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Psychology

Career Opportunities and Outcomes

 

AREASEMPLOYERSSTRATEGIES

HUMAN SERVICES

Counseling

Advocacy

Mental Health Services

 Federal government, Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, Veterans Administration, State government, Departments of Human Services, Mental Health & Mental Retardation, Community mental health centers, State psychiatric hospitals, Facilities for mentally impaired, Probation and parole, Local government, Senior citizens' centers, United Way agencies/local branches of national nonprofit organizations including: YMCA/YWCA, Goodwill Industries, Boys and Girls Clubs, Religiously-affiliated service organizations Obtain essential practical experience: Find part-time or summer jobs, e.g., camp counselor, resident hall advisor. Plan internship or practicum placements for academic credit. Get volunteer experiences, e.g., Hotline, Big Brother/Sister, Special Olympics, Psychiatric Hospital, Service Fraternity/Sorority. Pursue excellent academic record. Become fluent in foreign language spoken by multi-cultural clients. Be willing to relocate. Obtain graduate degree for substantive counseling work. Become familiar with government hiring procedures.
ADMINISTRATION Federal, state and local government, National headquarters and local branches of Non-Profit Organizations Consider business minor or double major. Get experience in counseling or advocacy. Need related master's degree for advancement.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS Federal, state and local government Local branches of national Non-Profit Organizations Obtain experience in counseling, advocacy, or administration. Acquire knowledge of community problems and government resources.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Federal, state and local government National headquarters and local branches of Non-Profit organizations Acquire experience in counseling, advocacy or administration. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
RESEARCH Federal government Dept. of Health and Human Services National Institute of Education Office of Naval Research National headquarters of non-profit organizations Universities and colleges Work with a professor on his or her research project. Develop strong quantitative and statistical skills. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
HUMAN RESOURCES

Employment

Recruitment

Labor Relations

Compensation

Benefits

 Human Resources (Personnel) departments of companies Government personnel agencies and departments Employment agencies Acquire related experience as Resident Hall advisor, New Student Orientation Advisor, Admissions office tour guide or recruiter. Find committee work in policy making or settling disputes. Supplement curriculum with business courses.
PUBLIC RELATIONS

Research

Programming

Writing and editing

Special Events

Media Placement

Public Speaking

Fund-raising

 Public relations and advertising firms Companies with in-house public relations departments Trade associations Federal, state and local government Colleges and universities Non-profit organizations Develop strong writing and speaking skills. Obtain related experience with campus newspaper, TV, or radio. Serve as admissions office tour guide. Serve as fund-raiser or political canvasser. Find internship through campus chapter of Public Relations Society of America.
ADVERTISING

Creative

Media

Account Services

Research

 Advertising agencies Companies with in-house advertising agencies or departments Obtain relevant experience with campus newspaper, TV, or radio. Work with student-run business. Find internship with market research or advertising firm. Develop portfolio for creative positions. Plan business minor or double major for account services positions.
MARKET RESEARCH Market research firms Market research departments of consumer goods manufacturing firms Develop strong background in math/statistics. Become involved in American Marketing Association. Obtain related experience: Get part-time or summer field service experience with market research firm. (see "Marketing Services" in Yellow Pages). Obtain business research practicum experience. Become reporter for campus newspaper. Serve as canvasser/phone interviewer for charity or political campaign.
TEACHING Public and private schools Colleges and universities Obtain teaching certificate for public school positions; dual certification will increase marketability. Seek guidance from education department of your school. Secure strong personal recommendations. Volunteer as a tutor. PhD required for post-secondary teaching.
RETAILING

Management

Buying

 All major retail firms including: drug specialty variety department store chains Obtain related sales experience. Secure leadership position in campus organization. Find internship with individual or chain store.
SALES Retailers Wholesalers Manufacturers Insurance companies Real estate companies Obtain sales experience. Take business courses.

 

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1992, Revised 1999) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer