Life outside academia, ESRC & BPS internships: The application, the interview and the experience

1. Life outside academia, ESRC & BPS internships: The application, the interview and the experience Hannah Swift h.j.swift@kent.ac.uk

2. Type of internships available • Making applications • ESRC • BPS • Internship experience • ESRC Cabinet Office • BPS Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)

3. ESRC – Internships available • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) • British Heart Foundation • Department for Communities & Local Government • Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affair (DEFRA) • Home Office • Law Commission • Ministry of Justice • The Scottish Government • Thomas Pocklington Trust • Unchosen • Welsh Government (WAG) • Westminster Drug Project http://goo.gl/BM2EU Closing date 30th March 2012

4. Application • Summary of PhD topic (max 300 words) • Framed in terms of issues the PhD addresses • Statement on your reasons for applying, what do you hope to gain from the internship? (max 300 words) • CV

5. Over the past two years I have concentrated on the link between research and policy in the areas of ageing, fairness and equality. Stated an interest I have attended and presented papers to numerous seminars, workshops, conferences and parliamentary debates on issues surrounding ageism, age equality and dealing with Britain’s ageing population. Evidence of interest Currently these are major challenges that face the UK and have economic, social and political implications. These age related issues cross-cut government departments and parliamentary interest, they involve the areas of work and pensions, education, health and social care, communities and local government. Importance of interest Throughout my CASE studentship with Age UK I have learned, and informed others about the impact and relevance of ageism for debates surrounding the future of the state pension, extending working lives, raising the state pension age, the future of health and social care and social exclusion. Through my attendance at these events I have witnessed the call and need for research to be properly represented and disseminated to the public and those responsible for finding solutions. Demonstrate understanding of interest What I do now I am constantly learning, developing and looking for new experiences that will expand my understanding of how to best connect social psychological evidence surrounding ageism to the progression of policy. I believe the internship will provide opportunities for the extension and development of key skills that contribute to strategic changes, such as being able to interpret and define research contributions from a range of disciplines. To me this involves being able to communicate, engage and work in partnership with diverse and non-specialist audiences. I also hope the dynamics of the Strategy Unit will provide an opportunity for me to take a different perspective to evidence, to further develop and practice analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as identifying areas where new research evidence is required. How internship can help- add to development

6. Applications -CVs • What does the job require? • Knowledge of analytical tools • Collecting & analysing evidence • Understanding complex statistical data • Understanding what constitutes good evidence

7. The interview • 2 parts • Problem solving skills • Reasoning ability • Communication skills • Approach to work

8. The Job • Cabinet Office • “making government work better” • National Security • Reform & efficiency • Big Society • Transparency Office for civil society Behavioural insights Team • Big Society • Community empowerment • Opening up public services • Social action • Time Banks • Supporting material for tender document • Literature review on impacts and evaluations • Typology of time banks Big society policy & analysis team

9. Time banks

10. BPS Fellowship • Application • Summary of psychological research relevant to public policy in 1,200 words • Psychological Research in Ageism is Relevant to Public Policy • CV • Opens May, closes 31st August

11. Application CV Written piece Demonstrate effecting writing and communication skills • Work in policy areas • Affiliations with external organisations

12. The interview • Summary of my PhD research so far • How is it relevant and why is it important to public policy • Knowledge of organisations – government or NGO’s who work in my area. • Do I know who I would contact and how would I go about it

13. The Job • POST note • http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/bicameral/post/publications/ • Video games and Violence

14. Initial research phase • Contacted over 30 people • Conducted over 18 interviews • Read many papers