Top 10 Job Options for Psychology Majors

Top 10 Job Options for Psychology MajorsTop 10 Job Options for Psychology MajorsAre you a psychology major exploring job options? Your career path will depend on your interests and skills, but a psych major can use the skills acquired in college in a variety of different types of jobs. Psychology majors typically develop a keen understanding of human behavior, motivations, emotions, and thought patterns. Most psychology majors have strong verbal, writing, and presentation skills. They have the ability to read people and interact in effective and strategic ways. Most colleges now take a scientific approach to psychology, so majors learn how to apply the scientific method to assess variables. They can use quantitative skills and software to analyze data. Your individual skills, interests, and values should be the final determinants of what jobs are right for you, but here are some options to considerthatdraw upon the psychology major. 10 Job Options for Psychology Majors 1. Guidanc e CounselorGuidance counselors work with students, teachers, and families to help them plan their education and overcome any obstacles interfering with their learning. The psychology major provides a solid foundation in theories of learning, cognitive development, and motivationthatserve school counselors well. Psychology graduates are well positioned to complete a masters degree in student personnel or a related field to qualify for these jobs. Guidance counselors need to complete certification requirements and a practicum in the school system to qualify. Check with your states department of teacher certification for the exact requirements. Salary Information and Job OutlookGuidance counselorsearned an average of $62,990 in May 2017,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS estimated that jobs for school and career counselors would grow by 13% through 2026, htte nicht viel gefehlter than the average for all occupations. 2. menschenwrdig Resources StaffHuman Resourc es (HR),or personnel workers,recruit and train staff, counsel employees, negotiate contracts, mediate personnel conflicts, administer benefits programs, and set policies/standards for managing employees. Psychology majors who take coursework in industrial/organizational psychology at the undergraduate or graduate level gain insight into workplace dynamics. Psych majors develop interviewing skills and the ability to appraise the qualities of peoplewhoserve them well on the recruiting side of HR. The communication skills and finesse with peoplethatpsychology majors tend to possess help them to counsel employees, mediate conflicts, and negotiate contracts. HR staff are heavily involved with employee assessment, evaluation, and research where the psych majors knowledge of the scientific method can be quite useful. Salary Information and Job OutlookAccording to the BLS, the median annual wage forhuman resources specialistswas $60,350 in May 2017. Employment of human resources specialists is projected to grow 7% from 2016 to 2026, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. 3. Social WorkerPsychology studies provide an excellent grounding for social workers in human behavior, social relations, addiction, personality disorder, and motivation. Many psych majors pursue graduate studies in social work to provide the professional training needed to intervene with clients in need. Psychology majors often enroll in clinical social work programsthatprepare them to conduct therapy with clients in much less time than a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. Psychology majors possess the interviewing skills critical for gathering information from clients and the sensitivity to emotions needed to establish a working rapport. Their analytical skills enable them to assess problems and come up with viable solutions. Strong communication skills allow psych majors to convey practical information and suggested remedies to clients. Salary Information and Job Outloo kSocial workersearned an average of $47,980,according to the BLS. The BLS estimated that jobs for social workers would grow by 16% through 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. 4. Management TraineePsychology graduates acquire knowledge in areas like motivation, personality,and industrial/organizational psychologythatcan help them supervise and motivate staff as a management trainee. Their interpersonal and communication skills can enable them to interview, train,and evaluate staff. Problem-solving abilities can help them analyze performance issues and develop strategies to improve productivity. Most mid-to large-size companies have management training programs. They often recruit through colleges, so check with your career office for opportunities to interview on campus and through career fairs. Google management traineeand search Indeed.comusingthe same phrase to see some examples. Salary and Job Outlook InformationGlassdoorestimates that entry-level salaries for management trainees average about $54,656. TheBLS expects management jobs opportunities to expandby about 8% through 2026, an average rate of growth for all occupations. 