch provided and a great way to network with future employers. During your study is also a great time to volunteer to gain experience in the particular areas you may want to work in in the future or to decide which areas your enjoy. This also gives students the opportunity to decide where
they may decide to work. Some job may be completely different to what is people believe it entails. This can help to clear up any questions students may have about different careers. It can also help to inform you about the type of
skills and knowledge you will need to gain for particular jobs. The Degree Options and Careers Seminar was hosted by Lydia and Meg, and was used to provide information to students about the
different degree pathways they can take. As Meg explained, it is the time to start gaining experience while at university for your future careers. By volunteering, planning ahead and using your extra-curricular activities to combine and get you the
experience and knowledge you need to get a career. Lydia discussed the different degree pathways students can take within their degree. This included the
opportunities students have after completing the three year Bachelor degree, the four year Honours degree and the different options in gaining a Masters or a PhD in psychology. This was also a great
opportunity for students to ask questions and clear up the many difficult decisions to make while studying psychology. While not everyone will complete and Honours or Masters in psychology, That does not mean there are no careers and this was discussed during this seminar. It helped students
become more confident in their choice of degree and also about their future opportunities in careers. Any information from this Seminar or about the different degree options in psychology can be found in
this careers guide or in the careers section in FLO under most of your psychology topics.
Research Methods Two Workshops
Careers Conference
If you have any ideas for future events or otherwise please contact [email protected]
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Research Assistant Database By Cassandra Rose
What is a Research Assistant? A Research Assistant is someone who assists in conducting or implementing academic research. This could mean you are conducting, participating or designing experiments;
data collection or entering, analysis of data or finding research for a paper. Flinders University currently has 21 psychology laboratories each researching different aspects
and applications of psychology.
Can I be a Research Assistant? At Flinders you can get voluntary RA roles right here on campus, and sometimes you can get paid work. On the plus side, you do not need any qualifications or specialised training.
If you are studying psychology (in any year level) or have graduated, you are already eligible to apply. However, some labs may require you to have a driver’s license and/or a DSCI check. Each year level of your degree will open up more opportunities as you go
along.
How much time should I be giving? The hours you are expected to do as an RA vary between each laboratory, typically it is
between 2-6 hours a week. For the most part, it is flexible to your schedule, but some labs may require specific times. As training a new RA takes time and money in some cases,
they typically like a commitment of 6 - 12 months. If your study load is too much or if something comes up, it is okay to discuss this with your supervisor. You may just need to
reduce the hours, or stop for a few weeks.
Okay, this sounds interesting, but I am worried that I won’t know what I am doing? Don’t worry, you get the training you need before you start, in fact, lectures can help give you insight into what they are investigating which increases your own knowledge in the particular area. It can also help you understand topic content used through your course
work.
How do I find out more or apply to be an RA? Flinders Psychology Students’ Association has a website which has all the information
you need to know to get your started. Last year, Hannah Scott (PhD student) and myself, innovated the Research Assistant Database. This is where we send out your details to the
director of each lab for whom you have shown interest for. As experiments are often spontaneous, they email out to people on this list with an offer. From there you accept or decline the offer. You can find the registration form on www.fpsa.tidyhq.com under the
community tab.
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What was my person experience? I am a third year student study psychology at Flinders and I have been an RA for my
entire degree. I have worked in four labs during this time: the memory and cognition lab, SPA lab, trauma lab and the eyewitness and memory lab.
My first exposure was in PSYC1101, when Michelle Arnold mentioned she was taking on new RA students. I constructed an email of interest and within 3 weeks I was in her office learning about what I was going to do. I was nervous, I knew nothing about RA or Psychology, and I felt I didn’t know enough to be doing this position. However, Michelle was very welcoming and thoroughly explained and trained me to conduct my first ever
experiment. At this point, I was excited to get started, here I was 5 weeks into my degree and conducting an experiment. I then continued on to running experiments in the eye
witness lab, was a confederate in the memory and cognition lab, ran data analysis and collection, assisted in the implementation of an intervention treatment on school children
and assisted in creating clinical case files. Throughout my three years of experience as an RA, I learnt about the SONA system,
setting up and running participants though the experiments, SPSS, I learnt more about subjects that were being studied in lectures, and I also meet a variety of honours,
Masters/PhD students and Lecturers. Being an RA also showed me where my passion lies, which is in PTSD and ASD research and treatments with a specific focus on
children and adolescence. Being an RA not only helped me get practical real life experience, but it also helped
develop my academic skills and knowledge, as well as giving me more insight into my degree and psychology in general. During this time I have meet many lovely people
within the uni, which has expanded my network into many areas. So I implore you, to start exploring your interests today by looking up what your interest in and put your hand up to participant. You never know what opportunities are out there
unless you take a look.
