I felt unprepared for my brief stint in consulting when I started (not the practice, but the business side). This paper with @Marketpursuits includes things I wish I knew before starting. Sharing so that others can start faster and climb higher! (Also, consulting is so fun!) https://twitter.com/cpa_scp/status/1280827766150176768

Also had to cut a lot of due to editing. A big section was on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). NAICS are numeric codes that specify a specific industry (e.g., educational services is is “61”).

When the government posts RFPs/calls for tenders, you can sometimes search these by the NAICS code! You can also look to see what industries are most called for, and then think about ways your work might fit to help that industry. Helps in seeking consulting opportunities.

Many psychologists (like me) don’t actually work in the field of mental health. We study attitudes, behaviour, cognitive processes, group dynamics, impacts of organizational structure on productivity, and so much more.

We are trained to design experiments/studies/programs based on existing knowledge, and to test to see what happens. This can happen in a lab if we want high laboratory controls, and these skills can also be applied to innovative applied programs.

Why psychology? This is a personal question. For me, quality research/evaluation training is a must. Beyond that, I personally felt most comfortable working within an explicit ethics framework that prioritizes respect and dignity for individuals.

We’ve (I’ve) got a lot of work to do on this front. I really appreciated having the professional backing from codes of ethics like those from @CPA_SCP to guide my consulting work. Keeps me grounded, and there is a clear mandate for who my priority is when consulting (individuals)

I’m biased with N = 1 experience, but I wish there was ethics training for non-clinical consultants. The fields are very different, and there are a LOT of grey zones. I mean, a lot. Knowing my ethics code was a light at the end of some grey tunnels.

I am also really grateful for psychologist-consultant mentors and friends. Their support was critical. In making this thread, maybe we need a community of practice for psychologist-consultants in Canada? Happy to help build that if there is interest.

TL;DR: your training in psychology can make a huge positive impact at the front lines, likely in ways you haven’t realized yet. Your skills & knowledge are needed. Hopefully this paper helps you see ways of fitting into a different professional structure #DoGreatThings