For a number of reasons (some fair, some less fair), it is not uncommon to get a negative reaction when you let someone know you’re majoring in/majored in psychology. Now, it is true in some cases that making the most of your degree in psychology requires going to grad school for a master’s degree or a PhD. However, that is not the case for all careers in psychology.
In addition, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is much more valuable than people give it credit for. In fact, a psychology degree can help you get a wide variety of jobs you might not have thought of. This article will discuss some of the jobs and careers available to people who have a bachelor’s degree in psychology that do not plan on pursuing a graduate degree.
A note about licensing and education requirements: Before we begin, I would like to point out that licensing and education requirements for many jobs in psychology vary substantially from state to state (and from country to country, though this article is aimed at readers in the United States). Therefore, obtaining the most accurate information for your specific situation will require you to explore the specific requirements of the state you intend to work in. However, this general information is still a good starting point for anyone looking to learn more about entry-level psychology careers.
Psychology-specific jobs and careers
Let us begin by discussing jobs that specifically involve psychology.
Behavior/Psychiatric technician
If you’ve ever searched Indeed or another job site for jobs seeking psychology graduates, you’ve likely come across postings for behavior technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, behavior technicians, who might also be called psychiatric technicians, “observe patients’ behavior and listen to their concerns”. Technicians might work in psychiatric hospitals, or they might make home visits to work with children or other people with certain disorders.
Depending on the specific position, the educational requirements for behavior/psychiatric technicians are quite achievable. For example, one might work as a psychiatric aide, which involves “car[ing] for patients whose illnesses make them disoriented, uncooperative, or violent” and generally only requires a high school diploma or equivalent. For psychiatric technicians, the requirements generally involve either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In addition, many positions will require specific certification or clinical experience, which can be gained in training programs.
Being a behavior/psychiatric technician can be extremely demanding, and many positions are likely to be undercompensated. However, for those with a passion for helping and working with other people, it can be a rewarding job that in most cases does not require a graduate degree. This is just one example of a job you can get in psychology with a bachelor’s degree or even an associate’s degree.
Counselor
People who want to use their psychology training to help other people sometimes think that their options are limited to becoming a therapist or psychiatrist, positions which generally require at least a master’s degree. However, in many cases, one can become licensed as a counselor with nothing higher than a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are many states in which people can become substance abuse counselors or behavioral disorder counselors with a bachelor’s degree (or even less education), while mental health counselors are likely to need more education, such as a master’s degree.
Still, that leaves a lot of opportunities to become a counselor for people who have earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and do not intend to pursue a graduate degree. Like many jobs in psychology, an interested applicant might still need to have completed certain licensing requirements or clinical work, but these are generally more accessible than master’s programs or doctorate programs. In addition, someone with a master’s degree will have more opportunities available to them in this area, but there are still a variety of options for people with bachelor’s degrees.
Research assistant
Finally, there are a lot of research assistant jobs available to people with bachelor’s degrees in psychology. You might think that most research assistant jobs are parts of educational programs, as is the case with graduate assistants. However, there are plenty of opportunities for people with bachelor’s degrees who are not pursuing higher degrees, as evidenced by an Indeed search for “research assistant psychology”.
Some of these positions prefer applicants to have prior research experience. Therefore, if you are still earning your undergraduate degree, I suggest you get as much research experience as you can, since it will greatly strengthen the value of your degree. Even if you do not have substantial research experience, though, it is worth looking into research assistant jobs because you likely still have some of the necessary tools they are looking for (like research design, presentation skills, etc.).
Non-psychology-specific jobs and careers
Now let us look at jobs that do not specifically involve psychology but for which a psychology degree is considered a major asset.
Human resources jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many people who end up in human resources (H.R.) positions got there by studying human resources itself, business management, or education. However, a background in psychology (and organizational psychology in particular) is a perfect match for H.R. jobs, since they mostly involve interacting with humans in a healthy manner. In fact, searching Indeed for “human resources psychology” will show you just how many H.R. jobs would be happy to employ a psychology graduate.
A successful H.R. manager will also need to be aware of the laws and regulations to which the company they work for are subject. That does not mean that someone needs to go to law school to be an H.R. manager, though. Instead, a prospective candidate can undergo optional licensing and certification to strengthen their knowledge and their application.
Marketing jobs
Marketing jobs are even more likely to welcome an applicant with a background in psychology than H.R. jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that marketing managers should have degrees in advertising or journalism, with a background in business or math also being helpful. Again, though, searching Indeed for “marketing psychology” shows that many firms are also looking to hire psychology graduates as marketing managers.
That search also shows that businesses hiring copy editors and copywriters are often welcoming to people with bachelor’s degrees in psychology. Although people can specifically study business or advertising in college, many smaller companies and start-ups will be just as happy with someone who studied psychology. In general, if a job listing appears to be interested in someone with communication skills or “people skills”, a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology would certainly not be wasting their time by applying.
Operations research analyst
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that operations research analysts “use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help solve complex issues”. As one example, they might be hired by a company that is looking for ways to improve its business strategy. The BLS also states that a prospective operations research analyst should have a background in a quantitative field. Certain fields of psychology are more quantitative than others, though, meaning that a psychology degree could be more than justified in an application for such a position.
On top of that, many psychology programs involve an extensive education in statistical analysis. A candidate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and experience in research design and statistical analysis is not likely to be dismissed during a job search for an operations research analyst if they know how to properly present their background. This is another key of applying to non-psychology jobs with a bachelor’s degree in psychology: if you emphasize the specific skills you have from your educational background in psychology, you can overcome any perceived weaknesses in your application regarding your degree.
Public relations jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public relations specialists “typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business”. However, businesses that are looking for applicants with degrees in these fields are often looking for people with backgrounds in psychology too. This can also be confirmed with an Indeed search for “public relations psychology”. Remember, even if a job does not specifically ask for people with psychology degrees, many psychology degrees are similar enough to the degrees they are asking for, and as long as you justify why your psychology background qualifies you for a position you will not be wasting your time by applying.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology is useful
At the end of the day, a bachelor’s degree in psychology opens up a wide variety of career and job opportunities, with those listed here representing a small sample. While additional certification and licensing might be necessary in some cases, it is not necessary to obtain a master’s degree or a PhD to pursue a career in psychology, despite common perceptions. As one final piece of advice, keep in mind that a degree in psychology allows you to apply for most jobs looking for a background in the social sciences (even if they do not specifically list psychology), and that the key is presenting your background in a manner that shows that your background is a fit for the job. Depending on your specific educational background in psychology, the same may also be true for jobs seeking applicants with quantitative backgrounds.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Human Resources Managers. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Operations Research Analysts. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Psychiatric Technicians and Aides. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/psychiatric-technicians-and-aides.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Public Relations Specialists. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. In Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2019, from: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm
