The American Psychological Association provides an excellent discussion of careers (including job prospects) in various areas of psychology at the following website: http://www.apa.org/topics/psychologycareer.htm
Career services are located in the Idaho Commons, Room 334, or click here to visit their website.
Why Visit Career services?
- Pick up a “Planning Job Choices” magazine for step-by-step advice
- They have their very own reference library to help match you up with the perfect job.
- You can make appointments to meet with an advisor for more personal attention
- They can conduct mock interviews with you.
- They can set up interviews with prospective employers.
- They hold workshops to offer insight and info on career planning and placement.
- They publish on-going job listings in business, industry, government, elementary secondary education, and higher education (also available on line at their site.
Some Advice for getting started in a career.
- Identify you strengths and weaknesses.
- Pinpoint your interests and match them with your strengths.
- What you are good at may differ from what you are interested in doing.
- Clarify you values, specifically what matters – making a lot of money, felling that you have made a difference, working as part of a team or alone, what?
- Look at the overlap of your strengths, interests, and values.
Top 10 Personal Qualities Employers Seek in Job Candidates (in order of preference).
- Communication Skills
- Motivation/Initiative
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Academic achievement/GPA
- Interpersonal Skills
- Flexibility/Adaptability
- Technical Skills
- Honesty/Integrity
- Work Ethic and Analytical Problem Solving Skills (tied)
Top Employers of Candidates with Non-technical degrees.
- Consulting services
- Financial services
- Educational services
- Retail/Wholesale
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- Banking (investment)
- Communications – broadcasting or telecommunications
- Insurance
- Transportation
Helpful book for making career decisions: Occupational Outlook Handbook: published by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable labor market info, detailed info on over 250 jobs, gives details for entry requirements, and opportunities for advancement; U of I owns a copy on the first floor reference documents, or it is available online at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
For other good books with psychology career information visit psych web’s annotated bibliography http://www.psywww.com/careers/gradbook.htm APA’s description of careers for the 21st century, job outlook for all types of degree candidates, how to prepare for work in psych http://www.apa.org/students/brochure/index.html