6. SalespersonThe insight into consumer motivations and preferencesthatpsychology majorspossesscan help schlussverkaufpeople frame their product/service pitches with the right angles. Interpersonal skills help put customers at ease, and verbal skills help psych majors convey clear messages about products or services. Psychology majors qualify for sales positions and sales training programs directly out of college. Chances of landing a first job in sales are enhanced by some business coursework, psych projects related to business, and internships in a business setting. Many sales employers recruit through colleges so be sure to inquire about options through your campus career office. Salary Information and Job OutlookSales salariesvary greatly from industry to industry and by sales function. For example, the BLS rep orts that advertising salespersons earned an average of $49,680 wholesale sales workers earned an average of $60,340and securities salespeople earned an average of $63,780. The BLS expected sales jobs as a whole to grow at 3%, more slowly than average through 2026, but there will totenstill be 468,700 new jobs in this large category of employment. FundraiserFundraisers,likesalespeople,needtobesavvy with people. Psych majors are often good readers of people and have a sense of when to ask for a donation. They have the interviewing skills to draw out the interests that prospective donors have related to their organization and the communication skills to explain to donors how their contributions would advance the mission of their charity. Psychology majors shouldpursueon-campus positions (such as annual fund caller)intheircollegesdevelopment andalumni office to demonstrate their fundraising acumen. Also, consider coordinating campus fundraising campaigns for local charities or student organizations. Salary Information and Job OutlookThe BLS estimatedthat fundraisers earned an average of $55,640 in May 2017. Jobs were projected to expand by a much greater than average rate of 15% through 2026. 7. Market Research AnalystPsychology majors are trained to conduct research in a scientific manner. They have the ability to design studies, gather and analyze data,and summarize their conclusions. Psych majors gain knowledge in motivation and social psychology, which helps them understand how preferences for and attachments to products are formed by consumers.Interviewing skills, which psych majors develop while working with subjects for human studies, help them structure and carry out effective focus groups. Psych majors who aspire to be market researchers should consider a minor in business or economics and choose psych projects with a business orientation. Complete internships related to absatzwirtschaft to further your chances of being hired for positions in the field. Salary Information and Job OutlookThe BLS estimated thatmarket research analysts earnedan average of $63,230 in May 2017. Jobs were expected to grow by a much greater than average rate of 23% through 2026. 8. Public Relations SpecialistPublic Relations (PR) professionals need the psychology majors interpersonal skills to establish rapport with the media and convince them to publish stories about their organization or their clients organization. Psychology majors possess the interviewing skills used by PR professionals to gather information from staff to form the basis of press releases. They have the writing skills necessary to compose compelling stories in order to convince editors and reporters to cover developments with their client. PR professionals often have to intervene to resolve emerging image issues with an organization. Psych majors have the knowledge of how attitudes are formed through social psychology and the problem-solving skills to devise effective strategies to bui ld or repair a corporate image. Psychology majors aiming for a career in PR should take on writing intensive roles with student organizations, like the campus magazine/newspapers and complete writing-related internships. Experience organizing events on campus is also useful. Try to complete at least a few courses in business and marketing, as well. Salary Information and Job OutlookPublic relations specialistsearned an average of $59,300 according to the BLS.Further,the BLS estimated that jobs for public relations specialists would grow by 9% through 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. 9. Psychiatric AideA solid understanding of abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, and psychology of personality enable psychiatric aidestounderstand the conditions afflicting their patients and the instructions for care provided by psychiatric professionals. Interpersonal and communication skills help psych majors establish a rapport with patients and support treatment. Psych m ajors who hope to work as psychiatric aides after graduation should volunteer to work with clients or patients with psychological issues. Students should complete internships in a clinical setting as they advance to their junior year. Working as a peer counselor is another way to gain related experience. Most college grads use positions such as a mental health aide, psychiatric aide,or residential counselor as a short-term mechanism to gain clinical experience prior to graduate programs in counseling/clinical psych or social work. Salary Information and Job OutlookPsychiatric aides earned an average of $29,330,according to the BLS. The BLS estimated that jobs for psychiatric aides would grow by 6% through 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. 10. LawyerLitigators draw heavily on social psychology when they are involved with appraising the suitability and attitudes of potential jurors. Knowledge of motivation is essential when analyzing crime scenarios and selecting witnesses. Verbal, presentation, and persuasive skills are essentialinpresenting cases and influencing judges, jurors, and opposing attorneys. Since many cases are resolved outsideofthe courtroom, reading the mindset of the opposition and negotiating skills are essential for trial lawyers. Psych majors will benefit from taking someundergraduatelaw courses prior to law school to test their interest in and aptitude for legal analysis. Salary Information and Job OutlookThe BLS estimates thatthe median salary for attorneysin May 2017 was $119,250. Jobs were expected to grow by about 8%, an average rate for all occupations.