Securing your first Assistant Psychologist role: Advice from current AP
- Psychology Cap
- Nov 10, 2024
- 9 min read
Securing an Assistant Psychologist (AP) role often feels like the natural next step after completing a psychology degree. However, many soon realise that the process is more challenging and competitive than expected. Landing your first AP position can seem like an uphill battle, but you're not alone in this journey. In this Q&A, we’ve gathered insights from three current Assistant Psychologists who were once in your shoes. This blog post will highlight their experiences and offer practical advice to help you navigate the path to securing your first AP role.
Aleena Shahzad
Why did you choose to pursue an AP role?
I chose to pursue the AP role as I thought it would give me a better chance to get onto the DClinPsy.
What are you hoping to gain from it?
I wanted to gain more clinical exposure and work directly with clients, especially children and young people.
Have you applied to multiple AP roles? If so, what was different about your applications?
I think I applied to around 17 AP roles which were unsuccessful. My first successful application was when I applied to a Higher Education England scheme aiming to diversify the psychological workforce. This was different as I was able to structure my application around my personal experiences as a South Asian Muslim woman.
The other two successful offers were because I had previous experience in writing applications. I used buzzwords and phrases directly from the person specification, and divided my personal statement into sections e.g., clinical skills, communication, etc.
I also sent my application to my supervisor and my friend who was an AP at the time to get feedback
What did you do to prepare for interviews?
I practiced with a friend who had been through these interviews before
I wrote my experiences and what I learned from them in a notebook so I had an idea of what I wanted to talk about.
I also researched the trusts I applied to, including their values and what their mission statement was and how these aligned with my own personal values.
I reached out to current or past APs who had the role I was applying for to understand what a typical day looked like and what their experience of the team was so I could have an idea of what I was walking into.
How long did it take you to secure your first AP role?
I started applying in 2021 after I graduated from my BSc, and I got my first AP role in April 2023 during my masters.
What advice would you give to someone who just started this process?
Be patient! I can’t stress this enough and don’t compare yourself to others! It might look like everyone else around you is getting an AP job so quick, especially when you scroll on LinkedIn but the reality is that only 1% of applicants are successful in securing an AP position.
Be kind to yourself. Rejections are common and it’s so normal to want to give up and it’s easy to take it personally, but please don’t! This is just a game of chance. Interviewers/employers go through a hundred applications and interviewees and it just so happens that they will like someone else more than you on that specific day. Unless they give specific feedback, this is nothing to do with you or any faults you have.
Use your resources and personal connections! Reach out to people on LinkedIn, your supervisors, your friends who studied psychology and those who know nothing about psychology at all! Practice your interviews, use online forums that have example questions and get constructive feedback that you can use in the future. Follow people online, use social media and YouTube videos to hear about the experience of others, We have a Instagram page which details all our experience and we give personal advice on how we navigated the field, which people have found helpful as well @theclinicalpsychs if you wanna give it a follow :)
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Zoe Ikeotuonye
Why did you choose to pursue an AP role?
I chose to pursue an AP role as I would like to apply for the doctorate in clinical psychology and the AP role would help me to build my clinical experience.
What are you hoping to gain from it?
I work within CAMHS so I am hoping to gain a deeper understanding and experience of working therapeutically with young people and supporting their emotional wellbeing.
Have you applied to multiple roles? If so, what was different about your applications?
I applied to multiple AP roles. With each application it is important that you tailor it to the job description and the essential criteria. I applied to a varied range of services and in each application I made sure I highlighted why my past experience would make me a suitable candidate for the role.
What did you do to prepare for interviews?
To prepare for interviews I read up about the service and the values of the trust. I thought about examples of times that I had demonstrated the skills outlined in the essential and desirable criteria. I used the STAR technique to structure my answers in the interview.
How long did it take you to secure your first AP role?
I made my first AP application in March 2024 and I received an offer for a role at the end of July.
What advice would you give to someone who just started this process?
It can be a really difficult process but keep pushing! The more applications you do, the better you get. It’s very important to be reflective in the supporting statement of your application and with time you will find it easier to do this. AP roles tend to close quite quickly. I found it helpful to have a template supporting statement and I altered it according to the role I was applying to. I would also recommend that you apply for roles where you have experience related to the client group and the service that you work with. I currently work in CAMHS and I have lots of experience with children and young people and I think that really helped my application.
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Lubna Saeed
What are you hoping to gain from your AP post?
Clinical
As an AP, I hope to gain hands-on clinical experience by working directly with clients. By engaging in 1-1 work, I would like to develop my assessment, formulation and intervention skills to help empower clients and support them to achieve their therapeutic goals. Through CPD, clinical, and peer supervision, I plan to learn and apply different psychological models and knowledge to my practice.
Through weekly supervision, I hope to improve my reflective ability to help with my learning and be able to remain curious and think holistically when understanding how to support patients. For example, working with older adults has been very interesting in understanding the interaction between both physical and mental health.
Research
I have seen the benefits of service evaluations and audits for services in understanding how to improve the quality of care for their patients. I find the research aspect of psychology rewarding and enjoyable; thus, I plan to work with the team to explore staff wellbeing.
