Studying psychology equips graduates with versatile skills that are highly sought after in today’s job market. Beyond traditional psychology-related roles, these skills enable graduates to inform policies, drive positive change, and excel in diverse career paths.
The analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and empathy acquired through psychology studies make graduates valuable assets across industries, positioning them for success in a variety of roles. Overall, psychology studies are essential for navigating the complexities of the modern workforce and achieving meaningful impact in professional endeavours.
Some of these skills might be beneficial in the following sectors
Inclusivity
- EDI roles are expanding
- Knowledge of human behaviour, communication & commitment to social justice
Employee Wellbeing
- Attitudes about employer mental health shifted since the pandemic
- Psychology skills are leading the charge
Public Health
- Contribute to public health initiatives by designing interventions that promote healthy - behaviours eating habits.
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Psychology can improve understanding of the behaviours that drive climate change
A degree in psychology can take you as close as to the subject as being a practitioner or provide you with a great set of skills for other roles
Practitioner psychologist
- Clinical psychologist: A professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats mental health disorders using therapeutic techniques and interventions.
- Clinical neuropsychologist: Specializes in understanding the relationship between brain function and behavior, often working with patients who have suffered brain injuries or neurological conditions.
- Counseling psychologist: Provides therapy and support to individuals dealing with personal and emotional issues, helping them develop coping strategies and improve overall well-being.
- Coaching psychologist: Utilizes psychological principles and techniques to help individuals and groups achieve personal and professional goals, often in areas such as performance enhancement and leadership development.
- Sport and exercise psychologist: Works with athletes, coaches, and teams to enhance performance, manage stress, and promote mental well-being in sports and exercise settings.
- Educational psychologist: Focuses on understanding and addressing psychological issues affecting learning and development in educational settings, often working with students, teachers, and parents.
- Forensic psychologist: Applies psychological principles to legal and criminal justice contexts, such as assessing individuals for competency to stand trial or providing expert testimony in court cases.
- Health psychologist: Specializes in promoting behaviors that contribute to good health and preventing illness, often working in healthcare settings to help patients manage chronic conditions and improve overall wellness.
- Occupational psychologist: Studies and applies psychological principles to the workplace, focusing on areas such as employee motivation, job satisfaction, and organizational behavior.
- Academic psychologist: Conducts research and teaches psychology at universities and colleges, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in various subfields of psychology through scholarly inquiry and education.
Wider psychological workforce
The wider psychological workforce refers to roles created through the NHS to help support in the demand for better mental health services within the UK. These roles can be brilliant end point careers destinations, or used as stepping stones to gain experience whilst being paid, in order to then move onto other areas of psychology.
- Mental health and wellbeing practitioner: Offers support and interventions to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, focusing on promoting overall well-being and resilience.
- Clinical associate in psychology: Assists clinical psychologists in conducting assessments, providing therapy, and managing mental health treatment plans under supervision.
- Educational mental health practitioner: Works within educational settings to identify and address mental health issues affecting students, collaborating with teachers and families to provide support and interventions.
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner: Specializes in delivering evidence-based psychological therapies to individuals with common mental health problems, helping them overcome difficulties and improve their mental well-being.
- Assistant psychologist: Supports qualified psychologists in various settings, conducting assessments, administering interventions, and collecting data to assist in psychological research and practice.
- Children wellbeing practitioner: Offers tailored interventions, including guided self-help and therapeutic activities, to children and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, and behavioral difficulties, aiming to improve their overall well-being.
- Support time and recovery worker: Provides practical and emotional support to individuals recovering from mental health challenges, assisting them in setting and achieving goals for their recovery journey.
Psychologically informed pathways
In these roles, students can apply skills acquired from their undergraduate degree in psychology, which may not typically align with clinical practice. For students uncertain about their career path, reflecting on their interests, skills, and personality traits can help them identify fields that offer the greatest potential for success as they progress forward.
Personality type and posible careers
- Artistic: opportunities include roles such as art therapist, play therapist, product designer, or marketing professional, leveraging creativity and innovation.
- Conventional: possibilities range from human resource management to data and insights analysis, and legal work, focusing on organized and structured approaches.
- Social: career paths encompass teaching, counseling, social work, psychotherapy, or learning development, emphasizing interpersonal connections and helping others.
- Realistic: opportunities in cyber psychology and artificial intelligence (AI) cater to those interested in technology and practical problem-solving.
- Enterprising: roles such as partnership manager, sales consultant, or project manager offer avenues for those with entrepreneurial spirit and leadership skills.
- Investigative: opportunities include roles like consumer researcher, behavior analyst, or systems analyst, focusing on analytical thinking and problem-solving.