Psychologist CV Guide

What to include in a Psychologist CV

Psychology is a competitive field, and when companies advertise roles, they often attract many qualified applicants. CVs can be easily overlooked by hiring managers and recruiters, especially if they are generic, vague or irrelevant. Your CV should be customised and compelling to grab their attention and encourage them to continue reading. Remember, this is your first introduction, so think about how you would sell yourself if you met the prospective employer face-to-face.

Knowing where to start or what information to include in your CV can be difficult. The first tip is to understand what the organisation is looking for in a psychologist, what the role entails and the responsibilities. You can then get an idea of how to customise your CV to the specific position.

Your CV should contain main sections, such as your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. You may also want to include additional sections where appropriate. To make it easier, you can break down each section into smaller, manageable chunks and concentrate on them one at a time. Let us now look at these sections in further detail.

Contact information

The first and probably easiest section of your CV is your contact information at the very top of the document. It is crucial to ensure it is accurate so that prospective employers can easily reach you and you do not miss out on any opportunities. It should also be clear, concise and professional and include the following details:

• Name: Your full first and last name, usually at the top of the CV in a larger font.
• Title: You can also include any relevant professional titles (e.g. “Clinical Psychologist”).
• Location: The town, city or county where you are based. You do not need to include your full street address.
• Phone Number: A reliable contact number where potential employers can reach you. If you have a voicemail, ensure it sounds professional.
• Email Address: A professional email address (avoid using casual or silly email addresses). Ideally, something like “[email protected]” is best.
• LinkedIn profile: Include a link if you have a LinkedIn profile that showcases your professional background.
• Website/portfolio: If applicable, you can also include a link to a personal website or online portfolio relevant to psychology or your work.

You should also avoid including some information in your CV, such as your age, date of birth and personal information, e.g. marital status, gender, national insurance number or religion. It prevents discrimination, bias and security risks.

Professional summary

A professional summary is also called a career objective statement, personal statement, professional profile or executive summary. It is a 3-5 line paragraph that typically sits under your contact information and is basically a short introduction that tells prospective employers who you are, what you are good at and what makes you unique.

An engaging professional summary is your chance to make a strong first impression, as it is often the first section a potential employer reads. It sets the tone for the rest of your CV and can determine whether the reader continues to look at your qualifications, skills and experiences. It is about showcasing who you are as a professional and what you bring to the field.

Writing a professional summary for a psychologist’s CV involves focusing on your key qualifications, skills and experience, and the most relevant aspects of your academic and professional background. Here are some pointers on writing an eye-catching and engaging professional summary:

• Start with your title and years of experience: State your profession and how long you’ve been in the field. It should be a strong opening to capture the reader’s attention. For example, “Experienced Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of practice in private and public healthcare settings”.
• Mention your qualifications: If you have a degree or any special certifications, mention them. For example, “Currently completing a psychology degree at…” or “Graduate of…”
• Highlight your key skills and areas of expertise: Mention your core competencies or any specialisations, such as clinical psychology, counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy. If you are starting out in your career, highlight the skills you have learnt in education.
• Showcase your accomplishments: Highlight notable achievements or contributions to demonstrate your impact, such as successful patient outcomes, published research or relevant projects.
• Mention your soft skills and qualities: Include attributes such as empathy, strong communication skills, and ability to build rapport with patients and others that make you a compassionate and effective psychologist.
• Include career goals: Briefly mention your professional aspirations and how they align with the job you are applying for. For example, “Committed to continuing professional development and pursuing advanced training in forensic psychology”.
• Show your passion: Let your enthusiasm shine through! Why do you want to be a psychologist? What makes you excited about helping people? Even with little work experience, you can show your passion for psychology.
• Tailor to the job: Customise the summary to align with the job requirements. Try to use similar words they use in the job description.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a psychologist job:

“Dedicated Clinical Psychologist with 8 years of experience, specialising in CBT and trauma recovery. Proven success in patient engagement and effective treatment plans. Known for empathetic communication and a patient-centred approach. Successfully increased patient engagement by 25% through innovative community outreach programs. Currently pursuing advanced training in child and adolescent psychology.”

Education

The next section of your CV after your professional summary can be your education or work experience. If you have limited work experience in psychology, i.e. a recent graduate, you will likely have a more detailed education section, which you will probably want to add first. It is down to your preference and background.

The education section of a psychologist’s CV is vital, as the field requires specific qualifications. It provides potential employers with evidence of your academic background, competencies and achievements and helps them verify that you have the necessary knowledge and skills for the job. It can also illustrate your commitment to personal and professional development, demonstrating that you have a solid foundation and are always seeking to improve.

For the education section of your psychologist CV, you should focus on the academic achievements most relevant to the role and add them in chronological order (the most recent first). Here are some examples of information to consider:

• Professional qualifications, memberships and registration – mention any additional professional qualifications or certifications relevant to psychology, such as a Chartered Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Formal education – includes any qualifications undertaken at university, college and school. Unless the job posting details lower qualifications, such as GCSEs and A Levels (or equivalent), focus on any degrees you have achieved or are currently studying. Include the following information:
  • Degree title, e.g. MSc Clinical Psychology & BSc (Hons) Psychology.
  • Institution’s name and location.
  • Dates attended (month/year or present if you are still studying).
  • Grade awarded or anticipated.
  • Any specific coursework, modules or projects that are particularly relevant to the psychology roles you are applying for.
  • Title and a brief description of a dissertation or thesis, especially if relevant.
• Awards and honours – include any academic awards, scholarships or honours you received during your education.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – list any additional training, workshops or courses you have undertaken to maintain or advance your professional skills. You can include this in a separate section further down your CV if you prefer.

