Careers in Psychology

 Preparing for a Career in the 21st Century
Questions Often Asked by Psychology Majors
Job Skills Possessed by Psychology Majors
What do Employers Look For in a Major?
How are Psychologists Employed?
Where are Psychology Majors Employed?
Locating and Obtaining a Job
Making Satisfying Career Decisions
The Career Development Center
What to Expect in a Job Interview
Reasons for Interview Failures
 

Real People with Real Jobs!

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY

There are three options for the graduating psychology major: 
1) work; 
2) further study; 
3) not work (although this option is usually distressing to parents). 
This chapter is designed to help those students choosing options one and two to prepare for and succeed in the career to which they aspire.* 

*Much of the material used here has been taken from the Marion College psychology major's manual and Virginia Gordon's work on academic advising. 

PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN THE 21st CENTURY

Today's college students must learn the skills necessary to adapt to new and ever-changing work situations because the average American will hold seven jobs during his/her lifetime in the 21st century.  A degree from the psychology department equips you with more than just the ability to find and hold a job: it enables you to choose the career that fits you best, excel in that career, and change careers when you are ready.  Our graduates are able to include the following abilities on their resumes if they take full advantage of their curricular and extracurricular opportunities.  These are the skills that employers value in employees and are the same skills that distinguish a liberally educated individual from a person who has been vocationally trained. 

 1. Speak and write clearly and persuasively. 
 2. Identify, investigate, and solve problems. 
 3. Think logically, critically, and creatively. 
 4. Conduct research using the scientific method. 
 5. Deal effectively with a wide variety of people. 
 6. Behave in a mature, stable, and flexible manner. 
 7. Collect, analyze, and interpret statistical data. 
 8. Use computers to organize and solve complex problems. 
 9. Report the results of research in a professional manner. 
10. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. 
11. Exhibit high levels of motivation, enthusiasm, and initiative. 
12. Locate and integrate information from a wide variety of sources. 
13. Adjust well to organizational rules, procedures, and traditions. 

QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED BY CAREER-SEEKING PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS

The following three questions are often asked by psychology majors who are interested in entering the job market immediately after graduation.  Johnson (1988, p. 7-8) has given the following answers. 

How does the job market look for psychology majors? 

In 1986, the National Science Foundation published a report that suggested a bright future for employment of psychology majors.  The report indicated that one year after graduation, 90% of the psychology majors entering the labor force were employed.  After two years that figure rose to 94%.  Those are encouraging figures when you consider the fact that 40,000 psychology majors graduate every year and nearly half of them enter the labor force immediately. 

What if I want to major in psychologyand then go into some other career area: Will my psychology major help me or hinder me?

The psychology major is not a panacea (i.e., it will not be the best undergraduate training program for all careers).  But, you will find large numbers of persons who have their basic undergraduate training in psychologoy in a diversity of professions.  For example, it is not uncommon to find lawyers who earned a bachelor's degree in psychology before they went to law school.  Medical and dental schools often admit psychology majors who have good academic records and supplemented their majors with courses in the biological and physical sciences.  It is also not uncommon to find psychology majors going to graduate school in business or social work.  Many others are employed in social welfare settings or as counselors of various types (e.g., rehabilitation).  So don't feel as though the psychology major limits your abililty to find a job; it does not.  Your marketability will be related to several other factors (e.g., your grades, skills, personality, and extracurricular activities). 

Five years from now, will I regret my decision to major in psychology? 

Studies indicate that you will be very satisfied with your bachelor's degree in psychology.  In a study of 797 University of Washington graduates in psychology, nearly 70% said if they had it to do over again, they would still major in psychology (Lunneborg & Wilson, 1982).  Additionally, these graduates indicated that their degree in psychology was very satisfying as a means to personal growth and a liberal arts education.  If these statistics are an indication of satisfaction of psychology majors in general, then you will probably be very happy that you majored in psychology. 

JOB SKILLS POSSESSED BY PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS

When people consider the question, "What am I able to do with a Bachelor's degree in psychology," they are usually thinking about what kind of job they might get.  But there is another way of looking at this question that you should consider as part of your career planning.  That is, you should seriously think about what in fact you are able to do in terms of the skills you may have acquired while majoring in psychology" (Edwards, 1989, p. 1).  These wise words are the introduction to the following lists of skills that Edwards compiled for his students at Loyola University. Human Services Skills:  These are skills necessary for successful employment in situations where direct services are provided to individuals who are in need of help. 

