What should I do with a degree in Psychology and a lack of work experience?

Question

I am 24 years old and never had a paid job. The only "work" experience I have is probably volunteer work when I was in high school and college doing community service. Other than that, I have nothing. And because of my lack of experience, I really don't know what kind of job is right for me. Plus it doesn't help that I have been turned down repeatedly for jobs this past year which has been discouraging me. I applied for jobs related to my degree like counseling, teacher's aid, but none of those offered me a position. I also applied to hotels, restaurants, and department stores and still no luck. Probably because of my lack of experience or they just don't like my personality. Now I just feel hopeless. I'm turning 25 and I am still unemployed...is this even normal? What should I do? I tell my parents that I want to go back to school and take up Nursing but they tell me that I'm only wasting time when I should be working already. I am under pressure, should I be? Please help

Answer 1

Do your Masters. This usually side-steps the 'experience through work' glitch. Besides you get a higher salary.

Answer 2

Firstly I am shocked that you have never had a paid job - not even a saturday job or a holiday job? You need to get out there and do some voluntary work or a part-time job whilst you are looking. Try signing up for an agency and doing some administration or anything you can get your hands on.

You can't just become a counsellor with a psychology degree, you need a lot more training than that.

Employers will probably look at you and your lack of general life experience and this will go against you in any job where you need to deal with people and their 'real life' situations.

Maybe you should get your CV done professionally and take some tips on interview techniques.

Answer 3

Have you applied for post-graduate training with the British Psychological Society? (I'm assuming you're from Britain) If you are successful in your application, you can go on to do two years post-graduate (paid) training and then its so much easier to get a job in the field of psychology.

I would also recommend you volunteer for work with a helpline like the Samaritans - it shows responsibility and the fact you're not getting paid for it shows dedication to your field.

Hope this helps, best of luck

Answer 4

Get in touch with our local hospital an ask them if you could speak to patients that have no family or friends visiting. there are many people that need pychological help in thos situations. I had a similar experince when i became a Teaching Assistant....it took a while to get paid work after months of voluntary work. I am now Senior T/A in my job and i love it.....please don't give up it's difficult i know but someone will spot your talent and it will be fruitful.
Good Luck hunx

Answer 5

I don't have much experience in this field but wow! you're so lucky to have a psychology degree! I wish I could have done it, this is the most interesting subject.
Do you know what exactly you want to do? if it's counselling for example, ask people who are in this field, how they went about it & where to apply.
Don't think it's personal, it is not. It's so unfair to expect you to have experience when you have just graduated.
Also have you tried graduate job fairs? try this site: (or do a search on Google)

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Careers_fairs/p!epkgf

There's a work experience fair coming up on the 17 of this month in Oxford Uni (bit I don't know if anyone can attend, please contact them to find out), askthem for some advice & guidance?

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Fairs/p!egakl?mode=prospinfo&id=704

Answer 6

i'm a psy important and that i've got had my degree for a while now. I won a pair of counseling jobs (in call in basic terms) yet I didnt truly counsel absolutely everyone, that section grew to become into left as much as the adult adult males that had grasp's and PhD's. i grew to become into in basic terms a babysitter who watched over the little ones and made confident they didnt kill themselves.After those jobs went flat I struggled for years to locate artwork. with the aid of fact of my studies i'm ineffective set against my daugther majoring in issues like polictical technological awareness, psychology, journalism, or something esle which will only qualify you to artwork to aim, Walmart, or Mickey D's. You sound such as you dont want to take heed to this however the reality is you wont get something which would be pleasing. i eventually went back to college and have been given my grasp's in something unrelated. i could say save your self some hardache and important in something esle reason you will locate that despite in case you do hit upon a counseling job or something esle appropriate the PAY would be no longer sufficient to pay back the loans you took out to get the degree. save your self the heartache and discomfort and alter your important or have a double important, something to fall back on.

Answer 7

Psychology is an interesting field but unfortunately it doesn't lead to employment...unless you take a Master's or Ph.D. the majority of these degrees prepare you for tons of research...unless that's your thing , go for a Master's dgree in Social Work. (MSW ) .You will e trained in a lucrative field and your undergrad work in Psych will be a plus.......
Talk to your family let them know you want to persue a higher degree....You could get a part time job at a Psych hospital as a Psychiatric Technician to help pay for your books and tuition.......Good Luck

Answer 8

find a local voluntary organization, and see if the can hook you up with a job involving people with learning disabilities as these are usually linked to a local health trust. http://www.csv.org.uk/
this company is brilliant if you are uk based or even fancy working here for a few months. i did voluntary work with them and had the best time ever.

Answer 9

you can become a pay online therapist or you can become an actor. I had a friend that has a degree in Psychology and became an actor .. whats up with that i dont know but worked out for him

Answer 10

You should do nursing because u can get paid whilst learning and your more likely to get a job.