Psychology is a term used to describe a wide range of career possibilities such as a psychiatrist, marriage counselor, social worker, and psychologist itself. There is a lot of studies involved, and many years of hard work to obtain the qualifications needed, but despite the hard work (or perhaps because of it), this can be a hugely rewarding career path to take. If you think it might be the right one for you, here are some ways to get started.
Get A Degree
If you want to become a psychologist, you will need a number of different qualifications, and it all starts with a bachelors degree. If you are leaving high school and want to go into psychology, then you will need to search for a college where you can apply for a bachelors degree in the area that interests you most. If you are looking at changing careers and can’t give up your current job just yet, turning to online colleges such as TUW online means you can balance studying with your current job.
Once you have your bachelor’s degree, you will need to start working on your masters, and after that, you will need a specialist qualification in the area you wish to work in. These include:
- Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
- PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)
- EdD
- EdS
Do More Than Go To Class
To get the most out of your education and to stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for a job – or starting your own practice – you will need to do more than ‘just’ go to class. The more you study on your own time, the more experience and knowledge you will gain. It will be hard work, of course, but it will all be worth it once you have the qualifications you need and can work with the people who desperately want your help.
Psychology is a science, and therefore, as with all sciences, research is key. Whether you do your own, or you follow someone else’s, being involved in the research stages of something exciting isn’t just interesting; it will show your commitment to the area you want to work in, and could lead to fantastic career possibilities too.
Develop Other Skills
Learning what it takes to be a psychologist and obtaining all the skills required to do it is one thing, but many other skills will come in useful that might not be covered by your specialist course. Therefore, you should think about learning these skills yourself. They include things such as writing, oral communication, and skills in computing since a lot of your work will need to be uploaded to a computer system at some point.
These skills can be learned through experience and should be something you focus on whenever possible.
Speak To A Career Advisor
You might have an exact idea of what you want to do with your psychology qualifications, but even if you do know, it’s wise to speak to a career advisor. They might be able to talk to you about other options that you hadn’t considered, broadening your potential job search and giving you other ideas about what you could do.
Whether you change your mind or stick with your initial idea is your choice, but it’s good to know the options are out there.
