Career Perspective
Career preparation in the master specialisation Health and Medical Psychology
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience. But also think of job application skills: preparing a CV, formulating a cover letter, compiling a LinkedIn profile, networking, practising job interviews, preparing and holding a pitch.
Self-reflection
This involves reflecting on your own (study) career (choices), reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Gaining insight into, among other things, your competences and personality, your (work) values and motives. what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through practical and social internships and work placements, external research internships and projects, practical assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment, business challenges etc.
Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers from the work field, alumni presentations and experiences, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
Employability in the master specialisation Health and Medical Psychology
In your programme, you will also find these employability elements.
Subject-specific and transferable skills
These skills are addressed in the various courses of the programme. Check the specific course descriptions in the study guide to see which skills are involved.
Examples of courses that pay attention to the other employability elements are:
Self-reflection
Practical experience
Basic Therapeutic Skills
Designing Interventions for Behavioural Change
Psychological Assessments and Interventions in Chronic Disease
Cognitive Behaviour Interventions
Internship
Master Thesis
Relevant elective(s): Trainers Course Communication Skills; Health Psychology: From Research to Practice; Innovations in e-Healthcare
Labour market orientation
Designing Interventions for Behavioural Change
Psychological Assessments and Interventions in Chronic Disease
Internship
Relevant elective(s): Trainers Course Communication Skills; Health Psychology: From Research to Practice
Activities to prepare for the labour market outside the curriculum
Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These may be information meetings on decision moments within your programme, but also career workshops and events organised by your own programme, the faculty Career Service or your study association.
For example:
Twice a year a symposium is organized by the thesis-and internship coordinators with the aim to let students present a poster (on their thesis) and get in contact with alumni who share their experiences on the labour market and get informed by Career Services about what they have to offer.
Twice a year every student is invited for a personal mentor meeting to discuss study planning, progress, and career choices and -options.
Brightspace is available to HMP students and includes updated info on thesis, internship, and careers (incl job vacancies).
Workshops and (faculty) career events organised by the (faculty) Career Services
Workshops and career events of study association Labyrint and SPS NIP
Career Service, LU Career Zone and career workshops calendar
Faculty Career Service
The Career Service of your faculty offers information and advice on study (re)orientation and master's choice, (study) career planning, orientation on the labour market and job applications.
Leiden University Career Zone
Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the course calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Career services.
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