How to write an assistant psychologist CV in 7 steps

Updated 16 February 2023

An assistant psychologist is a qualified individual who provides support to psychologists and other people working in scientific domains. Many assistant psychologists help observe behaviour and track changes. If you're applying for assistant psychologist positions, learning to write an effective CV can help you encourage the hiring manager to schedule an interview with you. In this article, we list the steps you can follow to write an assistant psychologist CV, detail what to include, and provide a template and example you can use as a reference when writing your own CV.

How to write an assistant psychologist CV

These are some steps you can follow to write an assistant psychologist CV:

1. Format your CV document

Hiring managers may not consider a CV that's not professionally formatted, so be sure to create a simple CV that showcases your information. Choose an editing tool you're comfortable with and format your document with a professional font like Times New Roman or Arial in a size between 10 and 12 points so the hiring manager can easily read it. If you don't want to format the document yourself, most word processors have ready-prepared CV templates.

2. Write your professional summary

Your professional summary is a brief description at the top of your CV. This is often the first part of the document that the hiring manager reads, so it's helpful to highlight your most relevant information. Consider including information about your psychology certifications or qualifications and details of relevant experience. Writing a strong summary can help you encourage the hiring manager to read the rest of your CV.

Example: Assistant psychologist with more than three years of experience working directly with patients. Currently earning a master's degree in clinical psychology and improving my research and critical thinking skills. Seeking a workplace in which I can learn more about clinical psychology and gain behavioural experience.

3. Detail your relevant experience

The experience section of your CV shows your previous roles, how long you held them and the tasks you completed. This section can help the hiring manager better understand what you're familiar with and how suited you are for the assistant psychologist role. Here are some positions that may provide experience relevant to assistant psychologist roles:

healthcare assistant
counsellor
crises management volunteer
psychology student

4. List your assistant psychologist skills

The skills section of your CV can be a good place to include assistant psychology keywords. Consider reviewing the job listing and identifying which qualifications align with your own. Then list those qualifications in the skills section of your CV. These are some assistant psychologist skills you may include on your CV:

technical proficiency
listening
communication
empathy
patience
critical thinking
ethics
emotional stability
organisation
time management
conflict management

5. Describe your educational background

To qualify for a role as an assistant psychologist, you likely need at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. By including your educational information in this section of your CV, you can show the hiring manager you're qualified. Include the name of the institution, its location and what you studied. For example:

Education Master's degree in clinical psychology, Blue Mountain Science Institute London
Bachelor's degree in behavioural psychology, Green Lake University, London Campus
London

6. Add relevant certification information

Though companies may not require certifications for assistant psychologist positions, earning them can help you develop your skills and enhance your CV. Consider earning psychology certifications to help you separate yourself from other candidates. You can include information about certifications in the certification section of your CV by listing the name of the certification, the name of the certifying organisation and the year that you received the credential.

7. Edit and proofread your CV

Before submitting your CV for an assistant psychologist position, be sure to fully edit and proofread. When you edit your CV, look for areas in which you can strengthen your wording or be more concise. Consider asking a trusted friend or family member to review your CV for you, as they may offer additional insights.

Proofreading is the process of ensuring your CV is free from spelling and grammar errors. You can read through your CV backwards or read it out loud to make it easier to catch minor errors. You may also use an online grammar checker, which can identify and remedy errors you may not have noticed.

What to include in your assistant psychologist CV

These are some components to include in your CV:

Keywords: A keyword is a term or phrase that appears in the job listing or on the employer's website. You can include keywords in your assistant psychology application materials to help them perform well in an applicant tracking system.
Specific figures: When listing your achievements and responsibilities, try to include specific measures of the impact you had. This can help the hiring manager better understand how your skills contributed to your team.
Publications: As an assistant psychologist, you may have your name on publications. If you're the author or co-author of a relevant psychology article or publication, consider including it in your CV.

CV template for an assistant psychologist

This is a template you can use to write a CV when applying for assistant psychologist positions:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an assistant psychologist.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]

Education
[Degree], [Name of School or University]
[City]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Example assistant psychologist CV

Here's an example CV for an assistant psychologist you can use as a reference when writing your own:

Angelina Ortiz, Certified Assistant Psychologist +44 2580 246853 | aortiz@email.com | London

Professional Summary
Dedicated Assistant Psychologist with more than five years of experience in the field. As a Certified Assistant Psychologist, I'm dedicated to continuous education and improvement. Highly skilled in research and behaviour observation. Seeking a workplace environment in which I can expand my knowledge and develop my skills.

Experience
Assistant Psychologist | December 2020–Current
Lawrence Healthcare Systems | London

Consult with primary psychologists to develop an actionable care plan
Maintain a patient admission system that reduces waiting times by 45%
Conduct field research to find new methods for treating patients
Observe patient behaviour and report to psychologists and physicians
Collaborate with the care team to provide a holistic treatment strategy

Assistant Psychologist | May 2017–December 2020
East London Heritage Care Home | London

Listened to patients and suggested coping mechanisms for anxiety and addictions
Counselled and treated patients to help them manage their emotional conditions
Monitored more than 10 patients at a time and tracked behavioural changes

Skills
Psychological assessment | clinical supervision | care plan creation | risk management | bedside manner

Education
Bachelor's degree in clinical psychology, Green Lake Science University
London

Certifications
Certified Assistant Psychologist, Society of Assistant Psychologists - 2023

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Disclaimer: The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.

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How to write an assistant psychologist CV in 7 steps