From Recruitment Consultant to Business Psychologist: Careers in Business Psychology

From The ABP Membership Team, with Angus Robinson.

For our new series 'Careers in Business Psychology', The ABP Membership Team invites practitioners to share their career path – how they ended up where they are today – as a helpful resource for anyone who may be interested in exploring a career in Business Psychology. 

For this article, Angus Robinson answered The ABP Membership Team’s questions, explaining how his career path unfolded. 

Starting Point

What career did you begin in?

‘After leaving university and working in travel for a few years, I returned to the UK and started working in recruitment.’

What stayed with you from that profession?

‘A number of things. It was very much a sales environment and so motivation was key. For me this fluctuated, and you could see the impact on my results. Motivation has therefore always been a keen interest of mine.’

What knowledge or skills do you still use today?

‘I’m currently setting up a new business, so the selling skills are something which I am having to come back to. But it also taught me a lot about organisation and prioritising your time.’

Journey to Business Psychology

What attracted you to Business Psychology?

‘I have always been interested in Personal Development and goal setting, but my first experience with a psychometric was eye-opening for me.’

When did you first recognise how psychology could be used in your work?

‘I was in my first management role and was struggling to connect with 3 members of the team of 15. When I received the team report, I realised that they had very similar personality preferences, which were the opposite of mine. It helped me appreciate the impact I was having on that relationship and gave me a framework to adapt.’

When you started applying psychology practically, were there particular tools, models or research that helped you get going?

‘Personality profiling has remained central to what I do, in particular Lumina Spark, but completing my Masters provided me with a wider range of research to back what I was doing.’

Career in Business Psychology – So Far

How do you practise Business Psychology today?

‘In a variety of ways, but largely through a consultative process to help people understand their goals and what may be stopping them from achieving them. This could be personality, their mindset or the environment they are in.’

Who do you help?

‘Individuals, Leaders, teams and organisations, and myself – or at least I try to! I believe you have to practice what you say so you can relate to the challenges they may have.’

What kinds of problems do you solve?

‘That depends on the situation, but largely it's helping people get clearer on their goals and how to achieve them.’

Lessons Learned Along the Way

What has surprised you most about working in Business Psychology?

‘How often organisations ignore what the evidence says.’

What do people often misunderstand about Business Psychology?

‘That you can read their mind.’

What advice would you give to someone considering moving into Business Psychology?

‘Business Psychology is a very broad area. I focus within Leadership and Personal Development, but there are lots of different areas that all come under Business Psychology.’

Interested in pivoting toward Business Psychology? 

• Learn more about joining The Association for Business Psychology.
• And sign up for our next free online Welcome Session.