Wednesday 22 July 15:30
- 17:00
Hall: T-Monumentale
Chair:
Davcheva Marija
Co-Chair:
Kraljevic Ana
Division: Division 1: Work and Organizational Psychology
The professional development of early career psychologists is pivotal for the advancement of our science psychology and its application worldwide. Thus, understanding the factors that foster professional development and the ones that pose challenges for early career psychologists is crucial to create specific career development strategies and professional development opportunities. In fact, these factors may differ in different countries and cultures as well as at different career stages. Hence, from work and organizational psychology as well as educational psychology lens this symposium aims to explore key aspects of professional development from an international perspective, focusing on how young professionals can recognize their competencies, navigate career uncertainties, and leverage existing structures for growth. The first presentation will discuss the transition from student to professional in the African region emphasizing some practical strategies such as virtual mentorship programs and use of technology that can promote professional development. The second presentation will explore the student professional transition in Canada offering unique views of the challenges and career opportunities in this region especially involvement in international association and networking as crucial tools for professional competencies development. The third presentation will describe the transition of students to professionals and the different educational pathways in Panama, Latin America. It will provide light on some of the current challenges early career professionals face in this area and recommendations for policy and practice. The fourth presentation provides a European perspective of the topic focusing on work and organizational psychology. It will also explore the competencies that are essential for psychologists aiming to build international careers, such as adaptability, cross-cultural communication, and resilience. Additionally, it will provide a comparison on the professional development needs in the past, in the present and in the future taking into consideration emerging career paths and providing specific examples in the field of work and organizational psychology. The fifth presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by postdoctorates in psychology in Spain. It reflects on the career identity of this group of early career psychologists, the specific career paths they may develop and highlights the need for personal resources that optimize their mental health.
