Nobody knows this better than I do. I couldn't find a job worth a damn after I graduated with a psychology B.A. degree. I searched endlessly online for answers to this question and found nothing helpful on the topic.
After considerable pain and a couple of years struggling to make a living, I've got a few answers to "what can you do with a B.A. in psychology".
But first things first...
A word of advice for those of you thinking about getting a bachelor's degree in psychology...
DON'T DO IT, unless you plan on getting at least a Master's degree in psychology. Allow me to explain:
In your specific field, psychology, there are no opportunities to advance without a higher degree. Which is another way of saying that the best you can do is get a low paying, dead-end job working side by side as an equal with someone who has only a high school diploma. The job I'm talking about is a Mental Health Tech of some sort, different places have different names for this, but it all boils down to one thing-you're a baby sitter and sometimes a wrestler.
Now that we know what not to do with a B.A. in psychology, let's talk about what you can do with it if you already have one.
My advice for you would be to get a Master's as soon as possible. If you don't want to do that I would suggest that you forget about working in psychology/mental health and start looking for another field to work in.
Here's what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology:
- put it on your resume and show a future employer that you are intelligent and dedicated enough to get a four-year degree
- get a job in your field just for the sake of experience
- develop skills that translate beautifully into all fields
A bachelor's in psych can easily cross all borders and get your foot in the door for many different fields because the skills and knowledge you have are used in every situation-how you talk to customers, your boss, coworkers, everybody. Understanding human nature is essential for being successful in any situation and employers value this, especially in sales.
Here's a list of careers that you can have with only a B.A. in psychology:
- Pharmaceutical Representative
- Retail Store Manager
- School Counselor
- MHT
- other lower postions in health care
- anything in sales
Again, these are just a few things that you can do with a B.A. degree in psychology.
