Exploring the application of psychology in a non-psychology role

I graduated from Coventry University MSc Occupational Psychology in 2021 and previously completed a BSc graduate from the University of Leicester. I have a great passion for occupational psychology, specifically the areas of learning and development, wellbeing, and leadership. 

Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I gained a graduate role with Explore Learning, working initially as an Assistant Director and moving my way up to Centre Director. After six years with this company, I decided to take on a new challenge and I moved on to work as a Programme Coordinator at the Royal Mencap Society. I have been in this role for over three years. As a Programme Coordinator, each year I oversee a supported internship programme in Staffordshire for around 20+ young people aged 16-25 years who have a learning disability. I also manage 8+ employees and volunteers.

The aim of the programme is for young people to gain work experience and be supported by my team within their placement to gain further employability skills. Overall, the goal is for these young people to gain paid employment by the completion of the academic year, as well as promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity within the companies who provide the work placements. Last year, we had a student who joined our programme and spent the year on an internship in a logistics role. At the end of year, he gained paid employment with the company and is now working 16+ hours per week. 

This role is extremely rewarding and has allowed me to apply my experience of Psychology in the workplace. Firstly, as a manager, I have developed my leadership skills through holding regular team meetings, 1-1 appraisals and supporting my staff with their wellbeing. Completing my recent MSc in Occupational Psychology has allowed me to implement clear strategies to develop as a leader, such as supporting my team to manage their workload and subsequently their wellbeing, and to apply coaching techniques to enhance their critical thinking. Moreover, learning about different leadership styles within my master's degree has enabled me to understand more about the leader I want to be. 

In addition to my role as a manager, my experience of psychology has also enabled me to understand neurodiversity and the impacts of this within the workplace. A significant part of my current role at the Royal Mencap Society involves working with young people, as well as employees, who are neurodiverse. My degree has allowed me to understand the strategies and resources people who are neurodiverse require to be successful within a workplace.

Already, we have supported many companies to implement these strategies and resources through our Supported Internship programme, creating more diverse and inclusive environments. Even myself, I have learnt to support my employees with their learning difficulties, such as ADHD and dyslexia, ensuring they have the right support to be able to thrive within their roles. It is incredible the difference the right support can make! 

Overall, I can honestly say that choosing to take an A-Level in psychology was one of the best decisions I have ever made, as since then, psychology has been such a massive part of my life and has led me to where I am today. During my undergraduate degree I did explore the areas of clinical, forensic and particularly educational psychology, but gaining a graduate position within a managerial role opened my eyes to the importance of occupational psychology within a workplace. It was a part of psychology quite untouched during my undergraduate degree, so after five years of work experience, I was keen to find out more by undertaking a MSc.

Overall, I believe that gaining a non-psychology role has allowed me to develop knowledge and skills I may not have necessarily achieved alternatively, particularly the opportunity to become a manager quite soon on in my career.  I think it is so important to know more about non-psychology related routes and realise the incredible difference you can make by immersing yourself into the world of Psychology!

Alix Barefoot is an MSc Occupational Psychology postgraduate and currently a Programme Coordinator at the Royal Mencap Society. Alix has interests in learning and development, leadership and motivation, and staff wellbeing. Alix's future aims are to undertake the Stage 2 qualification in occupational psychology and gain further experience in her areas of interest. 

Alix is on Linkedin