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What to do with a psychology degree
I've spent the last four years studying a double bachelor's degree in psychology + Criminology. I did zero research into what I could use my degree for, I was just pressured into choosing something. Now I have no idea what to do career-wise because nothing sounds appealing. I don't want to waste my degree but I've barely had the energy to get volunteer experience and don't know how to get relevant work, especially at entry-level. I'm so anxious about lack of employment opportunities and finding a job I actually enjoy. I have ADHD too so a lot of potential careers for psychology degrees (desk work all day) would be terrible for me. Not sure what to do.
Comments
Hey @Redbrd,
Firstly, congratulations on your double degree! I understand it may have been a rushed decision, but good on you for sticking to it! You are a determined individual, and you should, at the very least, be proud of this achievement.
As for job outcomes, I cannot tell you what to do, but I suggest you look at the various fields of Psychology. One of the benefits is that there is a large range of careers that greatly benefit from a psychology degree.
- Child Protection Caseworker
- NDIS
- Social work, Counselling.
- Research Assistance
I am less familiar with criminology, but I know prison officers, behavioural support workers and even forensic analysis assistants, who all started with criminology backgrounds.
It may mean that you work in surrounding fields before you find something you are truly passionate about. You can even return to university if you feel driven for something else. Whatever you decide to do, don't compare your journey to others. If you've come this far, the degree was useful because you've learned amazing skills that will be useful in the future, even if you have never pursued any psychological fields.
Hey @Redbrd
I just wanted to jump in after reading your post and let you know that we have some really great articles and resources around work and money here which I thought you may find helpful. There are some articles about what to do when the future is uncertain, how to choose a career path & skills for the future. Remember that you are not alone in feeling this way and it is okay if you still don't know what you want to do yet. I hope these help 😊
Hi @Redbrd
Firstly, thank you for sharing. A massive congratulations on finishing your degree! 4 years is such a long time, so I hope you are being super kind to yourself and are feeling very proud. You are so valid in feeling anxious about finding a job and being overall unsure about your career.
I think this is a super common experience for students who studied psychology to struggle to find work or be unsure if this is the right field, myself included! It's such a hard and overwhelming moment in our lives having to go out into the real world and find a career. I personally really struggled after I finished my psychology degree as I was burnt out, unsure and honestly just tired. I found that taking a year off and just relaxing was really helpful for me
It sounds like you're going through a really difficult time right now so please look after yourself. Take the time to just relax, do things you enjoy and really appreciate how hard you have worked. I am more than happy to talk anytime if you'd like to discuss more about psychology pathways/careers 🙂
Wishing you all the very best💜
Hi @Redbrd
Hope you are well! Thank you for opening up about what you have been going through lately.
Firstly, I just wanted to say congratulations on getting so far on your double degree! I know you mentioned being pressured to just choose a career path without being sure, and I'm sorry to hear that it's making you feel lost, anxious, and unsure. That said, what you have done so far and the work you have had to put into studying for a double degree for the past 4 years is still no small feat and is really incredible.
You deserve to find a job prospect that you feel best suits you and that you can be excited about. I am wondering if you have any support at your uni like a career counsellor or maybe the convenor for your degree that you can talk to about your next steps and what opportunities you have ahead of you. I personally have found that people at uni are often keen to talk about their industry and give some help/insight. As you have mentioned studying both psychology and criminology, have you considered something within the forensic psychology field?
Hope you are having a good weekend, and don't forget to take time for self-care 💙
Hey there @Redbrd ,
Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you have been thinking about your future a lot lately. It is understandable that you don't want to 'waste' your 4 year double degree - yet at the same time, I recognise how important it is for you to find a job that you enjoy and a job which is suitable for you. As you mentioned, you may not like an all-day desk job 🙂 And that's totally okay!
While you are thinking about a career path, have you considered speaking to a student advisor at uni? They may be able to share some of the avenues you can go into based on your studies. At the same time, I'm thinking that speaking to your unit co-ordinators might be quite inspirational for you. Have you ever spoken to them?
Also, please know that if you choose to go down a career path, it doesn't mean you are stuck with that choice forever. Research shows that most people change careers at least 4 times, (on average) in their lifetime. This doesn't mean changing jobs. It means an entire career overhaul. 🙂
As for having ADHD, the strength and insight you can bring into a job can be phenomenal. Find what works for you. And if something doesn't work, just keep looking.
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