If you would like more information, please feel free to email me on
Cassandra Rose
All the best for your future
endeavours.
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Work Life Balance
Hey there! My name is Tessa Liebich, and I am currently studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and am in my
fourth (honours) year. My Honours topic this year is investigating the possible effect low frequency noise has on sleep and am loving it! In addition to studying, I work at Baptist Care SA, am an ABA therapist and also work at the Flinders University Sleep Clinic. When I’m not studying, or working, I am spending time with my boyfriend as well as my girls and have an adoring relationship with my bed. Giving advice on how to manage university and
professional development with life is easier said than done but I always try to find time for myself and use a diary effectively. I have all my commitments mapped out before the week starts so I know exactly what I am
doing (some may say I’m a control freak, but I have to be to survive). I also make sure I have a night to go out to the movies or doing something with my partner because I know it can all build up and start to feel isolated. I
have found that the best place to find out information regarding careers is to actually look for jobs now and enquire to organisations asking about volunteering or gaining more experience. What looks good on a resume
is a lot of experience in different areas, which I think is what got me my job at Baptist Care. Also, talking to others in your cohort is valuable. Just knowing what types of careers others are thinking about can help you think about what you want to do. I also started out mentoring which gave me the skills to help others and be
more confident in myself, especially within the psychology sector as in high school I was very scared to actually talk to others, now you can’t shut me up. If you want more experience within the research area, I also found emailing lecturers/professors within the areas you enjoy asking about any research assistant experience is
valuable as they often have a lot of work to do and not enough time. That’s all from me! Xx
Tess.
Year 11 psychology classes sparked my interest in the topic of psychology and the psychobiology of sleep. To me, it is fascinating that sleep, usually seen as a normal part of life, has a tremendous impact on various health and lifestyle factors. Multiple consequences of not obtaining sufficient sleep and causes of sleep disruption are being showcased through extensive research, suggesting that sleep research is an expansive field of interest
with so many questions not yet answered. I’m currently undertaking my honours year at Flinders University and am lucky enough to be doing a project in this research field. Last year, through my placement topic, I was
fortunate to get a placement at the Appleton Research Institute. Through this placement, I was able to be part of studies that explored various aspects of sleep such as its impact on sporting performance, the regulation of internal functions and jetlag countermeasures. I was able to work with a large number of researchers and research staff which has allowed me to increase my awareness of the different components of conducting
research as well as its applications to real world problems. This placement enabled me to be involved in the running of the studies, providing me with a real life representation of what I had learned in the research and
assessment topics at university. After completing my placement, I was able to still gain experience through a job as a research assistant where I have been able to work on more studies and expand my understanding on the current research areas within sleep. Through this placement, I have been given the opportunity to complete my honours thesis on a really interesting research area; exploring sleep practices for shift workers. Despite the idea of tackling statistics and writing that 10,000-word thesis being overwhelming, I’m excited for the challenge as it
gives me the chance to go further and play a small role in bridging gaps in the understanding of the sleep disruptions linked to shift work. Furthermore, it will be good to be able to connect what I have learnt throughout
my degree as I transition through my honours year onto potentially a career in sleep or organisational psychology. Georgia Scott
We all question how we can manage our time to fulfil all areas of our lives while maintaining our personal lives. To give some advice we
asked Flinders Students for some advice.