* Perform institutional researach and evaluation. 
* Write reports and proposals clearly and objectively. 
* Organize and lead groups, organizations, or committees. 
* Recognize and understand behavioral and emotional disorders. 
* Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests. 
* Respond in an unbiased and tolerant way to individual differences. 
* Display fundamental counseling skills with individuals and groups. 
* Collect, record, and report statistical and qualitative information. 
* Perform crisis intervention techniques (e.g., listening and referral). 
* Perform interviews to learn about people's history, problems, and plans. 
* Contribute to program or treatment planning, evaluation, and implementation. 
* Demonstrate small group skills (e.g., team building and conflict management). 
* Communicate effectively and sensitively in both individual and  group situations. 
* Obtain information about problems through library research and personal contacts. 
* Critically evaluate theories and research and apply the results  to solve problems. 
* Analyze problems on the basis of personal experience and psychological principles. 
* Understand and modify your attitudes and actions in interactions with other people. 

Research Skills:  These are some of the types of skills essential to jobs in which information based on basic or applied research is provided to assist decision making. 

* Construct and administer questionnaires. 
* Use a variety of types of research equipment. 
* Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data. 
* Present verbal presentations clearly and persuasively. 
* Defend ideas in a clear, objective, nondogmatic manner. 
* Be familiar with a variety of research methods and designs. 
* Recruit research subjects and treat them in an ethical manner. 
* Select, administer, score, and interpret various psychological tests. 
* Write reports clearly, concisely, objectively, and in the correctstyle. 
* Use library resources to research problems and prepare literature  reviews. 
* Identify problems and suggest solutions on the basis of research findings. 
* Create easily understood graphs, tables, and verbal descriptions  of results. 
* Select and compute appropriate statistical tests and interpret  their results. 
* Assemble, interpret, and critically analyze research findings in  specific areas. 
* Use computers to write reports, analyze data, and perform bibliographic searches. 
* Deal effectively with financial, temporal, and personnel constraints on research. 

Students should realize that they may not develop these skills if they do not take full advantage of all their undergraduate opportunities (e.g., research and extracurricular activities).  It is also equally important to obtain a broad, liberal education in addition to these specific skills.  Because job markets are shifting constantly, it is crucial to avoid overspecialization and to strive for flexibility. 

WHAT DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN A PSYCHOLOGY  MAJOR THEY ARE INTERVIEWING FOR A JOB?

The items in the three major categories of the following outline (taken directly from Edwards & Smith, 1988) are arranged in descending order of importance as rated by a large sample of employers from midwestern government, nonprofit, and commercial agencies, organizations, and companies that often hire undergraduate psychology majors.  Psychology students are urged to take advantage of all their undergraduate opportunities to maximize the attainments of these skills, abilities, knowledge, and personal traits. 

A.  SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

1.  Writing proposals and reports 
2.  Identifying and solving problems based on research and knowledge of behavior 
3.  Conducting interviews 
4.  Performing statistical analyses 
5.  Designing and conducting research projects 
6.  Performing job analyses 
7.  Coding data 
8.  Using computer programs to analyze data 
9.  Systematically observing and recording behavior 
10. Constructing tests and questionnaires 
11. Administering standardized tests 

B.  KNOWLEDGE 

1.  Formation and change of attitudes and opinions 
2.  Principles and techniques of personnel selection 
3.  How people think, solve problems, and process information 
4.  Structure and dynamics of small groups 
5.  Effects of the environment on people's feelings and actions 
6.  Organizational development 
7.  Principles of human learning and memory 
8.  How people perceive and sense their environment 
9.  Theories and research on personality and individual differences 
10. Principles of human needs and motivation 
11. Theories and research on organizational behavior, work, and productivity 
12. Theories and research on human development and stages of life 
13. Symptoms, causes, and treatments of abnormal behaviors 

C.  PERSONAL TRAITS 

1.  Ability to work with others in a team 
2.  Motivation to work hard 
3.  Positive attitude toward work and the organization
4.  Organization 
5.  Leadership 
6.  Maturity 
7.  Flexibility 
8.  Ability to communicate well 
9.  Intelligence 
10. Problem-solving ability 
11. Integrity 
12. Tolerance for stress and ambiguity 

HOW ARE PSYCHOLOGISTS EMPLOYED?

