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Value of voluntary work??

  • 02-12-2008 11:17pm
    #1
    .DumDeDum.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭


    I'm currently a first year undergrad psychology student. Someone said to me that if I get involved in voluntary work etc it can increase my chances of getting onto postgrad courses in the future, if so what kind of volunteering would it be most worth doing?? I don't know what area I'd like to specialise in yet!

    Also is there any kind of work experience I can do during summers??

    Any advice is much appreciated!


Comments

  • #2
    taztastic
    Registered Users Posts: 122 ✭✭taztastic


    .DumDeDum. wrote: »
    Someone said to me that if I get involved in voluntary work etc it can increase my chances of getting onto postgrad courses in the future, if so what kind of volunteering would it be most worth doing?? I don't know what area I'd like to specialise in yet!

    Also is there any kind of work experience I can do during summers??

    They are right about voluntary counting toward postgrad courses. But I'm going to state the obvious and say that it will only really help you if you can bring learning outcomes from whatever you do to the course you want.
    Is it applied or research that you are more drawn toward?
    I think you'd actually be better talking to people involved in the areas that you're thinking of to try and get a feel for them. That's something I didn't do until much later and I'm really sorry now I didn't do it at the sart.


  • #3
    JuliusCaesar
    Registered Users Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭JuliusCaesar


    .DumDeDum. wrote: »
    I don't know what area I'd like to specialise in yet!

    In that case, try all the specialies that you can:
    learning difficulties children, and adults
    physical handicap, ditto
    elderly
    mental illness

    If you don't try them, you'll never know.

    Try befriending services, and see if you can help out providing entertainment for sick kids in hospital, or taking a class in a day centre or helping bringing people out for outings, swimming etc. Volunteering Ireland will be of use, as will Mental Health Ireland which is a federation of Mental health groups.

    Just remember, you'll need Garda Clearance to work with kids and it can take a while to obtain.

    PS look at Volunteering over in the Soc forums.......


  • #4
    .DumDeDum.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭.DumDeDum.


    Thanks for the advice guys!

    Yea good point that it would have to link with the course. I think I'll start by just finding out as much as i can about different areas like JuliusCaesar said, and getting some experience in as many of them as I can, and take it from there.
    As for applied or research, I'm even not sure about that yet as I don't really know what research involves, but I know we do courses and projects in it during the undergrad degree so hopefully that'll help me to decide.

    Thanks again for the help, gonna start looking into it soon (once these exams are done..!) And I'll have a chat with some of my lecturers and see if they have any useful connections when the new term starts back too!


  • #5
    The Black Oil
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,202 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    Certainly can't hurt to have some voluntary experience under your belt. I'm guessing you've a bit of free time being in first year so it might help to start now and get your foot in the door somewhere.

    If you can, try to find something that might involve some psychological input/a psychologist on site/providing supervision etc. Also, don't just stick with one group as that might limit you. Build up experience that draws upon or uses one or two skills then move on to something else that enhances those skills or gives you new ones. Plug the gaps in the CV/your skillsbase.

    Have a look at some of the slides on here http://www.psihq.ie/members_studentNews.asp

    Bodywhys are looking for volunteers in 3 areas of the country, you have to be over 20 years of age, though.
    http://www.bodywhys.ie/news.php?id=102

    Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.

    CMod: Entertainment



  • #6
    .DumDeDum.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭.DumDeDum.


    Thanks for your help The Black Oil. Have had a look at that website and it looks really interesting and helpful. Unfortunately I'm not 20 yet but I'll look into Bodywhys in the future! Thanks for all the advice, you've all given me an idea of what to look for, was a bit clueless before and didn't know where to start!


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  • #7
    Cinful
    Registered Users Posts: 284 ✭✭Cinful


    Work for licensed psychologist. After, get reference letter for Grad school.


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