Personal
Reflecting on my journey, I have understood my maintaining sense of imposter syndrome and its impact on my confidence. As an AP, I want to build on my psychological knowledge and learn to apply it when supporting clients and the wider MDT. Being naturally shy, I will seek out opportunities that push me out of my comfort zone.
Have you applied to multiple AP roles? If so, what was different about your applications?
I applied to various AP roles and had three interviews before gaining an AP post. Tailoring my application for each service was very important. I used the job specification/description to understand what they required from an AP and what their service entailed. I then considered how my experiences would help me do that job. For example, I applied for an ADHD assessment service and a perinatal CMHT service, both of which had different expectations from an AP. Thus, it was vital for me to write about how my experiences would help when an AP within their population and service.
When writing, I found it helpful to give myself subheadings using the same ones from the job description, such as ‘experience and skills and knowledge’. This provided me with a structured cover letter and, I think, made it easier to read. Moreover, I ensured I used the ‘buzzwords’ from the job description within my application. I feel this helps make it easier for the short-lister to give you points on meeting essential criteria.
I also researched the populations that the service cares for, identified specific psychological models they may use and the challenges that the population may face. For example, I discussed considering cognitive changes when formulating with older people.
What did you do to prepare for interviews?
When I got the initial notification that I had been invited for an interview, I searched for tips/questions on the Facebook Dclin pages. This helped me understand what to expect and how to prepare for the interview. I also watched various YouTubers talk about their experience with AP interviews, particularly Sharon B and ClinicalPsychologyCommunityUK. I learnt the different styles of questions and the importance of reflection when answering these.
While applying for AP posts, I worked at IKEA part-time. During the quieter times, I would search the service to understand more about what they do and their values as trust and research more into the client population. This was particularly helpful with services that conducted psychometric assessments, as I had little experience with this before. I also used this time to improve my knowledge of psychological models such as CBT and CFT.
I further looked at the job specification and identified essential skills and duties required for the job. As someone who finds reflection tricky, I found using the ‘what, so what, now what?’ model most helpful in reflecting on my clinical and research experiences and how I could apply this to my new role.
When nervous, I tend to go on tangents, so writing my answers onto flashcards using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method helped make the answer flow and include all the essential points easier. I practised with friends and family when I got comfortable with my answers, which helped me gain constructive feedback.
How long did it take you to secure your first AP post?
After graduating in July 2023, I knew the competitiveness of becoming an AP, so I mainly focused on securing a part-time job to ensure an income. Once I started working part-time in early August, I continuously applied for AP jobs. I secured my first AP job in September and began working in December.
What advice would you give to someone who has just started the process?
There is no doubt that this is a long and challenging journey, and I know sometimes it may feel as though you’ll never make it. I 100% felt like that and put lots of pressure on myself, which was not very healthy. My main advice is to stop doubting yourself, your skills and your experiences. You’ve got yourself a degree and made it this far into the process; I can guarantee you have learnt so many skills and much about yourself. I genuinely believe that if it’s meant to happen, it will, and I have learnt to enjoy the journey this way.
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As you've just read in the interviews, securing an AP role can be a valuable stepping stone toward making your Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClin) application more competitive. However, it’s important to recognise that obtaining an AP post isn't straightforward; it requires both perseverance and strategic preparation. One of the most critical qualities that will enhance your application and performance in interviews is reflection. You may have encountered this term numerous times throughout your psychology studies, but what does it truly mean in a practical sense? How can you apply reflection models effectively in your career development?
To help you answer these questions, we’ve created our Reflective Journal X Study Planner, available in both digital and physical formats. This tool is designed to guide you in building reflective practice skills that are essential not only for securing an AP role but for progressing throughout your psychology career. Reflective thinking encourages a deeper understanding of your experiences, allowing you to learn from both successes and challenges and to continually improve as a practitioner. By engaging in structured reflection, you enhance your ability to demonstrate critical thinking, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence—qualities that are highly valued by DClin course selectors.
Digital:
Physical
If you have already secured an AP post and are looking to take the next step toward the DClin, the next phase is likely to be focused on understanding what specific criteria are required by different clinical psychology doctorate programs. One valuable resource we offer is an Excel sheet that outlines the essential requirements for each DClin course across various institutions. This resource will help you identify what is expected of applicants and ensure that you are fully prepared. You can use this as a checklist to assess your eligibility and make informed decisions about which courses best align with your career goals and academic background.
Many AP posts require specific experiences and skills that must be cultivated during your undergraduate studies. In our latest eBook, we dive into these skills and offer guidance on how to shape your undergraduate degree to maximise both your academic and professional potential. The book includes insights from qualified psychologists, graduated professionals, and academic writing experts, offering advice that we wish we had received at the start of our own careers. These insights will help you understand what specific experiences and skills are valued in the field and how to develop them during your studies. Whether it’s gaining research experience, refining your communication skills, or building a portfolio of relevant work, this eBook will provide practical steps to help you craft a strong foundation for your career.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the tools, resources, and guidance to thrive in your psychology career. We understand that the journey to becoming a clinical psychologist can be long and challenging, but with the right preparation, reflection, and support, you can confidently navigate this process. We will continue to use this platform to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed, whether you're just starting your journey or preparing for the next step.
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