Applying for Jobs
Approximately 80% of the 74,000 psychology majors who graduate each year with a bachelor's degree seek employment after graduation. Although a bachelor's degree in psychology does not prepare its owner to be a psychologist, there are an almost limitless number of psychology-related jobs that psychology majors can enter. Psychology-related jobs are those that require the skills that psychology majors can acquire if they take full advantage of the opportunities provided by their undergraduate education.
Job Skills
The ability to speak articulately and convincingly, to write clearly and logically, to think critically and creatively, to identify and solve problems, and to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills are the talents that employers look for during the hiring process. Job Skills Valued by Employers Who Interview Psychology Majors is an article that reports the specific types of skills that employers look for when they interview psychology majors. The internet has become an amazing source of information for job seekers, and you will find a long list of websites that can help you to identify, understand, choose, and apply for jobs at Internet Sources of Information for Job-Seeking Psychology Majors. These sites will help you to accomplish the following job-related activities.
- discover the types of jobs available to psychology majors
- decide what career is right for you
- write an effective resume and cover letter
- choose an appropriate outfit for your interviews
- anticipate the questions interviewers are likely to ask
- take advantage of job fairs
- be aware of career-related workshops on campus
- find what jobs are available
- develop a network
Occupations of Interest for Psychology Majors
Another very valuable source of information for job seekers is Occupations of Interest to Psychology Majors From the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. This list contains concise descriptions of 130 occupations that psychology majors can and have entered. These descriptions are composed of the skills that people employed in these occupations must be capable of demonstrating on-the-job. The advantage of this type of skill-centered description is that it enables job-seeking psychology majors to (1) choose the classes and extracurricular activities that can help them to develop these skills during their undergraduate careers and then (2) be able to prove their possession of these skills by providing appropriate evidence on resumes and during interviews. The bottom line of any job interview is, "Do you possess the skills that are required to perform competently in this job?" The information in this document will provide you with a list of these skills so you are ready and able to answer this question. A final valuable source of information is a PowerPoint presentation titled JagJobs, which describes the online career exploration site provided by the IUPUI Career Center.