Direct care:
Counseling
Psychotherapy
Applied behavior analysis
Art therapy
Music therapy
Case management
Mental health services
Physical health and wellness
Crisis work
Rehabilitation services (e.g., speech, physical, vocational therapies)
Performance enhancement
Testing/Assessment
Law enforcement
Administration:
Advocacy
Programming
Community relations
Management
Development/Fund raising
Grant writing
Federal government:
Health and Human Services
Justice
Veterans Affairs
State government:
Departments of Human Services
Departments of Mental Health
Departments of Justice
Community mental health centers
State psychiatric hospitals
Facilities for individuals with intellectual impairments
Boards of probation and parole
Local government
Senior citizens’ centers
Nursing homes
Social service/nonprofit organizations
Religiously-affiliated service organizations
Hospitals/healthcare providers
Private psychiatric facilities
Outpatient clinics
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
College and university counseling centers and career centers
Pain clinics
Rehabilitation facilities
Testing centers
Private practice
Obtain essential practical experience through part-time or summer jobs such as camp counselor, tutor, or resident hall advisor.
Complete an internship for academic credit.
Gain experience through volunteering with organizations such as crisis hotlines, Big Brother or Sister, Special Olympics, service groups, etc.
Many entry-level helping positions require one year of related experience. Volunteer experience and internships can typically fulfill this requirement.
Learn to work well with different types of people.
Develop strong communication skills.
Cultivate the desire to help others.
Earn a minor in a specialized field of interest (e.g., child & family studies, sociology, or political science)
Take courses to build valuable counseling-related skills (e.g., techniques of counseling).
Become fluent in a second language to serve clients who may not speak English.
Be willing to relocate for increased job opportunities.
Acquire knowledge of government and community resources available for those in need.
Earn graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, or social work for positions involving substantive counseling or psychotherapy or for advancement into administrative/supervisory positions. See General Information at the end for more details.
Pursue graduate degrees to enter rehabilitation fields such as speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and vocational rehabilitation. See What Can I Do With This Major Audiology and Speech Pathology? and What Can I Do With This Major Healthcare Sciences? for additional details.
Complete graduate training or certification programs to establish test administration and interpretation qualification.
Maintain an excellent academic record and seek experiences valued by graduate programs.
Social research
Market research
Data analysis
Testing/Test development
Experimental psychology
Neuroscience
Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology
Federal, state and local government agencies (e.g., National Institute of Health)
National headquarters of non-profit organizations
Universities and colleges
Market research firms
Market research departments of consumer goods and manufacturing firms
Private research organizations
Consulting firms
Pursue research experience by working on faculty projects through independent study classes, as a student employee, as a volunteer in their lab, or through other departmental programs.
Take additional math and statistics courses to develop strong quantitative and statistical skills.
Take additional science courses or consider a minor in Neuroscience.
Obtain related experience through part-time or summer jobs or internships with a market research firm.
Get involved in the American Marketing Association.
Earn a graduate degree in experimental psychology, educational psychology, I/O psychology, statistics, or marketing.
Teaching
Adult learning/Community instruction (e.g., GED classes, life skills, parenting, etc.)
Information/Library science
Higher education administration and student support services:
Admissions
Financial aid
Academic advising
Development
Alumni affairs
International education and study abroad
Career services
Residence life
Student activities and Greek life
Orientation
Leadership
Multicultural affairs
Recreational sports
Public and private K-12 schools
Colleges and universities
Government agencies
Federal Trio programs (e.g., Upward Bound, Talent Search)
Nonprofit organizations (e.g., Project Grad)
College prep programs
Obtain a teaching certificate for public school positions. Multiple certification will increase marketability. Seek guidance from the education department of your college.
Earn a doctoral degree in psychology for post-secondary teaching.
Pursue graduate training in information science for library positions.
Earn a master’s in Counseling with a specialty in career development if interested in career services.
Seek a master’s degree in college student personnel, higher education administration for student
affairs or administrative positions.
Maintain a high GPA and secure strong personal recommendations.
