This document provides information on the importance of gaining experience outside of one's studies and various ways to do so. It discusses how employers value degrees plus skills and experience. Different types of experience are recommended for various careers like clinical psychology, teaching, and marketing. Resources are presented for finding experience through part-time work, volunteering, clubs, and careers advice pages. The value of reflection on experiences is emphasized as a way to learn and improve. Students are encouraged to assess their current skills and identify next steps for gaining further experience.

1. Janet Forsyth, Careers Consultant
Psychology 1
Experience works

2. Covering…
 experience outwith your studies – why it’s important
 what counts?
 What you can do…. different ways of gaining
experience
 Experience for different careers – or skill-development
 Making the most of any experience – the value of
reflection
 Next steps/Further resources

3. What? Why? Why now?
- What are you doing now outwith
your studies?

4. What, Why, Why now?
• Typical student jobs – retail, catering, restaurant?
• Volunteering?
• Clubs and societies?
• Vacation work – home or abroad?
• Internships?
• Relevant?
• Varied?
‘I go straight to the experience
section and involvement at
University, for example with
societies.' (ERAC, Jeff Lovejoy)

5. What? Why? Why now?
Time to:
• Broaden your ideas and horizons
• Clarify you options and your strengths
• Build up a body of experience and skills for specific careers
(eg psychology careers, teaching, publishing etc)
• Enhance your employability skills
• Develop your networks
• Develop your CV
• Earn some money – if doing paid work
• Why start now?

6. What do employers look for?
• Degree + skills + experience = employable graduate
• Typical skills
• Communication – written and spoken
• Planning and organising
• Teamwork
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Problem solving
• Initiative
• leadership

7. Experience for different types of work/skills – your ideas
• What experience are you looking for?
• Your ideas…………?
• Clinical psychology
• Teaching
• Marketing
• Developing Communication skills
• Developing Teamwork
• ……………………..?
• Themed groups to discuss…..
• Write your ideas on the Padlet
https://padlet.com/janet_forsyth/psychology_experience

8. Resources to help you find experience
• Part time / vacation work
• Volunteering
• Clubs and societies
• PPLS-specific careers information – including ideas for gaining
experience for the psychology professions
• https://www.ed.ac.uk/careers/application-interview-advice

9. Whatever work you do, course
centres are primarily interested
in what you have learnt from
your experiences, both
personally and professionally. ’
Since I started my internship, every day I have
been writing down reflections on my experiences
in Nestle. First of all, it makes me keep track of
what I am doing, what I’ve already done and
what still needs to be done. Secondly, it makes
me pay attention to some more specific details
of things I learn in the job, analyse them and
appreciate them.
Reflection – why?
• The art and importance of personal reflection
• More reflection resources
• What students say…..
• Advice from the clinical psychology application pages
• Resources on Career.Ed – use (1.9) to reflect on your skills and attributes

10. Finally….
• Assess your current skills….use the skills-assessment
exercise on Career.Ed (1.9)
• What are you going to do? – jot down your ideas on
the card
• Edinburgh Award

11. Questions?
???????