Psychology: Now What?
About the Field of Psychology
Widely speaking, the field of psychology is defined by a calling to help people, using knowledge of how the health of human brains and social interactions influence our emotional sense of well-being, our self-identity, and our behavior.
Psychology students focusing on neuroscience and earning the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in psychology often find work in the research field, advancing our knowledge of how humans really are. They often start as research coordinators, doing the work of finding and qualifying human subjects, administering surveys or cognitive tests, and managing the paperwork that goes along with a professional research project. Those who wish to themselves propose and run research projects of their own will need to attend graduate school.
Most professional counseling positions, including psychiatrist, psychologist, and licensed social worker require additional specialized education beyond a bachelor’s degree. However, there are a wide range of other occupations and fields that seek out insightful people with a psychology bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree, including social services, public affairs, administrative support, education, business, sales, allied health, software design, and human resources.
Quick Facts: Psychologists
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments.
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2021 Median Pay: $81,040 per year
- Entry-Level Education: See how to become one
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Internship/residency
- Number of Jobs, 2020: 178,900
- Job Outlook, 2020-30: 8% (As fast as average)
- Employment Change, 2020-30: 13,500
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
Here’s a quick sample of varied jobs that psychology undergrads might find:
- Community Relations Officer: works either for business or government in promoting good relations with the local community.
- Affirmative Action Officer: works for recruitment and equal opportunities for minorities; employed by business, industries, schools and government.
- Management Trainee: plans and supervises operations of a business concern.
- Urban Planning Officer: deals with city planning, renewal.
- Personnel Administrator: works with employee relations, selection, promotions, etc.
- Advertising Copywriter: researches audience and media, writes text of advertisements.
- Media Buyer: researches products and audiences to select most effective media for advertising.
- Health Educator: gives public information about health and disease.
- Psychological Technician: administers routine tests, helps with patients under supervision of a psychologist.
- Director of Volunteer Service: recruits, supervises, trains and evaluates volunteers.
- Public Statistician: collects and interprets data on health and disease and community relations.
- Customs Inspector: serves at international borders and airports in investigations and inquiries.
- Probation/Parole Officer: persons with psychology backgrounds are often preferred for such positions, especially with adolescent parolees.
- Technical Writer: researches and writes material dealing with social science for magazines, newspapers, and journals.
- Sales Representative: major publishers of psychological books often seek out undergraduates with psychology majors for these positions on college campuses.
- Opinion Survey Researcher: does opinion polls and interprets results.
- Daycare Center Supervisor: supervises and coordinates activities of preschool children with working parents.
- Research Assistant: assists in the collection and analysis of data for major investigations. Positions usually available only in large hospitals, businesses, and government.
- Laboratory Assistant: psychology background preferred for students working with animal behavior research, especially primate laboratories.
- Scientific Instrument Salesperson: opportunities in sales and development for companies specializing in psychology apparatus.
Here are some more occupations in some of the broad field categories that seek psychology undergrads:
Human Services
- Direct Care
- Counseling
- Art Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Case Management
- Mental Health Services
- Physical Health and Wellness
- Crisis Work
- Rehabilitation Services
-
Performance Enhancement
- Testing/Assessment
- Law Enforcement
Neuroscience
- Research
- Teaching
- Medicine
- Life Sciences
Education
- Teaching
- Adult Learning/Community Instruction, e.g. GED classes, life skills, parenting, etc.
- Information/Library Science
- Higher Education Administration and Student Support Services including:
- 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
Occupational
- Counseling
- Education
- Wellness Promotion
- Organizational Development
- Assessment
- Human Resources
- Healthcare Case Management
- Counseling
- Prevention and Education
- Program Development
- Administration
- Research
- Child Life Specialists
- Hospice Care
- Rehabilitation
- Wellness Promotion
International
- Peace Corps Volunteer/Staffer
- Analyst, CIA
- International Research Specialist
- Foreign Service Officer
- Agent, International Bureau, FBI
- Consultant to Multinational Corporations
- International Correspondent
- International Nonprofit positions (various)
- United Nations positions
- Civil Military consultant
- WorldTeach, JET, or other field experience
Career Counseling and Human Resources
- Individual and/or Group Counseling
- Assessment
- Career Planning
- Job Searching
- Employee Evaluation
- Program Development
- Outplacement
Business and Industry
- Sales
- Customer Service
- Public Relations
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Product Design
- Management
- Insurance
- Claims Management
- Underwriting
- Real Estate
- Property Management
Who Could You Work For?
- Analysis / Forecasting Firms
- Banks / Credit Unions
- Economic Research Institutions
- Environmental Protection Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- International Trade Companies
- Investment Dealers
- Management Consulting Firms
- Market Research Houses
- Real Estate Agencies
- Statistical Research Firms
- Hospitals
- Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs
- Group homes
- Community mental health organizations
- Law Enforcement
- Education: K-12 or Higher Education
- Government Agencies (Local, State and federal)
- Multiple Business Sectors
- Think Tanks/Research Institutions
- Media
- Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs) and International Non-Profit Organizations (INGOs)
- Hospitals/Medical Centers/Healthcare Industry
- Consulting Firms
- Residential treatment facilities
- Outpatient facilities
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- Private or group practices
Selection of Employers for recent (2019-2022) UMass Amherst Psychology alumni:
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- ArcLight Consulting, Inc.