Gain experience working with children, adolescents, or college students through tutoring or other volunteer positions.
Acquire related experience on campus as a resident hall advisor, orientation leader, admissions tour guide, or peer mentor.
Develop strong communication skills and learn to speak well in front of a group.
Employment and recruitment
Selection
Labor relations
Compensation and benefits
Organizational development
Training
Large companies
Government agencies
Staffing and employment services
Large non-profit organizations
Hospitals
Educational institutions
Gain relevant experience in human resources by completing an internship.
Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with business courses.
Seek leadership positions in student organizations.
Develop strong computer skills.
Earn an MBA or a graduate degree in human resources to attain higher level positions.
Sales
Customer service
Public relations
Marketing
Advertising
Insurance
Claims management
Underwriting
Product design
Management
Real estate
Sales
Property management
Service providers
Wholesalers
Manufacturers
Retail stores:
Department stores
Specialty stores
Discount stores
Super retailers
Online retailers
Call centers
Financial institutions
Insurance companies
Real estate companies
Property management firms
Apartment complexes
Public relations departments of large businesses or nonprofit organizations
Develop career goals and seek relevant experiences to prepare for those goals.
Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with business or communication courses.
Obtain relevant experience through internships or part-time jobs.
Work a part-time or summer job in a retail store. Demonstrate a willingness to take on additional responsibilities such as “assistant manager.”
Participate in student organizations and seek leadership roles.
Learn to work well with different types of people. Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
For sales, develop the ability to work well under pressure and be comfortable in a competitive environment.
Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions.
When job searching, seek employers interested in hiring “any major.”
Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), computer, interpersonal, leadership and teamwork, etc.
Psychology provides a broad, liberal arts background.
Some students may choose to study psychology because they enjoy the subject but wish to pursue careers requiring “any major.” In this scenario, it is critical to develop desirable skills through internships, part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer experiences. Some skills valued most by employers include: communication, interpersonal, leadership, teamwork, and computer skills.
Other students may major in psychology because they want to work in a related field. Many entry-level helping positions are available, however the amount of direct client contact is limited for those who only have a bachelor’s degree. Students may wish to pursue graduate education in psychology, social work,
counseling, college student personnel, or other related fields to increase opportunities and earning potential. Research career fields to learn what type of degree (master’s, educational specialist, doctoral) and subject area are most appropriate for your interests and desired population.
The following list provides some examples:
Master’s Degree
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Professional Counselor
Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Rehabilitation Counselors
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
Educational Specialist
School Psychologist
Doctoral Degree
Counseling Psychologist
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Experimental Psychologist
Sport Psychologist
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
Social Psychologist
Developmental Psychologist
Forensic Psychologist
Health Psychologist
Neuroscience Psychologist
Psychiatry (M.D.) *
For those wishing to pursue graduate education, maintain a high grade point average, secure strong faculty recommendations, gain experience through volunteer or work opportunities, and assist a faculty member with research.
Many applied positions require licensure. This can take an additional one to three years of supervised experience after earning a graduate degree depending upon state requirements. Graduate programs in clinical work should be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) in order to ensure a smooth transition towards licensure. Graduate programs in counseling should be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Research the availability of certifications for specialties like the Board Certified Behavior Analyst if interested in working with people with disabilities.
Note (*): If Psychiatry is a career interest take additional science courses for admission to medical school; see your school’s pre-health advisor.
For those wishing to pursue graduate education, maintain a high grade point average, secure strong faculty recommendations, gain experience through volunteer or work opportunities, and assist a faculty member with research.
Many applied positions require licensure. This can take an additional one to three years of supervised experience after earning a graduate degree depending upon state requirements. Graduate programs in clinical work should be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) in order to ensure a smooth transition towards licensure. Graduate programs in counseling should be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Research the availability of certifications for specialties like the Board Certified Behavior Analyst if interested in working with people with disabilities.
Note (*): If Psychiatry is a career interest take additional science courses for admission to medical school; see your school’s pre-health advisor.