Category Archives: Psychology

Assistant Games Manager – SportInspired

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

  • Supporting with the organisation of SportInspired Games programmes
  • Carrying out and compiling research on community need in the areas in which SportInspired Work
  • Exploring new business opportunities for SportInspired by researching and identifying potential partners
  • Administrative tasks such as putting together and printing essential documents for SportInspired Games
  • Supporting internship recruitment programme
  • Supporting the Event Director to run the SportInspired Games festivals

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt lots of information regarding children wellbeing and mental health which as worrying as it was, was informative and gave me reassurance that what I want to do with my life is still the same.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I gave them an insight into their well-being programme from a psychology perspective. I also, using my knowledge of statistics from my course, was able to provide the company with a free, more detailed and efficient way to analyse their data which saves them time and money needed for a data analysis software.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Teamwork and collaboration, research, degree specific

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Cultural awareness, logical thinking, creative thinking

Research Support Intern – University of Exeter CLES

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main role was recruiting and meeting with participants to take some data from them, and showing them how to use an app, as well getting feedback from them in a follow-up meeting a month later. I also collated this data, and helped to contribute to a research paper by analysing some qualitative responses and adding the introduction section. Moreover, I promoted the research at various events including the Staff Wellbeing Day.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I think my biggest achievement was being able run a small research collection study quite independently – I was daunted before starting it about the task at hand so have proved to myself it is possible.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I think it lightened the load of other members of the department who are more senior, as they had numerous projects, teaching etc. going on.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Ability to work under pressure, organisation, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Initiative, motivation, logical thinking

Student Engagement and Employability – University of Exeter CLES

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Completing tasks delegated by my line manager, assisting in activities regarding student engagement and employability within CLES. This included updating displays, compiling a database of placement opportunities and creating a mock-up of a website to showcase success stories of societies and groups associated with CLES.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I developed skills in efficient research techniques, as well as contacting an array of different people for informational purposes. I feel more confident in contacting businesses and organisations, alongside using the people around me to gain knowledge from their advice and experiences.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to complete tasks that have been otherwise neglected throughout the year, giving my full time and attention where this may not have otherwise been the case.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Problem solving, organisation, focus on goals and outcomes

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Commercial awareness, creative thinking, independence

Volunteering Assistant – Hospiscare

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main task for the week was to develop a brief and recruitment plan for a new volunteer role to support the HR team. I had a meeting with the HR team members and identified some of their tasks that could be fulfilled by a volunteer. In addition, I identified a new volunteer role that would improve the recruitment process at Hospiscare; I decided that there is room for work in equality and diversity in Hospiscare, and that they needed stronger links between the HR and communications teams. Therefore, I created a volunteer role that would overlap between both areas. I created a recruiting strategy and produced some marketing materials for this, including posters and social media posts. I also did some patient-facing work, including helping out in day care and on the ward.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I was initially very nervous about working in this environment, with people nearing the end of their lives and with bereaved families. However, I overcame this fear during my internship through patient-facing work.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I took some of the workload off the volunteering manager who deals with Hospiscare’s 1000 volunteers. Also, I have created a plan which will lighten the workload of the HR team who told me that they are very busy and would love me to create a new volunteer role which would allow them to focus on more difficult tasks.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Customer service, organisation, focus on goals and outcomes

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Motivation, cultural awareness, creative thinking

Graduate Ambassador (Widening Participation and Direct Recruitment) – University of Exeter

The internship was invaluable in helping me to develop the skills required to secure a training contract to be a solicitor. I am now back in full time education completing an MA in Law and look forward to starting with the firm in 2020.

