I'd like to change careers, how do I get employers to take me seriously?

I've decided I want to change my career completely. The trouble is, my degree is completely wrong. I did psychology at university but, after a volunteer internship, I'm now really interested in journalism. Will anyone in this area take me seriously? How can I let employers know the useful skills I do have so they'll take me seriously?

Finding the right career can be hugely rewarding and it's great you've found something you're interested in doing. Although you feel your degree might not be the right fit for journalism, it's likely some of the skills you learned can be applied to your new path.

It's worth knowing that only a small proportion of psychology undergraduates go on to become chartered psychologists. So there are lots of people out there with degrees like yours doing many different things. The undergraduate degree that you have completed will have given you specific skills that can be applied elsewhere. Like all undergraduate courses you will have gained invaluable communication skills, along with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Combining this with the information technology (IT) and numeric skills you'll have developed will stand you in good stead with any future career.

You've already got some experience, through your internship, of what's expected of a journalist. You might also find it useful to contact organisations you'd like to work for and ask what experience they require for you to become a journalist for them. This will give you a clearer idea of what you need to do, and help you work out if the skills you already have are the right ones.

You could also benefit from doing a postgraduate course in journalism. There are many different types of course that you can take, depending on the sort of journalism you're interested in. Most courses are very practical and may include modules on feature writing, writing for the web and multimedia as well as media law and shorthand. You can search for courses on Prospects, to help you can narrow your search to full-time, part-time or distance learning, this could help you find the course that suits you best.

For more useful advice about getting started in a career in journalism, Journalism.co.uk has a jobs section with advice on how to apply for jobs in journalism, interview tips and work experience tips.

If you'd like to discuss your options with an advisor you can call the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900 . Their trained advisors can offer information and advice about courses, training, skills and finding a job. They can also help with writing a CV and applying for jobs.