The Aspiring Psychologist Diaries by Dr Marianne Trent
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Applying for Assistant Psychologist Jobs in 2007: Rejection, Doubt and the DClinPsy
Written by Dr Marianne Trent when she was an Assistant Psychologist!
Oh my days! When I was searching for something online, I accidentally stumbled across some old emails I had sent to a friend in 2007. At this time, I was working full time as an Assistant Psychologist in Northampton, living with my parents near Milton Keynes, recently single, studying for a MSc AND recovering from a car accident. It’s fair to say there was a lot on my plate! How much has changed for applicants in the 19 years since I wrote it?
Let’s find out!
"Hey,
I had a bit of a burn out on Tuesday evening. Lots of tears involved, poor Francesca* got the brunt of it cos she called me when she was on the train. I decided not to go to the interview in Nottingham on Wed and to spend the day catching up on uni work and taking it easy rather than chasing round the country to Nottingham to an interview I was only previously on the reserve list for anyway. I have now also cancelled my interview for Monday in Lancashire but will still attend the job interview in Milton Keynes on Wed which is the job I really want anyway!
I need to stop putting so much pressure on myself, what with the crash, the physio, the breakup, sorting a new car, applying for a doctorate, studying for a masters, working full time and maintaining a social life it all got a bit much so I am going to SLOW down. I am in a job I LOVE, my friends are around me, I am having fun at the mo, and I need to tell myself I haven't got anything to prove and when an NHS post is ready it will happen for me!
My wipe out day was also fuelled by meeting Max* for lunch after the interview on Tues. I think you always wonder whether you've done the right thing after deciding to split but I didn't split because I hated him or cos I didn't find him attractive anymore which makes it all the more difficult when he shows up in new clothes, with a tan a new haircut and full of enthusiasm about the 3 jobs he's been offered! I still think I have done the right thing because I had been thinking about it for so long and had made myself miserable. It's just never easy is it? It would make it a bit easier if he didn't tell me what a great time he's having and how funny this girl is he's met! (not that I want him to have a miserable time but please!)
The interview in Birmingham on Tuesday was just insanity itself; it was like I had never met a psychologist before and therefore had no concept of what one does. It made me feel I was totally not ready for clinical training after that.
And then....... randomly I was picking up my new car in Surrey on Fri I got a call from the psychologist from the interview I went to in Manchester. She said they weren't in a position to offer me the job (no surprise to me when in an interview you say that you think people just need to have a good chat!) anyway...... they said they had LOVED me and thought I had excellent interpersonal skills and would be able to do really well, she said I had come second but they actually preferred me to the girl they had to offer the job to. How funny eh? Show's you never really know what people think of you eh? Maybe I’m enough after all!
I'm really looking forward to seeing you! The house sitting flat is ace although not as big as I had remembered. Xx"
*Names changed
Note from Marianne from 2026: Wow I have ZERO memory of going to an interview in Manchester! Seriously? Manchester? Nottingham? Birmingham? Milton Keynes? There was a LOT going on there!
Even though it’s 19 years later does this resonate with you? I’d love to know!
Q&A on The Aspiring Psychologist Diaries - Rejection, Doubt and the DClinPsy
Q - Why do people experience burnout in the psychology profession when juggling too many major life events at once?
A - Burnout often emerges when someone is managing multiple high‑demand stressors simultaneously. This can include work, study, health issues, relationship changes, and future‑focused pressures like job applications. From a psychological perspective, the nervous system becomes overloaded, leaving little space for rest, emotional processing, or recovery. Even positive activities, like maintaining a social life or pursuing career goals, can contribute to overwhelm when they accumulate without adequate downtime. Burnout is not a sign of weakness; it’s a signal that the system needs slowing, rebalancing, and compassionate boundaries. For more on Burnout check out my Podcast episode series with Dr Claire Plumbly which is called Burnout Bites.
Q - Is it normal to question a breakup when an ex-partner seems to be thriving afterwards?
A - Yes. After a breakup, especially one not rooted in conflict or loss of affection, it’s common to experience doubt when the former partner appears energised, successful, or changed. Psychologically, this taps into cognitive dissonance: the mind tries to reconcile the pain of ending the relationship with evidence that the person is doing well. It can also activate comparison, self‑evaluation, and grief for the version of the relationship that could have existed. These reactions don’t mean the decision was wrong; they simply reflect the emotional complexity of endings.
Q - Why can interviews in psychology feel destabilising, even for strong candidates?
A - Psychology interviews often involve unfamiliar formats, reflective questioning, and rapid shifts between clinical, academic, and interpersonal domains. When an interview feels chaotic or mismatched, candidates may interpret it as evidence they’re “not ready,” even when the issue lies with the interview structure itself. From a psychologist’s perspective, this is a classic example of situational self‑doubt: the environment triggers insecurity rather than reflecting true capability. Positive feedback from other panels such as being praised for interpersonal strengths highlights how subjective and variable interview experiences can be.
If you enjoyed this article and you’re an aspiring psychologist - or someone with an interest in mental health - you’re very welcome to get involved. We’re currently inviting blog proposals from our community. If you have a topic you’d like to write about, you can submit a proposal here.
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