h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, now I've gots me degree I'm wondering what next.
One thing that seems interesting but may have insurmountable problems is a career change.
I am, and have been for a while, quite interested in the sort of business psychology consultancy area. Advising companies on their setup, internal and external workings based on various psychological findings and theories. Not just the boring old workforce happiness survey stuff, although that is a part of it, but things like group interaction theories, hierarchy theories, reward theories and so on.

To do this properly you need to be a chartered psychologist and this requires a related accredited post grad qual (MSc in Occupational Psychology or the like) plus qualification exams from the BPS. All told at least 5 more years study. Plus the accreditation requires related work experience - ie already working in some related area and your chances of being accepted on to the one of the MSc programs is increased if you have related work experience. I do have a short while to think about this as most of the courses start either later in the year (so have time to apply) or in January (too late to apply now).

I don't. I work in IT. On the other hand, I do have 13yrs experience of actually working in a varied range of organisations and teams. So I do have practical experience of what they study.

There are also a lot of psych grads out there, many with better degrees and most 15yrs or so younger than me.

So I'm not really sure a) how I would even go about doing this in the best manner and b) whether it is worth trying anyway. I'm 39 so qualification would take me until at least my mid 40s.

The other obvious factor would be a pay drop, and I'm lucky that I can afford to take quite a cut, but this could still be a killer.

I was wondering if it would be worth writing to some of the specialist business psych consultancy companies out there and asking for their advice, not looking for a job, just asking if they had any advice for someone starting out from a mature student perspective.

I dunno, I suspect I might just be indulging in fantasy and actually I'm too old for this to work.

Any thoughts, advice?

E-mail me and I can share thoughts. It's more-or-less my area.

Done, ta!

You're never too old!

My Ickul I'm starting on a new career right now...training to be a para legal. I'm 36.

Chin up...you will make the right decision...I've known you long enough!

And I'm planning a PhD.

I'm considering an English degree.

qualifications is one thing - starting a new career again from scratch is another I think.

VV - para legal always seemed like a job where what you do does not live up to the name. Unless you do actually get to dress up in combat gear and wield a sub machine gun in the courts

But blimey, aren't we a bunch of go-getting self improvers
Best of luck to you all in your endeavors.
Ed - a phud is on the cards for me at some point - but only when I've found something I'm that interested in. My dad did one starting when he was 50 or so, took 5yrs and the amount of work that went into it - and it wasn't even a proper one, just one of those waffly philosophy/theology ones

*giggles*

Icky, it's a long way from when she first left school and was given a job in a solicitor's office.

Uncle: What will you be doing?

VV: Eeerrmm... Soliciting?


I hope she knows the difference now!

yep, I can see that

I'd say go for it! Better to switch a little later than always wish you had...