An education in psychology prepares individuals for a remarkable range of employment opportunities.  According to Wise (1987), psychologists are employed in the five following major roles, but it is important to realize that many psychologists perform in more than one of these roles (e.g., the college teacher who counsels students, performs research, consults with other teachers to improve their testing procedures, and acts as the chairman of the department).  The career paths that psychologists take are dependent upon their levels of education and their areas of interest. 

TEACHING -- Psychologists teach in universities, two and four year colleges and universities. 

RESEARCHERS -- Psychologists are employed by universities, government agencies, the military, and businesses to conduct basic and applied studies of human behavior. 

SERVICE PROVIDERS -- Psychologists work with people of all ages and backgrounds who are coping with every imaginable kind of problem, by assessing their  needs and providing appropriate treatment. 

ADMINISTRATORS -- Psychologists work as managers in hospitals, 
mental health clinics, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools, universities, and businesses. 

CONSULTANT -- Psychologists with expertise in a variety of areas are hired by organizations to provide consultative services on a subject or problem in the consultant is an expert.  These services can include designing a marketing survey and organizing outpatient mental health services. 

With a few exceptions, preparation for these careers requires education beyond the undergraduate level or a significant amount of relevant experience.  It is also important to realize that it is illegal in Pennsylvania for people to use the term "psychologist" to describe themselves if they have not been certified by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Psychology. 

WHERE ARE PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS EMPLOYED?

A recent report from the National Science Foundation (1986) on employed bachelor's-level graduates in psychology revealed that the following percentages were employed in five major areas one year after graduation. 

50% --Business and Industry 

27%-- Science and engineering 

15%--Educational institutions 

10%--Nonprofit organizations 

8%--Federal, state, or local govt. 

The work that these graduates performed in these various areas included the following broad range of areas, skills, and responsibilities. 

30%--Management and administration 

28%-- Sales and professional services 

16%--Teaching 

12%--Production and inspection 

14%--Other 

These data clearly demonstrate that students who graduate with a psychology major are versatile individuals capable of gaining and maintaining meaningful employment in many different career areas. 

LOCATING AND OBTAINING A JOB

There are five stages to successful employment:  self-analysis, educational preparation, the job search, the resume and cover letter, and the interview.  You must prepare for each of these stages carefully and thoroughly if you expect to land a satisfying and challenging job. 

1.  Self-Analysis:  You must know who you are and what you want to do if you expect to find a job that fits your interests, aptitudes, and abilities.  Allow your academic advisor to help you during this stage.  He/she is there to do more than just help you pre-register.  Taking classes which require you to engage in self-analysis (e.g., Theories of Personality and Tests & Measurements) can also be very helpful in this area.  As Socrates said:  "Strive to know thyself." 

2.  Educational Preparation:  Once you have decided the job you would like to obtain, find out what types of knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics are required by that job and then develop them.  Once again, your academic advisor can help you with this task.  He/she can help you choose classes, internship experiences, and extracurricular activities that will prepare you for your chosen field of employment. 

3.  The Job Search:  The Career Development Center is crucial in this stage.  Visit this office in your freshman or sophomore year, and return periodically to see what types of jobs are available in your area of employment interest, and participate in the workshops that it sponsors (e.g., Dressing for Success and Resume Writing). 

4.  The Resume and Cover Letter:  A potential employer will see your cover letter and resume before he/she sees you.  Be sure that they make a good first impression.  Employers are constantly searching for neat, well-organized, competent employees who have 
relevant experience and who can adapt well to new situations.  If your cover letter and resume do not communicate these things about you, then you need to revise them until they do. 

