Nastassia : Hi Flora ! How are you?
Flora : Hello Nastassia. I’m fine, thank you. And you?
Nastassia : Fine, thank you. Are you okay to begin the interview now?
Flora : Yes, of course.
Nastassia : Okay. First, I want to know how and why did you choose to study psychology?
Flora : It was not a child’s dream. I didn’t know the profession of psychologist until very late. I had seen a school psychologist when I was in primary school, but that’s all. It was in high school that I discovered this job.
I had read a book with a psychologist as the main character, and I immediately hooked on this job. Like many people, I knew only clinical psychology. In second year of psychology, I had bad grades in clinical psychology. And with the selection in master, I understood that it was damn for me. So I looked for the second specialty I liked, and that was IO psychology.
And you? Why did you choose this specialty? Was there a stimulus or did you always want to do that?
Nastassia : At the end of my high school, I haven’t a special idea of an occupation. I liked studying, particularly philosophy and literature. Because of my lack of maturity and my passion for study, I have chosen to continue my education in long studies at university. I have chosen psychology regarding my willingness to help people and my fascination for human relationships. I liked the bachelor’s degree discovery course of Mrs Jeoffrion concerning evolution of human at work and I met students of her Master. I was also seduced by the variety of situations where the IO psychologist can intervene and by the good employment offered by the specialization.
And you, are you satisfied by your studies? Did you have any desillusions concerning the courses ? Can you tell me about your favorites courses?
Flora : Yes. I’m happy to have various classes. I just can’t wait for the internship to finally practice, not just theory. Desillusions … Yes, I didn’t think to have courses in Angers, which are not exceptional compared to the kilometers to go to this course. But I’m happy to have courses on interventions and management. That’s really why I came to this master.
Nastassia : Okay.
Flora : And concerning you : do you see any points to improve in this master? Which?
Nastassia : Courses are really good but I think it can be better if there is a feed-back of students concerning them. We must also be informed of precise and current questions concerning human resources and psychology at work to have a better view of what we can offer to professionals.
Flora : Okay, I understand. Do you think that everyone can study psychology and become a psychologist?
Nastassia : I personnaly think that we can change and modulate our personnality to be more adapted for an occupation for example. I postulate that every student in psychology are not here because of chance and that there is a reason which guided them here. So, if we are passionate and have discernment capacities, we can be a really good psychologist but knowing the theory and being serious is not enough to become a good psychologist. A good psychologist has also a maturity and important relationships qualities.
And you, do you think we can be psychologist without knowing the theory background? What are the qualities of an IO psychologist for you?
Flora : I don’t think you can be a psychologist without theoretical knowledges. This is precisely his strong point and why he is useful. Unlike other specialists, we rely heavily on scientifically validated techniques. In addition, yes, we must have qualities. For an IO psychologist, it’s important to have a sense of observation, organization, to be able to simply explain technical terms. After, it depends a lot on the functions he has. You can have two IO psychologists who don’t do the same things at all.
And last year, you did an internship. Did it bring you things for you, your studies and your career plan?
Nastassia : I did several internships. It made me more confident concerning my intergration in a work. It also motivate me and give me a lot of examples to understand courses which have, now, more sense for me. It doesn’t really change my career plan.
And you? have you already worked or did internships?
Flora : I never did an internship in psychology. But I had other experiences. I don’t know the job of psychologist like that anymore, but I have been able to develop qualities that I will need. For example, I was president of the association of psychology students in Caen. I had to learn to manage all team members, in addition to the administrative one. During the holidays, I also work as a health assistant. In addition to giving the drugs, my director asks me to participate in the cohesion of the team, to animate the meetings, to make feed-backs to the animators. In short, management. It’s great!
Another question for you again : once graduated, how do you imagine your profession?
Nastassia : I think I don’t want to be retreated in a particular domain. I choose recruitment because it’s more easy to find an internship or job in this domain. But if I feel the capacity, I’m open to discover other domains of activity. I’m also interested to reconnect with a more social profession, particularly to advisor young people in their orientation or to help unemployment people for finding a job.
And you? What is your professionnal project and why? Do you have any apprehension? If yes, can you explain why?
Flora : For the moment, my professional project isn’t definitive at all. But I want to turn to intervention in organizations. Being able to help, often urgently organizations by collaborating with her. I like. And it’s very diverse, we work in different environments. But you have to know how to sell yourself. And that, I don’t know if I would be able. Because the job of psychologist is little known in companies. In any case for this function. So I don’t know if it’s done for me. Otherwise I really appreciate human resources, management. So I would see depending on the opportunities.
And you, have you experienced prejudices about your study or not? Which and from whom did they come?
Nastassia : My family have no prejudicy concerning psychology but some people I met are suspicious concerning psychology, they are afraid of what psychologists can do with them or viewed us as quacks which haven’t a serious knowledge or expertise.
And you, do you experienced prejudices?
Flora : Before starting psychology studies, a lot. My family did not want me to do these studies. My uncle said that it was only lost people who went there and my mother said there were no openings. In fact, more prejudices about psychology studies than the job of psychologist. Yes. Many people see me as a therapist, sometimes even people I hardly know who come to confide in me.
Nastassia : A last question for you : what are your hobbies and interests excepting psychology?
Flora : I don’t really have defined hobbies. I like learning a lot, sometimes deepening, sometimes not. For example, I did a lot of different sports at different levels. Modern dance, judo, kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, freediving, yoga. And now cycling, to go to class. Beside, I also have everything that is books and reading. But the same, I change a lot. I started with lucid dreams, then all that was ecology, zero waste, veganism. Now it’s a lot about spirituality. Different domains. Without necessarily believing, I learn about different religions, different beliefs. A lot of curiosity on different areas. With all that, I never know what to note in my resume in the category “hobbies”. Here are my answers.
Nastassia : Good.
Flora : Thank you.