- Autism Learning Partners
- Barton Associates
- Bay State Community Services
- Baystate Health System
- Beacon ABA Services
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- BlackRock
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Brigham and Women's Hospital - Brigham Research Institute
- Bright Horizons
- Brightview Senior Living
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
- Center for Applied Behavior Analysis (CABA)
- Center for Women and Community
- Clinical & Support Options Inc.
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Correction
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Developmental Services
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Franciscan Children's
- Leonard Morse Hospital
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
- May Institute, Inc.
- McLean Hospital
- Melmark New England
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Open Sky Community Services
- Ora, Inc.
- Oracle
- Proctor & Gamble (P&G)
- RCS Learning Center
- Riverside Community Care
- The New England Center for Children
- TJX Companies
- Tufts Medical Center
- Yale Child Study Center
- Yale School of Medicine
Top Employers of UMass Psychology Majors after Graduation 2008-2018:
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Brigham & Women’s Hospital
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- University of Massachusetts Medical School
- McLean Hospital
- Boston Public Schools
- ServiceNet
- Riverside Community Care
- MEDITECH Medical Information Technology
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Selection of previous internship sites as self-reported by UMass Amherst Psychology students.
Professional Associations
Contain important insider’s knowledge and vocabulary used in the field, as well as some job search links and other important information.
National Institute of Mental Health
National Association of Social Workers
Association for Psychological Science
Some Real Life Internships of UMass Psychology Majors:
- 4-H Center for Youth Development
- Amherst Regional Public Schools
- Bay Cove Human Services
- Berkshire County Jail and House of Corrections
- Boston University Child Cognition Lab
- Criterion Heritage Early Intervention
- Dedham Police Department
- Hampden County District Attorney's Office
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- King & Bishop
- MGH Aspire
- Multi-service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA)
- National Consumer Law Center
- National Organization on Disability
- New York Children's Center
- Northwestern District Attorney's Office
- Partners HealthCare
- Pfizer
- REACH Early Intervention
- The PEAR Institute: Partnerships in Education and Resilience
- ServiceNet Inc
- Amherst (Town of)
- Behavioral Health Network
- Berkshire Hills Music Academy
- Birthday Wishes
- Brain Balance Achievement Center
- Brattleboro Retreat
- Common School(Amherst)
- Cutchins Programs for Children/Families
- Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority
- Full Circle Adoptions
- Henry Gets Moving
- Her Campus
- Lahey Clinic
- May Institute
- Center for Health Promotion (UMass)
- Renaissance School
- Disability Services (UMass)
- WGGB-TV CH 40
- Newman Center (UMass)
- UMass Medical School Cancer Research Lab
- Riverside Industries (RSI)
Actual Job Titles Attained With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology:
- ABA Counselor
- Administrative Case Manager
- Advertising Sales Assistant
- Assistant Buyer
- Behavior Support Assistant
- Care Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Case Worker
- Clinical Research Assistant
- Counselor
- Counselor Advocate
- Customer Service Representative
- Direct Support
- Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist
- Educational Treatment Counselor
- Employment Specialist Field Representative
- Foreign Teacher
- Healthcare Representative
- Intake Coordinator
- Intensive Case Manager
- Investigator
- IT Recruiter
- Journalist
- Life Skills Trainer
- Mental Health
- Mental Health Counselor
- Milieu Counselor
- Nutrition Counselor
- Officer – US Air Force
- Paraeducator (high school)
- Patient Services Coordinator
- Pharmacy Technician
- Play Therapist Region
- Preschool Teacher
- Probation Officer
- Project Coordinator for UG Study in Psych
- Purchasing Analyst
- Recreation Aide – Kids Peace
- Research Assistant
- Research Program Assistant
- Residential Counselor
- School Base Behavioral Health Worker
- Second Lieutenant -- US Air Force
- Secret Service
- Service Worker
- Special Education Aide
- Special Education Development Center/Princeton
- Substitute Teacher
- Support Staff/Access Services
- Teacher
- Teaching Assistant
- Therapeutic Staff
- U.S. Army Reserves (Recruiter/Qualifications Officer)
- USMC Officer
- Volunteer/Carpenter - AmeriCorps Volunteer - Mercy Volunteer Corps
- Youth Counselor
Important Qualities to Include on Your Resume
- Analytical skills. Psychologists must examine the information they collect and draw logical conclusions.
- Communication skills. Psychologists must have strong communication skills because they spend much of their time listening to and speaking with patients or describing their research.
- Integrity. Psychologists must keep patients’ problems in confidence, and patients must be able to trust psychologists’ expertise in treating sensitive problems.
- Interpersonal skills. Psychologists study and help individuals, so they must be able to work well with clients, patients, and other professionals.
- Observational skills. Psychologists study attitude and behavior. They must understand the possible meanings of facial expressions, body positions, actions, and interactions.
- Patience. Psychologists must demonstrate patience, because conducting research or treating patients may take a long time.
- Problem-solving skills. Psychologists need problem-solving skills to collect information, design research, evaluate programs, and find treatments or solutions to mental and behavioral problems.
What Do Employers Look For?
(Source: NACE Job Outlook 2022, Courtesy of the National Association of College and Employers | www.naceweb.org)
Top 10 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume
- Problem-solving skills
- Analytical/quantitative skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Initiative
- Strong work ethic
- Technical skills
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Detail-oriented
- Leadership
7 Things That Give You an Advantage in the Job Market
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- Leadership position
- General work experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)