5.  The Interview:  If an employer is impressed with your cover letter and resume, he/she will invite you for an interview.  Prepare for it.  Find out as much as you can about the company/agency/organization and the position for which you are applying so that you can speak intelligently about the job during the interview.  Interviewers are far more impressed by an applicant who has done his homework and who can explain what he can do for the company than by one who expects the interviewer to sell the job to him.  Remember that you are the one who is asking for the job and that there are probably several other equally qualified people who are applying for it.  Strive to leave the interviewer wondering how his company has been able to survive this long without you!  A section of this chapter entitled "What to Expect in a Job Interview" provides insight into this somewhat mysterious and potentially anxiety-producing situation. 

MAKE SATISFYING CAREER DECISIONS: 
WHAT QUESTIONS DO I ASK? 

Self-Knowledge

Interests - 

What activities do you enjoy? 
What do you do in your leisure time? 
Hobbies? 

What are your personal and academic strengths? 
What skills do you have? 

What is important to you in a career? 
What you believe in? 

Where are you going? 
How do you get there? 
What are your aspirations? 

Nature of work - 

What tasks are involved? 

Who will hire you? 

What entry level expertise is expected? 
What experiences do you need? 
What are the opportunities for promotion? 

What will the job market be like when I graduate? 

What is the pay range? 
What are the physical demands of the job? 

How do you write a resume/cover letter? 
What job interview techniques are desirable? 

What educational programs will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need? 
What college majors interest you? 
What vocational programs interest you? 
What courses will you need to take? 
What degrees and/or credentials do you need? 

Can you link self-knowledge with occupational information? 
What kind of decision maker are you? 
What styles or strategies do you use? 
What are the critical points in your life where you will make career decisions? 
What kind of life-long decision making skills do you need to learn? 
How well do you integrate your values into your decisions? 
How do you implement your decision once it is made? 

THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

The Career Development Center (CDC) located in the CUB second floor offers the following services to assist students who are exploring careers, preparing job searches, and applying for professional positions.  Psychology students are encouraged to register with this office in their freshman year so that they can become familiar with its services and to take advantage of the opportunities that it offers. 

Counseling and Advising

The Director of Career Services is available by appointment to discuss career exploration, job search strategies, or employment opportunities. 

Career Information Library

The CDC maintains a library of materials useful to psychology students who are exploring their career options (e.g., employer information, current job listings, job search handouts, graduate school catalogs, and GRE information).  A publication of particular importance is the Occupational Outlook Handbook that (a) describes the current and future availability of jobs in psychology and psychology-related fields and (b) provides valuable sources of information about these career options. 

Credential Files 

Students may establish a permanent file of their employment credentials (e.g., resume and letters of recommendation) in the CDC that can be sent to prospective employers.  Periodic updating of this file is essential. 

Workshops and Seminar

The CDC offers or sponsors a series of seminars and workshops each year to aid career-seeking students (e.g., Resume Writing, Job Search Techniques, Interviewing Strategies, and Dressing for Success). 

Recruiting

Qualified students may register in the CDC to be interviewed by companies and organizations who send recruiters to campus and to participate in recruiting programs sponsored by special groups. 

Vacancy Announcements

The CDC publishes the Catalyst, a bi-weekly listing of employment opportunities.  Descriptions of all listed positions are available. 

Part-Time Employment, Internships, and Co-op Education

A listing of available part-time jobs and Co-op opportunities is 
available in the CDC.  Psychology students are encouraged to utilize these leads to gain experience in their chosen areas of interest. 

NOTE:  Students should understand that they must visit the center periodically to take advantage of these services and opportunities. 

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A JOB INTERVIEW

Students are often very anxious about job interviews because they do not know what to expect.  Their worst fears can center on questions for which they are unprepared.  Although it is never possible to know exactly what an interviewer will ask, the following list of questions (modified from Fretz, 1976) are often used during interviews.  A good way to prepare for your interview-- and relieve some of your anxiety--is to role play an interview with you as the interviewer and your roomate as the interviewer who will ask you the following questions. 