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Where else can you get help?The Careers and Employer Liaison Centre is a wonderful resource for Flinders Students
Your Future Career At Flinders University we believe the journey is just as important as the destination. That’s why we offer you career support from day one. Our careers team offer a wide range of services to students
and graduates, including programs to develop graduate skills, career advice, professional mentoring programs, access to employers and much more. Some of the programs available to you
include: Horizon Professional Development Award – Get the edge
As a Flinders student you have the opportunity to join the Horizon Professional Development Award and develop your professional skills (such as leadership, interpersonal and communication
skills, emotional intelligence, innovative and creative thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills, etc.) while you study.
The Horizon Award brings together a full range of experiences that broaden your skills, expand your thinking, make you highly attractive to employers and set you up for success. The program is highly flexible with three Award levels – silver, gold and platinum.
You tailor the program to suit your needs and choose a range of experiences and activities that align with your personal goals and fit around your study, work and other commitments.
Find out more: flinders.edu.au/horizon
Internships, vacation work and skilled volunteering opportunities Student and graduate employment email service
In addition to students and graduates undertaking their own job search the Careers and Employer Liaison Centre regularly lists vacancies and opportunities relevant to students and recent
graduates of Flinders University (including graduate programs and positions). You can register to have these vacancies emailed directly to you.
The WorkReady Internship Program is available to all enrolled students who wish to gain work- experience in industry. Volunteering opportunities are also made available to students as well as graduates who wish to contribute to their community whilst enhancing their employability skills.
Get a career mentor Join the Flinders Ignite Mentoring program and get in touch with an industry mentor who can assist
you in preparing for your transition through university into your new career.
Employer engagement opportunities- Expos, Forums and Networking The Careers and Employer Liaison Centre also regularly presents and sources events, information
sessions, student challenges and opportunities held on campus and externally.
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Tailored career advice At the Careers Centre FLO site students can access our extensive range of online resources,
including booklets, checklists, brochures, useful web links and more. The Careers Centre team offers their services in Flinders Connect and are available to talk to all
students to assist them with their student experience and transition into graduate employment. On arrangement, we can conduct consultations via telephone or SKYPE and a Resume or Cover
Letter Email Service is available for basic feedback. Join the Flinders University Careers LinkedIn Group to connect with employers, alumni and
industry professionals. Engage in career related conversations and enhance your professional online presence:
So there are plenty of ways to connect with the Careers Centre throughout your studies at Flinders University.
'Flinders will help you prepare for a career – not just a
job.'
When you are ready…we are here to help Phone: 8201 2832
Email: [email protected] Website: www.flinders.edu.au/careers
FLO: Register for our programs, explore careers and access the extensive resources available to you!
Use the resources on FLO to find more information and assistance.
To enrol on the Careers Centre FLO site just visit our website and click on the ‘Join the Careers FLO site’ icon
on the right hand side of the screen and follow the instructions.
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Simplifying ApplicationsFirst up, join the Careers Centre FLO site - www.flinders.edu.au/careers/students/
You don’t have to do any assignments for us but you will be able to access extensive resources and sign up for our programs. You can:
Work through activities to help you establish your career direction and research different careers
Discover more ways to complement your study journey and create a competitive edge with career development activities
Sign up for the Horizon Professional Development Award, Mentoring Programs, Work experience opportunities, and so much more
Explore how to search for work, apply for jobs, get ready for interviews and beyond.
It is never too early to start monitoring advertised jobs to get an idea of the different organisations you might want to work for, what entry level roles look like and what they
are looking for.
Check out the GradFacts Handout series ‘What can I do with my degree in ….?’ These include examples of possible job titles and employers for your degree:
www.flinders.edu.au/careers/degree/behavioural-science.cfm
Once you have established some career possibilities that interest you, it’s time to pursue your goals actively.
Gain relevant experience: We’ve already talked about volunteering and how valuable
it can be for both the organisation and yourself. You can enjoy contributing and
applying your knowledge and skills in addition to gaining experience to build up
your resume. You can also access the Careers Centre’s WorkReady Internship
program.
Come along to Careers Centre Expos and Events such as the Health and Community
Services Expo - Wednesday 13th September 2017 (4.30pm - 6.00pm) where
you can explore volunteering and employment options with employers.
