Whether you go on for additional training or start your career with a BA—is that organizations are looking for a fit between you and their jobs. Employers want to know three things:
- Can you do the work?
- Will you be happy doing the work?
- Do you have experience in the field?
Providing an answer to these questions is up to you--and under your control.
1. Can you do the work? You demonstrate that you can do the work through the courses you have chosen to complete, how well you have done in them and through other activities and experiences that you have had. Organizations tend to view students with a liberal arts B.A. degree as generalists and not specialists. A liberal arts background provides key skills including: research, critical and analytical thinking, and creativity. Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor, suggests that these are some of the necessary skills to find work in the 21st century. Employers desire workers with an ability to be flexible, adapt to change, and who are open to feedback. The ability to convey one's assets to a prospective employer will enhance the opportunities for finding satisfying work. Take a close look at the unique skills that are gained with a B.A. in Psychology. Use this list in cover letters or interviews with prospective employers to articulate the breadth of knowledge and skills you can bring to an organization.
Combinations of psychology course work with other courses that lead more directly to employment at the bachelor's degree level are the best choices for psychology majors. Depending on what area you would like to pursue, you might consider two or more courses in at least one of other areas or a minor which is typically six classes in a given area.Back to the top
2. Will you be happy doing the work? You demonstrate that you know what you want in two ways: know yourself and know about the world of work. Knowing yourself means knowing what you enjoy doing, do well and value doing. An undergraduate liberal arts degree is the best possible way to learn about yourself—explore your world, have rare adventures, test your interests in a variety of areas, gain some experience and reflect on what you have learned. You may find that you need more help in determining your interests and direction. Use University resources such as the CLA Career and Community Learning Center, take an interest inventory, interview people about their work and the organizations in which they work, read and pay attention to information about different jobs and different kinds of organizations.
The Keirsey Character Sorter is a free assessment of your personality which defines sixteen personality types or one of four temperaments. Information about is assessment tool can be found at: http://www.advisorteam.net/AT/User/kcs.asp OR http://keirsey.com/
The SDS (Self-Directed-Search) can help you find careers or educational programs that match your own skills and interests. The test takes only 15 minutes to complete online and costs $9.95. The results link you to the Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes (DHOC) and over 12,000 occupational titles related to your interest. You can find the self directed search at: http://www.self-directed-search.comBack to the top
3. Do you have Experience in the Field? The importance of previous experience cannot be stressed enough. Gaining both academic and nonacademic experience is strongly recommended. Volunteering, internships, working on research, or part-time paid experiences provide useful training and job skills for later full-time employment. Supervision on the job by a professional may lead to recommendations for other jobs. Even if past work experience is not directly related to a career, it demonstrates a realistic notion of the responsibilities and demands of a job. You have the opportunity to gain these experiences and fulfill your elective credits in psychology at the same time. Find out how to work on a research project or an internship within your major.
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Updated 7/13/05