I had no idea what to do next after graduating from Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2022. I never planned to work in Higher Education, in fact I didn’t even know it was a career option for me! 

During first year, I completed a placement at the charity Z-Arts, which sparked my passion for supporting people of all ages. That experience stayed with me and shaped the types of graduate jobs I looked for. I proactively applied for lots of jobs where I could support people and manage to secure a role as a Graduate Opportunities Assistant in our Careers Service. It wasn’t what I expected to do, but I quickly saw how rewarding it was to support students and graduates every day.  

Since then, I’ve progressed through different roles at the University and now work as an Enterprise Projects Coordinator, where I get to create exciting events and programmes for students interested in self-employment. I’ve massively grown my confidence in presenting and providing advice and guidance.   

When I graduated, I felt a lot of pressure to follow the Psychologist route straight away, and it didn’t feel right. I still love Psychology, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to take time to explore my options, and working in Higher Education means I’m always gaining relevant experience if I want to go back to it later.  

If I could go back, I’d tell myself to stress less and be open to change. I’m still figuring out what I want to do now and that’s okay. I’d also make the most of opportunities like summer internships and part-time roles. Now I’m on the other side of the university I see just how valuable they can be!   

Update - Ellie has since been promoted to the manager of our Careers Space in the Business School (that is where the space was, it is very suitable for Psychology students😀) , which is open 10-4.30 every weekday for students. Congrats Ellie 🥳

Find Ellie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellstevens/ 

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Last modified: Friday, 19 June 2026, 9:59 AM