Taking a degree in Psychology equips graduates with key generic skills as well as psychological skills that make them highly employable, and those skills become more useful as an individual’s career progresses. The BPS Careers Destinations (Phase 3) Survey looked at the career progression of four cohorts of Psychology graduates from 42 university departments. The cohorts are made up of individu...

​ By Christian Jarrett There are certain situations where it’s advantageous for an introvert to take charge. For instance, perhaps they are better qualified than their extroverted peers. The trouble is, most introverts tend to shy away from seizing informal leadership opportunities when they arise (psychologists call this “emergent leadership” – when someone takes charge in a team without a for...

Mariella Miraglia and Gail Kinman review the evidence on presenteeism. Have you ever struggled into work when you felt sick enough to stay at home? If so, you are one of the 43 per cent of European workers (according to a 2012 Eurofound survey) who have engaged in presenteeism. People work while sick for several reasons, such as excessive job demands, a sense of obligation to their employers or...

By Christian Jarrett Working for a commercial organisation, especially in a senior position, there may be more scope for bigger pay cheques, performance bonuses and a company car, but a new study in the Journal of Economic Psychology finds that British people who work for not-for-profit organisations, including charities and social enterprises (also known as the third sector), are the real winn...

By Alex Fradera In the lab, psychologists have shown how generosity propagates and spreads. If someone is kind to us, we tend to “pay it forward” and act more generously to someone else when given the chance. But it’s not clear if these findings are realistic. For example, when we’re juggling priorities on a busy work day, might receiving an act of kindness actually be a nuisance, leaving us fe...

The BPS provides a number of careers resources for schools, colleges, and higher educational institutions. Our careers booklet gives you an overview of psychology careers, and provides insight into issues such as how to apply for an undergraduate degree, how to find work experience, and how to become a member of the Society. Your Journey Into Psychology (2014).pdf Our youtube channel contains a...

There are many options to choose from if you're looking for a career involving psychology, but do not wish to work as a practicing psychologist. This blog aims to provide some useful info on the variety of related roles and career opportunities available to you, whether you have a psychology degree or not. Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners are trained t...

Whether you are newly qualified and looking for your first professional role, or whether you are looking to make a brand new start in a new career, the advice provided here should be invaluable in guiding you down the right path. Starting Your Career Because a practicing psychologists must have postgraduate qualifications there isn’t a fast track route to a career in psychology. To become a Cha...

Postgraduate study and training is a requirement to become a Chartered Psychologist and to register as a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Postgraduate Study Typically postgraduate study will take at least 3 years to complete, and will involve a combination of both academic and practical work. The exact nature training you need to complete will dep...

In order to work as a Psychologist, you will need a degree and postgraduate qualifications. However, the starting point for each individual’s journey is different. Some start studying at school or college, while others don't start until university (and some wait until even later, with an accredited Postgraduate Conversion Course). But whatever level you're currently at in your education, the in...