My Career Plan

Continuously enhancing self-awareness involves a multifaceted approach. Beyond my regular self-reflection and leveraging of tools like the Clifton Strengths Finder by Gallup, I desire to seek diverse experiences actively. This includes engaging in new projects, volunteer work, or hobbies to uncover latent interests and skills both within and outside my desired field of work. Solicit regular feedback from peers and mentors to gain external perspectives on your strengths and areas for development. Networking with professionals in the field of psychology to provide me with valuable insights into different career plans, work cultures, and environments aligning with my values. Additionally, I aim to explore personality assessments beyond strengths finders, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, for a comprehensive understanding. Upon reflection, I want to embrace challenges that push my boundaries, fostering adaptability and resilience.

To discover more options around my chosen career of Clinical Psychology I firstly, will need to
delve into specialized areas within clinical psychology, exploring diverse niches such as forensic
psychology or health psychology. I also will aim to investigate the latest trends, advancements,
and emerging specialties to stay abreast of industry developments. A goal of mine is to expand
beyond academia by attending conferences, workshops, and seminars to connect with
professionals to discover and learn my options. I plan to leverage social media platforms to
engage with online communities and gain insights into real-world experiences. I want to discover
networking events, informational interviews, and mentorship programs that offer opportunities to
meet seasoned professionals and glean firsthand knowledge, perhaps those facilitated by Griffith
University. By proactively seeking out these avenues, I hope to augment my awareness of
potential career trajectories, enhancing my ability to make informed decisions as I navigate my
path to becoming a Clinical Psychologist.

To deepen my industry knowledge and secure valuable experiences in clinical psychology, I need
to engage in relevant initiatives actively. This could include attending conferences and seminars,
such as the annual Australian Psychological Society Clinical Psychologists Conference, to stay
informed about the latest research and network with professionals. I have previously joined online
forums from Mental Health First Aid Australia and plan to subscribe to their email list for ongoing
insights. I hope to pursue volunteer opportunities with organizations like mental health clinics or
research institutions to gain hands-on experience, such as Headspace and Lifeline. I could also
seek informational interviews with practicing clinical psychologists in my local area to understand
diverse career paths, gather advice, and shadow professionals to observe day-to-day activities. As
a part of this assessment, I will utilize LinkedIn to connect with professionals and explore potential
mentors.

To identify and document essential skills for a future career as a clinical psychologist, I plan to
conduct thorough research on industry requirements and professional expectations. As
suggested above, I could engage in informational interviews with practicing psychologists to gain
insights into both the hard and soft skills crucial for success in the field. I I want to be aware of
and understand emerging trends and evolving skill sets within Psychology, such as job
descriptions and competency frameworks from reputable organizations like the Australian
Psychological Society and Queensland Health, to compile a comprehensive list of required skills.
Another action includes maintaining a skills journal to document my self-assessment and
progress. I also will seek feedback from mentors, professors, or professionals during future
placements to continually refine my understanding of necessary skills. I will regularly update this
documentation to align with my evolving career goals and to track my development in key areas.