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

As a Graduate Ambassador, I worked in both widening participation and direct recruitment. This involved delivering presentations for schools and colleges to inform students about their Higher Education options. I represented the University of Exeter at Information Fairs and UCAS Exhibitions, as well as helping with events on campus such as Open Days and Offer-Holder visit days.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Leadership, strategic planning, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Commercial awareness, logical thinking, professionalism

Social Researcher and Analyst – University of Exeter

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main role was to undertake research into volunteer motivations and collect together information to be shared with the team at BWRP. This research would then inform my creating of a volunteer questionnaire which would digitally record the opinions of the volunteers about their experience at BWRP. I was then fully inducted as a volunteer at the project, to gain insight into the structure and possibility for future improvement for the induction. I then undertook a week as a volunteer whereby I undertook tasks such as going on timber collections and helping out in the yard.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My biggest achievement was meeting lots of new people in the sustainability field, and gaining lasting contacts and connections with them.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to complete a report on my findings, along with collecting a lot of feedback from volunteers about their experience. This has helped them to make improvements in the future.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Time and workload management, focus on goals and outcomes, research

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, logical thinking, independence

STEM Outreach Assistant (Female Role Models Scheme) – University of Exeter, Penryn

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

I have been developing current lessons in the box and produce new lessons, and, planning, researching and developing a ‘Green Powered Doll House’ project for big scale events. This project is a brand new project for 2017/18 academic year. I was assisting the line manager at preparing lessons, finding materials and in general and providing a summary report regularly.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I have gotten a lot better in communication both verbally and through email. I have also strengthened my project management skills, organisation skills and subject related skills. One of the outcomes that I am most proud of is the launch of the ‘Green Powered Doll House’ at Royal Cornwall Show 2018.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

My line manager mentioned that I have made a big difference in what they can offer through the college in the creation of new and exciting resources which schools can slot easily into their curriculum. It has filled a gap that she didn’t have time to do to such a high quality herself which has really helped the team.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Leadership, organisation, decision making

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Perseverance, logical thinking, creative thinking

Trainee Mental Health Support Worker – University of Exeter

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main responsibilities involved going on home visits with the well-being navigators to observe and support their one-to-one meetings with clients. I was also involved in co-facilitating the well-being groups across South Somerset offering support to people suffering with low level mental health problems. Alongside this I was carrying out a research project gathering information on the different support available for people with specific needs such as eating disorders, older people, bi-polar etc.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My biggest achievement was gaining practical knowledge of mental health and gaining the confidence to use this knowledge to support people who needed it.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to carry out this research project that the other staff would not have had time to do without me. I was also able to fill in for people co-facilitating the groups when they were off sick or on holiday.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Time and workload management, focus on goals and outcomes, research

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, personal awarenes and work ethic

HR Intern – Welstand Contractors Ltd

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Payroll management, tax filings, VAT and VAT returns data base entries and maintenance, payslip distributions through emails and posts, communicate with clients and resolve any inquiries related to payroll

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt regulations related to employment in terms of hiring, tax computations and filing and VAT returns. Payroll management was very interesting and I was quick at learning to adapt to new changes in my workplace – a very new experience working abroad.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to learn quickly, the trainer felt comfortable to share his feedback openly and I was open to new learning which made it very easy for them to get work done from me in a short span of time.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Persuasion, ability to work under pressure, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Logical thinking, creative thinking, professionalism

Research and Evaluation Assistant – YMCA

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main responsibilities included: interview volunteers about their experience of volunteering, interview project managers about the role and impact of volunteers in their project, shadow staff members in all departments to gain insight into their roles and how they interact with volunteers, design and run a focus group with a small group of clients to ascertain the impact volunteers have on them, transcribe and summarise interviews, produce a report about the findings of the interviews, outline findings, make recommendations for future work, and, present the report to key staff members.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My biggest achievement during this internship was gaining confidence in applying ‘classroom knowledge’ to real life problems and situations. I was able to see the project through from start to finish, which has given me confidence in being able to describe hands on experience in interviewing, research and evaluation.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to complete a project that the employer had wanted to carry out for some time (but had previously been unable to), providing research and evidence that has a multitude of uses. They will be able to use these findings to potentially make changes to their volunteering processes, and as evidence in applying for grants.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Problem solving, leadership, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Perseverance, personal awareness, professionalism