Careers%20in%20Psychology

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Careers in Psychology
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Overview

• What kind of knowledge, skills and abilities do
  you have as a result of your psych major?
• What kind of jobs can you get with a psych
  degree?
• How will I know which job is right for me?
• How do I land a job?

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Knowledge and Skills Psychology Majors Develop

• Problem solving
• Effective oral and written communication
• Critical thinking analysis, synthesis,
  evaluation
• Social perception and sensitivity
• Information literacy skills
• Knowledge of social behavior
• Research skills
• statistical analysis, research design
  measurement, and evaluation
• Perform and interpret descriptive and inferential
  statistics
• Written communication skills
• Ability to work comfortably in collaborative
  settings
• Understand issues from a variety of perspectives
• Gather and organize information from multiple
  sources

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• Leaders in business, industry, and government
  have identified certain knowledge, skills, and
  dispositions as especially important for success
  in the global economy
• The ability to apply knowledge and skills to
  real-world settings
• Conscientiousness, personal responsibility, and
  dependability
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Interpersonal and team work skills
• Skills in critical thinking and solving complex
  problems
• Respect for people different from oneself
• The ability and desire for life long learning

Hart (2006). How should colleges prepare students
to succeed in todays global economy? Report
prepared on behalf of the Association of American
Colleges and Universities. Hart Research
Associates, Inc Washington, DC
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Possible career settings for psych majors

• Adoption and child care agencies
• Court system
• Advertising depts and agencies
• Educational agencies
• Air, bus, rail lines
• Government agencies
• Business corporations
• Hospitals

• Churches and religious organizations
• Mgmt consulting firms
• Colleges and schools
• Mental health agencies and associations
• Community organizations
• Personnel departments
• Correctional institutions
• Social services agencies 

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Helping Professions Mental Health Social
Services AreasBachelors level

• case worker
• child protection worker
• behavior analyst
• director of volunteer services
• probation/parole officer
• substance abuse counselor
• program manager
• psychiatric technician

• rehabilitation advisor
• family service worker
• residential youth counselor
• group home coordinator
• social service director
• daycare center supervisor
• veterans' advisor 
• employment counselor

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Business-Related Areas

• advertising trainee
• insurance agent
• personnel worker/administrator
• administrative assistant
• job analyst
• public information officer
• advertising agent
• loan officer
• public relations
• airline reservations clerk
• management trainee
• occupational analyst

• sales representative
• claims specialist
• marketing representative
• small business owner
• customer relations
• marketing researcher
• store manager
• employee counselor
• media buyer
• staff training and development
• employment counselor

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Jobs with a bright outlook (numerous job openings
or rapid growth) 2012

• Child, family, and school social workers
• Correctional officers
• Educational, guidance, school, and vocational
  counselors
• Loan officers (mortgage and bank industry)
• Marketing specialists
• Real estate sales management
• Sales, scientific products
• Human services specialists
• Marriage and family therapist
• I/O psychologists
• Market research analysts and specialists
• Mental health and substance abuse counselors

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Rajecki Borden (2011)Mean starting salary
35 K

• Psychology (median 39,640)
• Administrative assistant 35,100
• Social services manager 34,900
• Social worker 41,000
• Mental health counselor 36,500
• Mental health case manager 32,800
• Applied behavior analysis therapist 40,700
• Nonprofit organization program coordinator 38,600
• Human resources administrator 44,500
• Employment/recruitment or placement specialist
  54,800
• Substance abuse counselor 37,500

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How do I know if the job is right for
me?Informational interviews

• Purposes Learn about a career network
• Steps 1) identify occupation 2) identify people
  to talk to 3) request an interview 4) research
  organization and job to develop questions to ask
• Identify people to talk with
• Alumni
• Friends of friends
• LinkedIn
• Send a formal letter/email with your resume
  (formality will depend on relationship)
• http//www.quintcareers.com/information_sample_let
  ter.html
• During the interview
• Ask appropriate and important questions
• Never ask for a job during an informational
  interview
• Send a thank you note afterward

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How do I know if the job is right for me?
Volunteer or internships

• Contact career services to locate organizations
• Or identify organizations in the community
•  Send a letter/meet with someone
• Offer your time/volunteer/intern

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How can I get a job? Resume

• Should be flawless and not wordy (45 second rule)
• Evaluate your skills and abilities and highlight
  these on your resume
• These include KSAs developed during your
  coursework, extracurricular activities, work
  experiences, volunteer experiences etc.
• Remember which skill employers seek writing and
  public speaking ability, problem identification
  and solving, small group and teamwork skills,
  leadership, flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity,
  organizational skills
• Include
• Heading, education, experience, activities and
  affiliations
• Optional executive summary, key skills or
  accomplishments
• Keep in mind
• Use action verbs
• Dont use passive voice, dont change verb tense
  thoughout

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How can I get a job? Cover letters

• 3 4 short paragraphs
• Why I am writing
• Introduce yourself and state why you are
  interested
• Be specific about what job you seek and what you
  can offer
• How Im qualified
• Describe your academic and professional
  qualifications and how they relate to the job
  requirements
• Why Im right for this job
• Relate yourself to the company and provide
  reasons you should be considered
• Demonstrate that you know about the company or
  industry)
• What steps Ill take to make sure we talk further
  about my qualifications
• Request an interview or let them know that you
  will contact them to follow up

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How can I get a job?

• Network!
• Uncover the hidden job market
• Use cold call letters
• Cover letters Resumes
• http//careers.uw.edu/Workshopsresumesinthe21stce
  ntury
• http//www.quintcareers.com/tutorials.html
• http//www.wellesley.edu/cws/students/resume-senio
  r-teaching20-odonnell.pdf
• http//www.unk.edu/offices/ACS/Career_Services/Stu
  dents/Career_Handbook/Cover_Letters/
• http//www.nwmissouri.edu/careerserv/students/PDF/
  Sample20Resumes/IDM_Major.pdf
• A general site for psych majors
• http//www.socialpsychology.org/career.htm\
• Job sites
• Quintessential careers, job hunters bible,
  college grad job hunter, job web, monstercollege

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Graduate school Programs in psychology

• Basic/Experimental
• Cognitive
• Social
• Health
• Developmental
• Physiological/Biological/Neuroscience
• Quantiative

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Graduate school Programs in psychology

• Applied
• Human Factors/Engineering/Ergonomics
• Industrial/Organizational/Organizational
  Behavior/Consumer
• Forensic/Legal
• Counseling/Clinical
• Sports
• School/Educational Psychology

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What do you need to apply?

• GRE (Graduate Record Exam) (or other exam)
• High GRE scores (1200 Q V), Medium (1100 QV)
• Q portion more important for basic vs. applied
  settings (except HF)
• Application for admission
• Personal statement
• Why do you want to pursue graduate study at the
  specific program you are applying for? How do you
  fit in the program?
• Transcripts
• GPA of 3.0 or above 3.5
• Resume/CV
• Letters of recommendation
• Often three, usually anonymous

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Importance of criteria

• Depends on basic vs. applied
• Things that look good
• Internships
• Independent or collaborative research projects
• Leadership or service activities
• Important non-objective criteria
• Letters of recommendation
• Interview
• Experience

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