Tips for graduating psychologists.
I graduated from my Master’s in Educational and Developmental Psychology degree at the end of 2020. After six years of studying, it was a welcome relief to be finished, but the burning question for me was: what now? Where do I want to work? What will be the right setting for me? I’d heard mixed information from different people, and I found it a little daunting to try and choose. It felt so important to choose the perfect setting for my first job, as I knew that it could potentially lead me to either feel burnt out or really happy with where I was. I’d also considered working part-time at two settings to test the waters in different places because I wanted experience in a few areas. In the end, I went with the place where I did my second placement in my final year of study—Bloom.
For me, the decision over finding the right setting to work in ended up being about finding the right people to work for. I was after a workplace where I would work for encouraging and understanding people and be given support as I transitioned out of studying and into the workforce. I was after a place where I could receive regular supervision and guidance where necessary from a team with diverse skills. I was also after a place where I could grow in various different areas—individual therapy, group therapy, administering assessments, as well as any other areas I could. Bloom was able to offer me all of that.
I had been told that private practice is not always the best place to start out as a graduating psychologist, as you can quickly experience a high client load, and the focus can sometimes be on reaching targets rather than developing at your own pace, but this has not been my experience at all. I was eased into the process of seeing clients, beginning with shadowing other psychologists at the clinic, having ample time to find and create resources, and receiving supervision from several psychologists with different specialties. This made the process of transitioning into a job much easier and less stressful than I anticipated.
My advice for newly graduated or soon-to-be graduating psychologists is this: focus on finding a workplace that aligns with your values and what you want to achieve in the upcoming future. For me, the priority was finding somewhere that would be able to support my transition into the workforce and help build my skills in various areas. Lisa and Michelle, the Directors at Bloom, consistently checked in with me (and still do!) and allowed me to explore any spaces I’d like to work in. This mixture of support and autonomy is the perfect combination for a graduate psychologist who is still learning the ropes and trying to work out their interests!
Another consideration for employment is working out what kind of clients you want to work with. In private practice, there can be a mixture of ages and clinical presentations, which may be great for you, or may not be. There is also some flexibility in choosing who you want to work with. At schools, there are obviously set ages of students and potential restrictions around how you work with clients, whether it be therapy/counseling or assessments. This may suit perfectly if you prefer working in one space or another.
When you interview for different jobs, remember that it’s not only them interviewing you, but you interviewing them. Ask questions, discuss what you’re looking for in a job, what types of clients you feel comfortable working with or want to work with. Discuss client load, supervision, and opportunities for growth. It may feel daunting to say all of this to a potential employer, but they will appreciate it; not only does it show ambition and drive, it will also give both of you a sense of whether that workplace is the right fit for you, which is the most important thing.
At the end of the day, there is no right fit for everyone—go with what feels right for you. And before deciding on anything, make sure you’ve asked all the questions you want to ask, worked out what you value in a workplace (e.g., autonomy, support, teamwork, growth opportunities, etc.), and finally, consider what your current goals are. Addressing these areas will help give you that clarity and peace of mind to feel more comfortable in making that big decision.
I know it can be a daunting process, but I hope this has helped. Congratulations on making it through 6+ years of study, and good luck in your next steps as a psychologist!
