Case studies : Assessment and development consultant: Fiona

Fiona graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Leeds. She went on to pursue and MSc in Occupational Psychology and is now working as an assessment and development consultant.

My first graduate job wasn’t something I planned for. After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology, I approached a temping agency looking for work and was offered a role within their agency. I enjoyed this position and decided to stay in recruitment. After eight months, I applied for a position with a very small consultancy that had just started up and focussed on executive recruitment.

My first position with this consultancy was as a recruitment researcher. As the company grew, I grew with it. After two years, it established an organisational development business unit in response to client needs, and I moved to work in that team. This evolving role acted as a catalyst to begin a Masters in Occupational Psychology on a part time basis at Birkbeck, whilst still working. When the company decided to set up an assessment division, I asked to be part of it. I then led assessment from the head office in Leeds for 18 months.

I learned a lot on the job and during the development of the company. I was able to move through several roles, each of which gave me different opportunities.

Due to personal reasons, I moved to London and took up the role of assessment and development consultant working with local and central government clients from the London office.

Both my psychology undergraduate and postgraduate courses have been vital in my current role. In my job, I have really valued working for a small organisation which I have been able to grow with. If you can develop trust with the leaders of an organisation, they are likely to let you get on and grow more quickly and to give you more freedom to be opportunistic and creative. I’ve never worked for a huge organisation, and I am sure there are other benefits such as investment in training (I have to put forward very clear business cases for any money to do anything) and better Christmas parties. However, the fact that I have really been able to shape my own roles and career path is fantastic as far as I am concerned.