Get a mentor: Join the Flinders Ignite Mentoring program and get in touch with anindustry mentor who can assist you in
preparing for your transition through university into your new career.
Be a mentor!
Inspire Mentor Program is designed to raise young people’s aspirations to get
into higher education and achieve a bright future. Students can join the
Inspire Mentor Program and mentor young people throughout their studies.
www.flinders.edu.au/careers/services/mentor/inspire/
Peer mentoring: www.flinders.edu.au/transition/our-
programs/mentoring-program
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Check out your opportunities on campus! Join campus organisations and get actively
involved, for example, hold an office or participate in a committee. Be a student
representative on a university consultative committee or council. Extracurricular
activities can increase your self-confidence, create a network, develop a profile of
exciting experiences, and build a fantastic repertoire of employability skills -
communication, team-work, leadership, problem solving, initiative, goal setting, and
more! Create professional connections - consider joining Professional Associations (student
membership can be at a discounted rate) or networking groups.
LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/) also
offers a number of groups of interest you could join too.
Follow sector news and sign up to
organisations’ e-newsletters to find out more about what different organisations do,
sector trends and innovative programs.
Develop a careers focused resume that expresses your emerging professional
identity, and get yourself set up on LinkedIn.
Refer to the article on Careers centre services and get involved in our
employability skills workshops, leadership programs and more.
A bit related to the above (but makes up 10 strategies), but do make sure you register
with the Careers Centre’s Horizon Professional Development Award - receive
formal recognition for the extra experiences, activities and programs you choose to be
involved in while at university.
See pages 31-
35 for a sample
resume and
template
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Engage with the CommunityVolunteering can be motivated by an interest, a passion, a commitment to a cause – and sometimes that is aligned to the career path and sometimes it isn’t. Either way, the fact that you have actively given your
time speaks volumes to those around you. Flinders students from all disciplines are giving their time to groups in our community such as:
Surf Life Saving, Rotary Clubs, CFS, Oxfam, Community Bands, Sports/Coaching/events, Scouts, School Committees and Working Bees, Spiritual, St John’s Ambulance Service, Youth Advisory
Committees, Fundraising, Badge Days, Events, Committees, hospitals, meals on wheels, Trees for Life, to name just a few!
Sometimes the deceptively simple task of reading someone’s resume can be absolutely humbling in terms of the contributions they have made.
This service to the community can highlight your enthusiasm, energy, desire to make a difference, ability to take responsibility and get things done – be that running a fundraising BBQ or serving on a committee. It will also point to your interpersonal, team work and organisational skills, and above all, that you are an engaged citizen. Along the way you just never know who you may meet. Who wouldn’t want to work with
someone like that? There can be another really important side to volunteering too – because it can be something you do
both to give to the community, but also as part of your developing career. Volunteering can see you contributing at varying levels of responsibility from social support,
administrative roles through to emergency relief interviewing, supporting members of the community who may be experiencing harms associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs to Lifeline counselling.
The reality is; there are some sectors, such as the community sector where there is a strong expectation that you will have some experience – and volunteering is a great way to start as it provides you with
insights and skills and also reflects your dedication and motivation for this work. Other benefits of volunteering:
Learning more about different career paths and what appeals to you and what doesn’t – so it’s a great way to ‘try before you buy’
Valuable work experience and the opportunity to network with people in the industry Exciting and interesting information on your CV- and we would encourage you to describe volunteering as formally as if it were a paid job (and it may even appear on your resume before your paid work if it is
more related to your career path) So, what is actually involved in volunteering? How much commitment is required and what do I already
need to know? These are some great questions. Each opportunity offers different roles and requires different levels of time commitment. They can vary from one hour every month, one hour a week, one day a week, to more substantive commitments and it all depends on the nature of the position. The
details of the position will be provided to you before you have to make a commitment, so you can see if it fits in with your timetable.
Most positions will say if you need any previous experience, but remember, being a volunteer is about gaining experience so you may receive valuable training before taking on the role. Once completing the
experience, some places will give you a reference or certificate to show that you have donated your time. How valuable is that!
