Careers opportunities for Psych Graduates.

notmeagain

Hey,

I will be graduating with a bachelors degree in Psychology in 2007, I would like to work in Ireland for a year or so before deciding on any postgrad study. I have no particular preferences about what kind of job I would like to do at the moment, Does anyone have any personal experiences of companies who actively hire psychology graduates?? Don't want to end up working a minimum wage job even though I have a degree and career guidance is almost non-existant in my college, I was just handed a gradireland dictionary today when I raised this issue..

Any help really appreciated...

Myksyk

Can you clarify if you want to go on to study a postgraduate degree in psychology. What are you longer-term plans?

notmeagain

I am not sure at the moment if I will study Psychology at postgrad level. I had previously looked into Educational and Forensic Psychology but I don't feel I am sure enough about either of these to make a decision now. Basically I want to spend a year or so making decent money and assessing my options for the future. If I could get work in a Psychology related area that would be great but its not essential. Thinking maybe of doing some volunteer youth/community work to see if I would be suited to an area like Educational Psychology but I would need a paid job aswell as this.

Myksyk

Can't say that I know if there are companies that hire psychology grads in particular. I would have been able to be of more help if you were going on to postgrad level perhaps. Sorry.

LilMrsDahamsta

notmeagain wrote:

I have no particular preferences about what kind of job I would like to do at the moment, Does anyone have any personal experiences of companies who actively hire psychology graduates??

I work in an area related to this question; I'm not aware of any Irish companies which target psychology graduates. Most Irish companies/organisations have quite a fixed idea of the target graduates for most roles, based on the fit of the skills graduates have from particular courses to the role in question. As psychology graduates have few practical skills directly and immediately applicable in the real world, they are not usually in a good position when competing with graduates from business courses (e.g. accounting, finance, HR), or social work/education/healthcare courses.

Personal contacts with senior professionals, targeted cover letters which illustrate the fit of your skills to the role you are applying for, and considering applying for assistant psychologist roles in the UK will all improve your chances of success.

JuliusCaesar

One of the guys in my graduating class went on to become a poet.
(It's true!)

notmeagain

Thanks for the help everyone, decided to go away for the summer anyway and to try and find some form of employment when I come back in September...Don't know if my degree will even help me in this task but i'll have to wait and see...