occupational psychology

lily24

Hi everyone....

I really hope someone can offer me some information on occupational psychology as i am finding it very difficult to find any about this profession in ireland. I am condisering doing a masters in uk soon, however, im wondering if it is a good route to go in relation to work in ireland. Any information I have found is very vague and considering the amount of money the course costs the salary doesnt seem comparable to other professions in psychology?

really hope someone can help!!

Thanks

maryshan

Hi
It's a while since I've worked in occupational psychology, have moved back to child psych. There are a number of occupational psychology consultancies in Ireland and UK, put Peter Saville into Google and his career path will give you an idea of the history of it. It mostly involves using tests and assessment tools in the selection and development of staff and managers and is a well respected discipline. Most people end up working in consultancies or in HR in-house which can be very fulfilling. Maybe give a few HR people and occ psych consultancies a ring for advice, you might knock across someone helpful.

Mary

lily24

Hi Mary,

thanks so much for replying.....very helpful

Also, you said you moved back into child psychology....I too am interested in educational psychology....did you do both?

maryshan

Hi, my original training was ed psych in QUB and worked at that for a few years before moving to occ psych. I enjoyed both though I find the child psych more rewarding for me. The two disciplines have a lot in common in that in the work I've done you're assessing, analysing and interpreting against criteria whether it be a job specification,management ability or dyslexia or aspergers and putting plans together to develop and motivate the person further. I found when I worked in industry, the psychology background was well respected and the problems brought to me were similar just with an age gap!
Occ psych can be very well rewarded especially if someone has the talent to rise through the levels in a consultancy or company and if they are innovative in designing new products for the marketplace. Probably harder to get work in the current climate. Probably an area that satisfies those motivated by money and business success more than the child psych side, which in most cases is more motivated by wanting to help people. I'm more the latter and a former young employee of mine did the occ psych masters, worked successfully in it for a number of years, but then went back and did the clinical masters. thinking of the friends and colleagues I have worked with in occ psych, I think they would be more 'hard-nosed' and very business focused and ambitious. So similar work but different motivating factors. Hard to know where the job market will be in a few years, but there does seem to be work out there on the child psych side of things.

It is hard to know which direction to take, but either way things seem to work out or you can with a bit of persuasion, change again later!

All the best

Mary