To make the decision to give volunteering a go is the first step. The next one is to keep your eyes open to the opportunities when they are presented to you. They may come from your careers centre, school department as an email, on posters around campus, or out of the blue. Good luck, and give it a go, it
could lead you anywhere!And it may just be the difference between you and another applicant when the final choice is made about who gets the job that you have applied for.
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Navigating the World of VolunteeringMy name is Hannah Whetham and I am currently studying third year psychology. When I was asked
to briefly discuss my Bangladesh placement, I was a little stumped… How could I begin to encapsulate my experience, and for it to be of value to you? In response, I’ve given a brief
background to the Bangladesh placement, followed by my “advice” or learning lessons that arose as a result of my experiences. Hopefully this advice can be applied to any situation, just in case you
aren’t jetting over to Bangladesh any time soon. Above all, I’m no expert and find it a constant challenge to act out what I’ve learned. So… Happy reading!
Background: Bangladesh Youth First Concerns hosted a research team from Flinders University (including Dr
Julie Robinson, and students including myself) and Fulcrum Aid (a small development organisation) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The aim was to conduct an objective research project around alternative care
solutions for children affected by HIV that were currently not receiving services in Bangladesh. My role involved research, stakeholder consultations, preparation and delivery of presentations, and
gaining cultural awareness. My advice:
Be proactive and seek opportunities My involvement in the Bangladesh trip essentially arose from a conversation with Dr Julie Robinson. I had organised to chat with her about her research and projects with refugees and asylum seekers,and asked whether she had any opportunities to volunteer locally or overseas. The trip was sparked
from that initial conversation, due to Julie’s incredible passion for empowering disadvantaged communities and children, and love for fostering student learning. This wasn’t “first time lucky” for
me, however. For years prior I had been volunteering locally, researching and contacting organisations, and asking everyone I could think of in the hope of finding an appropriate international
and community-driven volunteering opportunity. See list below for a list of possible resources.* Key takeaway: Continually ask questions, seek out and engage in opportunities that interest you with
a wide range of people and places.
Be self-aware... and learn from each interaction or mistake
During the trip, I vividly recall an instance where I became frustrated by a lack of freedom, and acted in a way that could
have jeopardised the project, other people, or my safety. Whilst reflecting, I
painfully realised my behaviour was based upon my values of independence
and gender equality, which were inappropriate for the given cultural and
politically tense context. I failed to consider the potential consequences of
my actions, and to understand the perspectives of the culture and complex
political tensions I was immersed in. Key takeaway: Become aware of your underlying and often culturally shaped
views, assumptions and experiences, and
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how these impact your perceptions, emotional reactions, interactions and behaviour.
Learn and be open to new cultures I am still utterly humbled by the hospitality and
warmth I received from the Bangladeshi people. I still recall an instance of where a couple and their
baby made a 6-hour return motorbike journey through windy, dark roads after an exhausting day of work, purely to see us over supper for half an hour. Or the time the wife of our taxi driver invited us into
her one-roomed home and spent her precious income on buying us a Sprite to share. The
Bangladeshi people gave so much, even when they had so little to give, and valued relationships like I had never experienced before. Experiences like
these made me realise how giving and relationship- oriented Bangladeshi culture is, and how self-
focussed I, or my culture can be comparatively. Key takeaway: Be open to recognising the strengths and weaknesses of different cultures, including your
own. Take care of yourself
It’s the end of the day. We’ve spent 6 hours in Dhaka traffic crammed into a minivan, discussed the
harrowing situation of children affected by HIV in Bangladesh through meetings with three different
stakeholders, and heard powerful stories from adults affected by HIV. It was an incredible experience,
and we were all emotionally and physically exhausted….
As someone who struggles with a chronic illness (Type 1 Diabetes), sleep and dealing with stress, the
3-4 weeks of placement characterised by such intensity was a challenge. I learnt through a roller- coaster of exhaustion and overnight comfort eating (our host organisation unfortunately had an infinite supply of peanut butter) that self-nurture was vital.
Using opportunities during the trip to do pilates, play music, or spend time alone, helped me to cope.
Key takeaway: Acknowledge your limits, and develop ways to nurture yourself.