* What are your ideas on salary? 
* What are your special abilities? 
* Are you having other interviews? 
* What are your future career plans? 
* Do you plan to go to graduate school? 
* Why did you choose your college major? 
* Why would you like to work for our company? 
* What positions of leadership have you held? 
* Have you ever had a serious injury or illness? 
* What are the disadvantages of your chosen field? 
* Are you willing to go where a company sends you? 
* In what type of position are you most interested? 
* How did you spend your summer vacations during college? 
* What have you learned from the jobs that you have held? 
* What jobs have you enjoyed the most and the least.  Why? 
* How do you spend your spare time?  What are your hobbies? 
* What is your idea of how business/industry operates today? 
* What are the titles of the last three books you have read? 
* What college classes did you like the most and the least?  Why? 
* How long do you expect to work for this company if you are hired? 
* What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work? 
* Do you prefer to work in any particular geographic locations?  Why? 
* What do you think determines an employee's progress in a good company? 
* Do you feel you have received a good general education in college?  Why? 
* What would your previous employers say are your strengths and weaknesses? 
* What jobs have you held?  How did you get them and why did you leave them? 
* What specifically have you done in college to enhance your leadership skills? 
* What percentage of your college expenses did you earn and how did  you earn them? 
* What knowledge/skills/characteristics do you possess that will  make you successful in this job? 
* In what school activities have you participated, why did you participate in them, and which did you enjoy most? 
* Are you tolerant of persons who are different from you?  If so,  give specific examples of how you have exhibited this tolerance? 
 

Don't forget that it is perfectly acceptable for you to say "I   don't know" during an interview.  Interviewers value honesty and   are very sensitive to attempt to bluff them with incorrect,   falsified, or overly inflated information.  Just remember that     honesty is the best policy.  You want to be employed by a company  in which you feel comfortable and secure.  If you feel that you  must lie during an interview to be hired, then that is not the  right company for you. 

REASONS FOR INTERVIEW FAILURES

The following list of characteristics and attitudes are often cited as factors that cause applicants to be rejected during job interviews.  Read them carefully, decide which of them apply to you, and do everything in your power to avoid exhibiting them during job interviews (or in any other social situations in your life). 

Indecision 
Lack of maturity 
Cynicism or sarcasm 
Merely shopping around 
Poor personal appearance 
High pressure personality 
"Its who you know" attitude 
Lack of interest in company 
Little or no sense of humor 
Inability to take criticism 
Criticism of past employers 
Indefinite answers to questions 
Does not ask questions about the job 
Lack of knowledge of field of specialization 
Lack of career planning, purposes, and goals 
Lack of appreciation of the value of experience 
Lack of tact, courtesy, manners, or social skills 
Lack of confidence and poise, nervous, or ill-at-ease 
Lack of interest and enthusiasm, passive, or indifferent 
Unwilling to start at the bottom, expects too much too soon 
Overbearing, overaggressive, conceited, or know-it-all attitude 
Overemphasis on $$ and interested in only the best dollar offer 
Makes excuses, evasive, tries to cover up unfavorable factors in record 
Inability to express thoughts clearly, poor voice quality, or incorrect grammar

REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL JOBS!

We recently surveyed our graduates, and came up with this list of jobs...

With a BA in Psychology:

