Careers

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Careers

• after a Degree in Psychology
• Careers in Psychology Event
• Presentation by Dr Max Gwynn
• Undergraduate Academic Advisor
• Department of Psychology, WLU
• January 2007

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• What can you do with a degree in Psychology?

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A Career in Psychology Skills

• An Arts or Science undergraduate degree allows
  students to develop many skills that are useful
  both in everyday life and the work place.
• See
• The Pursuing Psychology Career Page
• from Indiana State University for a description
  of skills that employers look for when hiring.

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A Career in Psychology Skills

• Psychology students develop valuable skills such
  as
• Data Collection
• Collect, Organize, and
• Interpret Data
• Experimental Designs
• Fieldwork and Observation
• Interviewing Skills
• Test and Questionnaire
• Construction and Administration

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A Career in Psychology Skills

• Analytic, Numeric and Computer Skills
• Training in data analysis and interpretation
• Computer skills such as the use of statistical
  and graphics software, spreadsheets
• Information-Gathering and
• Communication Skills
• Essays
• Experimental Reports
• Presentations

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A Career in Psychology Skills

• Thinking, Organizing and Decision-Making Skills
• Ability to learn, understand, and interpret
  information
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and
  effectively manage time, data, and resources
• Ability to make well-reasoned decisions, and to
  consider different opinions before making up mind
  
• People Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Group Work
• Leadership Skills

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Career Planning and Job Search

• Upon graduation, the majority of students chose
  to enter the workforce
• Students should identify positions/careers they
  are interested in pursuing, then explore the
  qualifications required to obtain such jobs

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Positions Obtained by Psychology MajorsPotential
Employers
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Positions Obtained by Psychology Majors Mental
Health/Social Services Area
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Positions Obtained by Psychology Majors Business
Area (an Admin. Option would be helpful)
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Positions Obtained by Psychology MajorsOther
Positions
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Career Planning and Job SearchWhats the career
for me?

• Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) provides
  an abundance of knowledge related to seeking and
  finding employment.
• The following website links provide information
  on career planning tools and resources, job
  outlooks, labour market trends, job postings,
  profiles of occupations, etc.
• Human Resources Development Canada
  http//hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
• The National Job Bank
  http//jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
• Canada WorkInfoNet
  http//www.workinfonet.ca
• Job Futures
  http//jobfutures.ca
• Jobs, Workers, Training and Careers
  http//hrdcdrhc.gc.ca/menu/jobs.shtml

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After Graduation with a General or Honours Degree

• Some students choose to further their education
  and training prior to entering the workforce

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College Information

• Often, students with a Bachelors degree in
  Psychology have gone on to complete a college
  program
• a combination of a three- or four-year BA with a
  one- or two-year college diploma or certificate
  may set you up for a number of interesting career
  opportunities.
• Check out some college web pages
• http//www.ontariocolleges.ca
• http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/list/college.
  html
• Conestoga college has several programs to be
  considered by Psych graduates (e.g., Business,
  Community Services, Human Resources Management,
  Health Sciences, Liberal Sciences including
  Teaching English as a Second Language)
• http//www.conestogac.on.ca/jsp/programs/index.jsp

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Continuing Education- For Disciplines Other Than
Psychology

• A number of Psychology undergraduate students
  choose to pursue graduate studies in other areas
  either at the college or university level.
• Examples of continuing education at the college
  level include
•  

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Positions Obtained by Psychology Majors
Professional Programs at the University level
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Other Sources of Information

• You may also want to check out The Ontario
  Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application
  Service
• ORPAS http//www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/
• This is a centralized application service for
• Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy,
• Occupational Therapy,
• Audiology (AUD) and Speech-Language Pathology

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After Graduation with a Psych Honours Research
Specialist Degree

• Some students choose to further their education
  at the graduate level

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Graduate Programs in Psychology

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Career options for Psychology Masters or PhD
graduates

• Careers are quite diverse and include

• Faculty members
• Research scientists
• Clinical psychologists
• Counselling psychologists
• Psychometrists

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More career options for Psychology Masters or
PhD graduates

• Health psychologists
• Clinical Neuropsychologists
• Educational psychologists
• Industrial/Organizational
• psychologists
• Senior administrators

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WLU Career Services

• Career Services here on campus
• (232 King Street, 1st floor)
• also have loads of material on career planning

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Further Career Information

• E-mail Max Gwynn at mgwynn_at_wlu.ca
• Include Career Information in subject line
• Youll receive documents with many links related
  to careers for Psychology majors

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Questions?

• Consider making an appointment
• for academic advising
• Contact Ann Reid in the Psych Office (N2006) to
  set up an appointment with the Undergraduate
  Academic Advisor