Not quite a patient: How to get your work experience?

What is it exactly that people will require from you?

People will require common sense and quick thinking. Keep strong emotions to yourself, keep your calm and be cool headed. Psychiatric hospitals can be a downing experience and you should be prepared to see and experience things you have not before.

• Cool Head
• Logic
• Time Management
• Communication Skills
• Fast reflexes
• Quick learner

They tell you what to do/what not to do - you do so/you don't do so.

You have to be careful. There will be certain rules and way of doing things. Every hospital has it's own conduct of behaviour and you should really take on board all the instructions given to you. Especially when dealing with patients. Even if some may seem paranoid, they are there to ensure your safety too, so follow the rules carefully.

What is useful to know before coming to psychiatric hospital?

Any work at a psychiatric hospital - whether a doctor or just as an apprentice - is difficult. It is a mentally challenging situation working in such an environment. Especially, when talking about your own emotional state. If you feel like you might not be ready to take up a job which includes emotional strain. All people are different and it is completely okay to take things slowly or change your decision about doing work experience. Things got very hard for me at some points. There were moments when I wished I would just quit and forget all of it as a bad dream. But really, at the time I felt like not giving it up. I think what I should have really done is take a day off between working days, rather than working full week. I do recommend taking things slowly. A days break in between days of working, can really be what keeps you from quitting this idea of working in this field entirely, so do take my advice, and take things slowly. 

What skills and characteristics will make you stand out and make them choose you more likely?

•  Good analytical skills - the ability to analyse any given information on the spot 

•  Be well aware of the research ethic guidelines in psychology 

•  Have a good knowledge of psychology history and its different research methods

•  Be also up to date with newest research and theories

• And most importantly: have a PASSION for the subject and SHOW IT!