How To Monetize A Psych Degree

Like most psychology majors, I started out pursuing a degree in clinical psychology. I had just finished my associate’s degree and was fortunate enough to attend the APA conference in San Francisco as a guest of Dr. Reneau Kennedy. Of all the things I learned at that conference, one major takeaway was that a bachelor’s degree in psychology is only the beginning. I left the conference eager to get my doctorate in psychology, but quickly realized it wasn’t in the cards for me to do so. At least not yet. If you’re reading this and you relate, I have great news: you can turn a four year degree in psychology into a career.

At the start of the COVID pandemic, I was looking to move out of the Fresno area. I applied for a job within my company on the east coast in the financial sector having no experience in finance, so I was surprised when I got an interview. At the end of the interview, the hiring manager said, “I don’t mind that you don’t have experience, I need team members who know how to communicate, and I’ve had success with psychology majors”. This was the first time my psychology degree was recognized, and it was not in a traditional “psych field”. To make a bachelors in psychology work for you, you have to break down your education / experience into core components.

The average salary for a licensed social worker, a common career for those with a four-year degree in psychology, is around $75k per year . The average salary for a senior manager is double that. Both jobs share roughly the same core components:

• Analyze and solve complex problems

• Effectively communicate (both oral and written communication)

• Display teamwork skills

• Think critically and display analytical reasoning skills 

• Show ethical judgment and strong decision-making skills 

• Demonstrate technology skills

List developed through Hart Research’s Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success (PDF, 317KB)

Many psychology majors find successful careers in sales, management, education, and finance. In my previous role, my psych degree prepped me to make a culture shift. In my current job, it prepped me to improve communication with our government customer. I’m also a substitute teacher in my spare time. If you’ve ever had to organize a room full of 30 teenagers, you can imagine how a background in psychology is very useful. My resume reflects not only the technical skills I developed, but also skills in culture, communication, and education.

The functional resume is perhaps your best friend, especially if you’re fresh out of school with no work experience. The resume we’re all used to is referred to as a chronological resume. It lists your employers and universities in chronological order. The functional resume puts your skills ahead of your experience. Using sales as an example (I have never worked in sales), my functional resume would look like this:

Sales

Lockheed Martin - Brand Ambassador for the F-35 JSF program, providing guidance on aircraft capability and endurance to the US military customer.

Rotary International - Social Media Chair, utilizing social media for recruitment and collaboration with other clubs, educating local community on RI outreach programs.

University of Auburn - Researched / authored an intervention for the City of Clinton Police Department to reduce cost through employee training.

In the first example, the military already bought the aircraft, but I played a part in ensuring the customer was satisfied with the product. In the second example, I never sold a product, but I did sell an idea (community involvement, civic duty, etc). In the last example, I used a project I did within my graduate program to “sell” a cost-reducing training program. Using a functional resume is a great way to amplify the skills you’ve learned in psychology. While you may not need “work” experience, volunteer experience is a great resume-filler and can often lead to job opportunities.

My counterpart in the previous role where I was hired due to my psychology degree had a master’s in sports psychology. I’m quite sure it was her excellent communication skills that made a good impression on our boss. She didn’t start out with planning experience either, but she had been heavily involved with the Boys and Girls Club of America. I’ve been a Rotarian since 2016 and it has provided me with experience I would never get anywhere else. In any town, there are non-profits desperate for someone to take over a project, train workers, or change the culture. This is where we psych majors really shine.

Finally, there is what I like to call “blending”. For those willing to go beyond a four year degree, but not keen on licensure as a psychologist, there are other programs that can be paired (or “blended”) with a bachelor’s in psychology. Business is a great route for a graduate program, whether via an MSIOP (Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology) graduate program, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), or certification in project management (PMP). Some universities, such as the University of Hartford in Connecticut, allow you to earn a duel-masters in both MBA and MSIOP within the same program. Human Resource Management (HRM) is also a high-paying field that is in high demand currently and benefits from a background in psychology.

Psychology is a field with many unique specializations, but it can also be the foundation of other pursuits. A coworker once told me that we choose jobs based on three criteria: the money, the location, or the intrinsic satisfaction of the job itself. When considering what to do with your psychology degree, consider what you want most. Picture yourself in the ideal job in five years, then arrange the components of your experience and education in such a way that it highlights the skills needed for that position. A psychology degree is like a sword: anyone can get one, but not everyone knows how to wield it. Wield your degree well, and you’ll find the right career.

References:

Stamm, K., Lin, L., & Christidis, P. (2016, June 1). What do people do with their psychology degrees? Monitor on Psychology, 47(6). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/06/datapoint