Work experience/employment history

If you have added your education to your CV, the following section should be your work experience, sometimes known as your employment history. It is a crucial part of your CV, as it demonstrates your practical application of psychological theories and skills in real-world contexts and aligns your experience with the job requirements. It also highlights your professional journey, emphasising your accomplishments, responsibilities and areas of specialisation.

Hiring managers and recruiters will want to see that you have relevant experience to back up your qualifications and the settings you have worked in to determine your suitability for the role.

When crafting your work experience section, add your previous roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and ensure the information is relevant to the psychologist position. Here are some examples of what to include:

• Heading: Include a heading, “Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
• Job title: Clearly state your job title for each of your previous roles, e.g. “Clinical Psychologist”.
• Employer/organisation name: Include the name of the organisation you worked for or put self-employed if you have worked for yourself.
• Location: Add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Mention the month and year you started and ended each role. For example, “June 2021 – Present”.
• Key duties: Highlight your key responsibilities in bullet point form. Focus on your impact in each role rather than just listing your duties. For example, instead of writing “Conducted therapy sessions,” you could say, “Facilitated 200+ therapy sessions resulting in improved emotional well-being for clients with anxiety disorders”. Keep it brief and aim for three to five bullet points.
• Settings worked in: Mention environments (e.g. NHS, private practice, schools, etc.) to demonstrate your adaptability.

You can also include your achievements, i.e. measurable outcomes, in this section, add to your skills or have a separate section if you have many stand-out accomplishments.

If you are applying for your first psychologist role, you can use this section to focus on transferable skills gained in non-psychology jobs, voluntary positions, internships, placements, research projects, etc.

Key skills and achievements

The next section of your CV is your key skills and achievements. Skills are knowledge, abilities and practice that allow you to complete tasks effectively. They are basically things that you can do well. There are two main types of skills – hard and soft.

• Hard skills (technical expertise) – are measurable and learned through education and on-the-job training. Some examples of hard skills for a psychologist include research skills, assessment techniques, therapeutic approaches, knowledge of psychological theories and legal and ethical awareness.
• Soft skills (interpersonal abilities) – these enable effective interactions and relationship-building. Some examples of soft skills for a psychologist include empathy, active listening, communication, problem-solving, resilience and cultural sensitivity.

Ensure you tailor your skills section to the psychologist job you apply for and include a blend of hard and soft skills. Detailing relevant skills on your CV showcases your core competencies and demonstrates to prospective employers that you have the necessary expertise to fulfil the role requirements. Also, many organisations use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keywords in CVs, so including relevant key skills can increase your chances of getting to the interview stage.

You can also add your achievements here. These are accomplishments highlighting your successes and contributions in previous roles or experiences. They demonstrate your value to employers, showcasing measurable results, awards, completed projects, or notable milestones. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

Your CV’s main sections should include your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills and references. However, you can include additional sections and information if you have sufficient space on your CV and think it will increase your chances of a successful application. Some examples of other sections you may want to consider including are as follows:

• Publications and research – include any peer-reviewed articles, books or presentations you have contributed to, especially if they are relevant to the job.
• Training and continuous professional development – add any workshops, courses, seminars, conferences attended and anything else that qualifies as CPD, e.g. CBT training or trauma-informed care. Mention mandatory CPD hours needed for registration where required.
• Professional memberships – list memberships in relevant organisations like the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Certifications, registration and licences – include any relevant certifications or licences, such as a DBS check or specific psychology credentials, e.g. registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Voluntary work or placements – highlight unpaid or internship roles to demonstrate hands-on experience, especially if you are early in your career. You can also mention any roles where you have supported mental health initiatives, community work or charity organisations to show compassion and dedication. You may want to include any voluntary roles in your work experience section if you have a limited employment history.
• Languages – note any additional languages you speak, especially if applying in diverse, multicultural environments.
• Hobbies and interests – include any relevant hobbies and interests, such as art therapy, mindfulness, meditation, other well-being practices, etc. You could also include reading psychology-related books, research or writing about mental health topics.
• Testimonials – if you have been self-employed, you could provide positive feedback or testimonials from clients that showcase your effectiveness and expertise.

Adding additional sections and information to your CV relevant to the psychologist position can make your application stand out and give prospective employers a fuller picture of who you are.

References

The references section is typically the last in your CV. It is where you provide details of individuals (referees) who can vouch for you and your qualifications, skills, experience and character. It is crucial, as it builds credibility and shows prospective employers that you are reliable, trustworthy and competent to excel in the psychologist role.

Choose 2-3 individuals who can provide positive and impactful references. It may be a manager, supervisor, mentor or professor.  If you do not have much work experience, you may have referees such as teachers, club leaders, coaches or volunteer coordinators. Always ask their permission first and let them know what job you are applying for so they can discuss the right skills.

When you start writing your reference section, look at the job description to see if they have asked for specific details of your referees. If they have not, you can add “References available upon request”, which can be especially useful if you have limited space on your CV after adding the rest of your information.

If asked to provide details in the reference section, you should include the following information for each referee:

• Their first and last name.
• Their job title, i.e. current or previous role.
• The name of the organisation or company they work (or worked) for.
• Their contact information, i.e. phone number and a professional email address.
• Their relationship to you, i.e. how they know you.

Ensure your referees’ information is accurate and kept up-to-date on your CV.