• Question: has there ever been a point where you have regretted your career choices?

    Asked by anon-204906 to Sally, Lucy, Louise, James, David, Dan on 4 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Lucy Maddox

      Lucy Maddox answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      Ooh good question! Not regretted, no, because I think you learn from whatever you do. But I have definitely had moments where I have not been sure what I am doing. I’ve also sometimes wondered about “what if” I had done something totally different. I did some work experience at the BBC when I was in my early 20s and I loved it, but decided to do clinical training instead of pursuing TV. I sometimes wonder what that would have been like, but I think a lot of the time you can get similar things out of very different jobs – I feel like I have opportunities to be creative and to be with people now and those are some of the things I liked about the TV work experience too. I also really like learning about a topic in depth, which being a psychologist lets you do.

    • Photo: Louise Rodgers

      Louise Rodgers answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      I can definitely say no to this! I had a bit of a long and winding route to get where I am, but every job I’ve done has given me some useful information or skill that I use now. I admire all the EPs who have never been a teacher or a parent (which includes some of my superb, highly-skilled colleagues) because I draw on those experiences a lot in my practice.

    • Photo: Dan Taylor

      Dan Taylor answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      I would never go as far as regretting a decision, but there have been times where I thought about changing my career path or giving up. I found my masters year so difficult and definitely considered leaving the course for a a few months of my time on the course. But I am so glad I didn’t. For one, the course was meant to be challenging, if I found it easy there would be no reason for me to do it! Likewise, it being difficult wasn’t down to me not being good enough, because a lot of my classmates also struggled. Overall it become a really valuable experience for me, on overcoming insecurities and lack of confidence, yeah I definitely find myself feeling nervous or insecure still but I know I can get through it, just like I did the last time I felt that way!

    • Photo: David Chadwick

      David Chadwick answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      No never. I would certainly choose computer science again.

      Interestingly, two of my daughters are psychologists, and one is a physiotherapist. One of them said to me the other week, “I wish I had chosen computer science for a career like you!”

    • Photo: Sally Tilt

      Sally Tilt answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      Great question – I enjoyed reading everyone’s answers to this.

      So, not overall – I don’t regret my decision to be a forensic psychologist. But there have been decisions within my career that I have made which I might change if I had a time machine. For example, early in my career I took a job at a prison where I was the only psychologist. It was a pretty lonely job, and looking back it probably would have been a better idea to have worked with a more experienced psychologist at this point.

      Also, in the few seconds before I have had to give a lecture or other times that have felt a bit scary, I may have wished to teleport myself to another career!

      But overall, if I had the option to choose again, I’d still chose the same career again.

    • Photo: James Munro

      James Munro answered on 10 Mar 2019:

      Aye I’ve sometimes regretted getting into psychology. Or at least, my part of psychology. I love working with computers and statistics, and I love working in big groups with other people. It has been rare in my career where I could use those skills to their full potential.

      That said, I have gotten to work with the human brain, work in Edinburgh Zoo with primate species, help thousands of students improve their lives and understanding of the world, travel internationally to talk about my work with people from all over the world. I’ve gotten my science judged as useful and interesting by other scientists and published on the internet. I’ve learned how to track people’s eye movements with technology, and how to use brainwaves to move a physical object. I’ve worked with hundreds of wonderful, intelligent people and I have “used my powers for good” throughout almost all of this. The variety and excitement of my job is pretty decent, and I am happy in it.

      But please – psychology – become more computer-friendly 😛

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