Alannah Berry
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2016)
Alannah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2016. Following graduation, she now works as a Training Coordinator at Statistics Canada.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. But even if you do, you will be surprised to find what opportunities you will encounter if you keep an open mind.
Also, know yourself. If you are an introvert with social anxiety, being a teacher maybe is not the best career for you. A nice government job might be a better fit (and better pay and working conditions). However, challenging yourself is also good, just not at the risk of your own mental or physical health.
Lastly, and my least favourite advice since I value hard work more, but networking and charisma go a long way in getting a career. My former retail coworkers who did less well than me in university or did not even attend post secondary now make more money than me due to connections and being outgoing.”
Brief description of what I do!
I help with the coordination of workshops and creation and modification of training materials for Census Dissemination.
What inspired your career path after graduation?
I originally wanted to be a teacher, but found it wasn’t for me after a taking a semester of Teacher Education at the University of Ottawa. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to apply for government jobs. I managed to get my current role thanks to having a Bachelor’s Degree and experience with teaching. In addition to the semester of Teacher Education, I was also a tutor for Carleton students, Teaching Assistant at Carleton University, and volunteered with high school students with disabilities. All of these were an asset to my current position.
How did your experience in the psychology program shape your journey?
In the psychology program, we learn about statistics and working with data, so I feel that gave me an interest in statistics and, as a result, I decided to apply at Statistics Canada. Had I not taken psychology in high school and then in university, I probably wouldn’t have ended up at Statistics Canada at all.
What skills or experiences were most valuable after graduation?
Critical thinking, studying, taking notes, presenting—all of these are major assets in my role. Thanks to these skills, I am able to go above and beyond in my work and my performance evaluations reflect that.
Are there specific Psychology courses, professors, or experiences that stood out during your time at Carleton?
All the psychology professors and courses were wonderful! The first year psychology courses are a little more dull, but as you move up in the years, you can pick which courses interest you most. I personally loved social and forensic psychology the most. As for specific professors, the memorable ones I had or worked with are: Johanna Peetz, Kevin Nunes, Craig Bennell, and Tarry Ahuja. All profs were great though!
What has been a highlight or proud moment in your career so far?
I voiced one of the training videos that appears on the StatCan Census website! Pretty cool. Also, the fact that our training materials are helpful is rewarding in general. I also enjoy being praised for my hard work, motivates me to keep going even when it feels tough.