Be curious, and treat people with respect and integrity
Above all, my richest experiences came from asking questions and interacting with people. I learnt
through observing team leaders that conveying mutual respect, genuine empathy and openness to learn fostered relationships and partnerships. The
project simply would not have worked without their approach to interactions, especially given the
sensitive nature of the topic. Key takeaway: Humble yourself in every interaction,
and be respectful and open. Be flexible
Have you ever slaved away on an assignment, only to realise you’ve gone down the completely wrong
track? Now imagine the assessment criteria changed overnight entirely. That was what the
project felt like. Real life situations are a lot messier than an assignment, with political, legal, cultural,
stakeholder and social dynamics at play… An interconnected web of factors contributing to and
mediating the situation. Each day almost, we received critical new information, whether through
stakeholder meetings or discovery of key papers or policies. Often the work we had been doing had to be refocussed, reframed, or abandoned entirely….
We couldn’t afford to hold on to former ideas or solutions. Moreover, we were often given tasks with
limited direction. I realised it was critical to seek constructive feedback and be receptive to advised
changes in order to work effectively. Key takeaway: “Roll with the punches” and welcome
constructive criticism. Realise the power of your research skills and
analytical thinking The biggest lesson? Psychology skills are powerful. The ability to conceptualise and research a complex
web of real life factors, critique sources or arguments and to present evidence-based findings
is invaluable. You have the capacity to improve lives on a broader scale through your research
skills, if you so wish. Key takeaway: Immerse yourself in your degree and
research methods, and develop those “critical thinking” skills everyone bangs on about!
*Resources/ places/ programs I’ve engaged with to gain experience over the years:
To seek career advice: Careers Centre (and all their associated services):
http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/ Flinders Ignite Mentor Program:
http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/services/mentor/i gnite.cfm
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Volunteer Agencies I’ve volunteered with and recommend: Red Cross http://www.redcross.org.au/volunteering.aspx
Your local council (for example, I volunteered with ESL classes for Cooinda Neighbourhood Centre) Australian Refugee Association http://www.australianrefugee.org/volunteer/
Drug Arm http://www.hoa.drugarm.com.au/support-us/volunteer Other places to seek experience
Volunteering SA: http://www.volunteeringsa.org.au/ Flinders Volunteering Portal: http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/services/workready/volunteering/
Flinders Psychology Research (e.g. Brain and Cognition Laboratory) Anything that interests you! I’ve volunteered for Womadelaide, Adelaide Fringe, Aboriginal Legal Rights
Movement, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other organisations. Consider working part time or enrolling in TAFE to gain experience and “transferrable skills”
For example, I completed an Administrative Traineeship and as part of that undertook a Certificate III inBusiness and Certificate III Government. The experience and transferrable skills have been invaluable!
The Traineeship also enabled me to gain work as a Project Officer. I also was able to transfer mydiplomas in Team Management and Government into university credit, reducing my subject load (and
HECS debt)! TAFE: https://www.tafesa.edu.au/
Government vacancies: https://apply.sa.gov.au/Jobs/Pages/CurrentVacancies.aspx Seek: https://www.seek.com.au/
Many organisations don’t advertise online, so it is worth visiting the web pages of organisations you are interested in to check their vacancies. I also encourage sending an email outlining your interest and CV,
or calling, even if there are no vacancies. For international opportunities:
Australian Aid/ Scope Global Early Career Opportunities: http://www.volunteering.scopeglobal.com/apply- now/early-career-opportunities
Study Abroad and student exchange: https://www.flinders.edu.au/international/apply/study-abroad NB Many international volunteering opportunities are often not beneficial for the communities involved, especially if the placement is short term and you have limited experience to offer. Before investing time
and money on volunteering, be critical about where your funds are going, whether the project is community-driven or could be filled by local workers, and whether your presence may actually contribute
to the problem. If you are unsure about the benefits of the experience, consider an exchange or educational course instead.
Especially think critically before volunteering for orphanages: https://www.savethechildren.org.au/about- us/media-and-publications/latest-news/years/2015/orphanage-tourism
If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me via [email protected].... I’m pretty approachable!
