Progress to Postgrad: Thomas
Posted on: 5 November 2025 by Richard Finch in Class of 2024
Thomas is a BSc Psychology Class of 2024 graduate who is an working as a Trainee Mental Health Worker whilst also studying at the University of Middlesex.
How did you hear about your course?
I found out about this course when looking through the NHS Trac website, searching for post graduate roles I could apply for. I decided that it would be a good way to gain more clinical experience, which i missed out on during my undergraduate degree. I felt that this would be the right move to make in order to help progress my career towards becoming a clinical psychologist.
How did you get to where you are now?
My main motivation for pursuing a career in psychology and leading me to where I am now is strictly down to my own personal experience of receiving therapy at a young age due to a parental bereavement. Receiving therapy at such a young age introduced me to the concept of mental health and how important it is for us all. From then on, I knew I wanted to play my part and help provide psychological care to those in need, just as I had all those years ago.
To get to where I am now I took any opportunity to volunteer in relevant positions and gain experience in the working world whilst studying. I volunteered within CAMHS in primary school settings, shadowing CAHMS therapists and SEN teachers/ assistants. Here I learnt a wide range on interpersonal skills needed to help foster and nurture therapeutic relationships. I also took on leadership roles in the customer service industry.
Funnily enough, applying for other jobs and being able to experience my first professional interviews, although not being successful, was also a massive help. Failing but experiencing these interviews, helped prepare me by making me more confident in the interviewing process for my current role. These previous interviews made me more aware of what I might be able to expect and how to answer certain questions whilst presenting myself in a calm, collected and approachable manner.
Most importantly I took on the challenge of completing an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (in my case, psychology). Without my degree I would not have been equipped with the skills and knowledge required for such an up taking as working within the dynamic and technical world of the NHS.
Your favourite experience?
My favourite experience so far has been working within a multidisciplinary team whilst in an acute mental health setting. Being able to see behind the curtain of how the NHS works and seeing how psychological theory is currently being implemented in the service has been monumental in my understanding of mental health in general as well as has only bolstered my desire to pursue a career in the field.
Working alongside clinical psychologists as well as psychiatrists has also been a great experience. The opportunity to be involved in discussions surrounding patient care with them as well as providing my own input which is well received has been a very satisfying experience too.
The most challenging part of your journey?
The most challenging part about my graduate journey was finding a role in the first place. There were many times where I felt frustrated, down and unmotivated when staring at a screen which showed yet another "you were not successful on this occasion". Often times the most difficult aspect of this was not the rejection itself but the lack of constructive feedback to detail why I wasn't successful. It would be very hard to know what I needed to do different or better in order to have a different result the next time round.
What's your #1 piece of advice for future grads?
One tip I wish I knew before I started is if you're interested in gaining experience in a certain area, don't be afraid to email the person in your desired permission (don’t spam them obviously). Its possible that they may not have any work/ volunteering experience for you but chances are they might be able to pass you onto someone in the industry that might.
The power of a simple and friendly email should not be underestimated!
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Graduate+
Graduate+ is just for University of Liverpool finalists and graduates. It's a new way to stay connected, get career support, build the right skills and experiences, and hear about exclusive career opportunities in Liverpool, the UK, and beyond. Let us help you get the job that you deserve!
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Keywords: Graduate, Class of 2024, progress to postgraduate, Case Studies.