Account Manager
Account Administrator
Administrative Sales Assistant
Corporate Travel Consultant
Claim Specialist
Medical Secretary/Accounting Dept.
VP Sales/Marketing
Therapeutic Support Staff
Drug & Alcohol Counselor
Teacher
Customer Service Representative
Merchandiser
Claims Examiner
Webmaster
Co-director
Residence Life Coordinator
Mortgage Loan Officer
Registered Nurse in Post Anesthesia Unit
1st grade teacher
Therapeutic Support Staff
 Account Coordinator
Head Football Coach, Recruiter
Physical Therapists Assistant -- Pediatrics
Graduate Assistant
Assistantship
Admissions/Intake Counselor
Police Officer
Psychiatric Assistant
Inspector Packer/Shipping Clerk
Plant Technician
Therapist -- Individual & Group Counseling
Waitress
Bar Manager
Direct Care Staff
Children Mental Health Case Manager
Program Advisor
Mental Health Therapist -- Inpatient Unit
Teacher of Social Studies & Football Coach
Teacher at Juvenile Delinquent Center
Teacher
Lifeskill Workers
Teacher
Telephone Sales Representative
Human Resource Generalist
Administrative/HR Assistant
Youth Care Worker
Associate Staff
Life Skills Counselor
Case Worker
Residential Counselor
Mental Health Case Manager
Project Analyst
Information Associate/Client Liaison
QMRP: case management for adults with MR/MH
Caseworker
Victim Advocate
Hearing Officer
Staffing Consultant
Director of Research & Planning
Caseworker
Rehabtech
Account Administrator
Night Grocery Stocker/Cashier
Outside Sales Representative
Registered Nurse
Nation Account Manager
Sales/Marketing
Nurse Aide
Pharmaceutical Sales
Instructional Designer/Multimedia Specialist
Administrative Assistant to CEO
Staff Assistant
Therapeutic Support Staff Technician
Human Resources
Secretary for Family Business
Treatment Specialist
Group Facilitator for chronically mentally ill adults
Academic Counselor
Pharmaceutical Sales
Sr. Systems Consultant for Beta Software Implementation
Mental Health Worker in Child Partial Hospitalization
Psychiatric Technician- Residential Program
Assistant Manager
Caseworker I
Customer Service Representative
Personal Banker/Sales Associate
Independent Consultant
8th Grade Reading & Pre-Algebra Teacher
Case Worker
Therapeutic Staff Support Worker
Activities Worker
In-patient, residential metal health services, group activities
Pour Iron
Panhellenic Advisor
Leasing Manager
Wraparound Case Manager
Case Manager
Early Intervention Service Coordinator
In-school Services Counselor
Drug & Alcohol Case Manager
Teacher/Department Chair
Therapeutic Staff Support
Administrations & Community Outreach
Admin. Asst.
Teacher asst./Therapist
Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Therapeutic Staff Support for School Children
Interaction with patients on the Behavioral Health Unit
Fraud/Early Warning Investigator
Mental Health Assistant
Drug & Alcohol Casemanager
Child & Adolescent intensive casemanager in MH dept.
Human Resources Coordinator
Research Assistant
Counselor
Activities Assistant
Process Improvement/Utilization Review Specialist
Pharmacist
Postmaster Relief
Internal Auditor
Page
Grade Teacher
Mental Health Worker
HRIS/Compensation Manager
Chief of Communications & Control Training
Assist Schizophrenics with daily living skills
Human Resources
Intake Worker/Community Youth Director
Assistant to Director
Sales & Marketing
Program Operation Monitor (WIN)
Service Engineer, Packaging Systems Division
Therapeutic Support Staff
Lead Preschool Teacher
Personal Carehome Assistant
Human Resources/Employment Coordinator
Therapeutic Support Staff
Group Supervisor
Psychiatric Technician
Monitoring Specialist
2nd Grade Teacher
Therapeutic Staff Support
Teacher
Therapeutic Staff Support
Human Resources Coordinator
Investment Services
Nanny
Administrative Assistant
Nanny; Teacher Assistant
Food & Beverage Manager

With an MS in Psychology:

Manager, Marketing Research
Before/After School Program
Lead Teacher
Juvenile Probation Officer
Mental Health Counselor (Private Practice)
School Counselor
Detective
Seminar Specialist/Tech Writer/Trainer
Clerk Typist II -- Legal Support Staff
Pastor
Therapist ? individual, family, & group
Management Engineer
Academic Counselor
Addiction Counselor
Therapist/Partial Hospital Day Program
Tutoring Students who drop out & re-enter
Behavioral Specialist Consultant
Visiting Asst. Professor
Elementary Counselor
Family Therapist
Needs Assessment Coordinator
School Counselor
Co-Manager
Office Manager
V.P. New Product Division
Data Analyst
Drug & Alcohol Counselor
Strategic Research Manager
Behavior Specialist Consultant/Mobile Therapist
EPSDT Casemanager
Store Manager
Partial Hospital Therapist/Social Worker
Art Therapist
Family Therapist
Mental Health Professional
Victim/witness Coordinator
Bartender/Cook
Psychological Services Specialist
Behavioral Specialist
Intranet Content Manager
Counselor
Psychology RN
Student Assistance Program Liaison
Human Resources Development/Education
Job Coach
Children & Youth Coordinator
Elementary Guidance Counselor
Community Relations
SS Teacher & Psychology Courses
Outpatient Mental Health Therapist