You have the capacity to improve lives on a broader scale through
your research skills, if you so wish.
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This Guide provides you with a basic template to set out all the things that make you unique. You will find more resources, samples and templates on the Careers Centre’s FLO site.
Here are 7 tips specifically for psychology graduates. The resume will need to be tailored for different roles and organisations. What skills sets will it be most
important for you to emphasise?
The Psychology Graduates' Resume
1. Empathise with the reader There are many ways to write a resume, and each experience you have had across all aspects of your life is potentially relevant. But you can’t include full details about absolutely everything you have ever done in the CV and the idea is really to present a tailored version of yourself as it relates to each context to which you are writing. So apply your
research skills to understand your audience – check out our information on FLO about researching employers for ideas on how to go about this.
2. Market your degree Once you know what the employer is looking for, you
can really focus your information. If you have another major, or electives – is this worth
mentioning? You can list a few key subjects - Do you want to
highlight areas such as: Research Methods and Psychological Assessment and Measurement or Advanced Social Psychology,
Personality and Social Psychology and Human Development?
Each set could present convey a slightly different professional identity.
Have you undertaken assignments involving research into particular areas – that could show you have
relevant knowledge? Or do you want to convey skills such as your
proficiency with SPSS, knowledge of research, questionnaire design and survey methodologies, and
ability to perform quantitative analysis? 3. Experience
Experience may be comprised of: Employment (full time/part time/casual/professional etc.),
Internships/Vacation Work, Placements, Relevant volunteering etc.
You need to decide what your most relevant experience is, whether it is paid or unpaid and this
should appear first. Unpaid relevant work experience should be described as formally as your paid work –
with dates, name of the organisation, role title (indicating also if this is paid, a course placement or
volunteering), and bullet points of responsibilities. Divide your experience into themes and use
descriptive headings and subheadings to attract the attention of the reader and to get the most
relevant information at the top of the section. For example, Community Sector Experience, Research
Sector Experience, Human Resources Sector Experience, Customer Service Employment and so
on. 4. Training/certificates
For some roles it will be important to include – current police checks, working with children clearances, first aid and so on. If you have
completed other short courses/training make sure you include dates, details of the training provider
and formal course title.5. Memberships
Include dates, full name of each association and the level of your membership – e.g. – Student
Member. 6. Other Activities
You might have been in a mentoring program either as a mentor or a mentee, you might have coached a sports team, or been treasurer of a
committee, enjoyed more recreational clubs and societies such as Flinders Permaculture
Committee; all these different aspects of you can convey valuable information – you will just need to determine where they fit in your resume, and how
brief or detailed you need to be. 7. Referees
Referees are a vital part of your job search process and can come from a variety of contexts, ideally as close to your overall goal as you can get! Reflect on this well in advance of your job search. You
could consider a strategic combination of: academic referees (lecturers, tutors etc)
work referees (manager or supervisor from your casual, placement, or voluntary work)
perhaps someone who has seen you in positions of responsibility in sporting, student clubs and other
community activities.
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Resume Template
32
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Resume Sample
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Thank You!
First and foremost, it must be said that without the help of Meg Alexander from the Career Centre we would have been lost. She was
essential in providing clear and informative content throughout this guide.
However, this Career Guide was a team effort. All our contributors whose names already grace their articles we must thank you sincerely
for your time and effort to help us and the psychology cohort as a whole. It is much appreciated.
Cassandra Rose, Chelsea Stokes, Danielle Fogarty, Ellen Syme, Georgia Scott, Hannah Whetham, Holly Saric-Vokovic, Katie Stevens, Matt Kilgariff, Mel Jones, Natalie Zuluaga, Niki Caire, Tessa Liebich
ReferencesFlinders University Careers and Employer Liaison Centre.
Pages: 7-9, 22-23, 24-26, 30-25
Australian Psychological Society (2016), Areas of Psychology, Retrieved August, 2017, Retrieved from
http://www.believeinchange.com/Home/About-Us/Areas-of-Psychology For pages: 5-6
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The Career Guide was put together by Chris Sierp and Megan Hawes using Canva.
