Options and Opportunities for Getting a Good Job with Your BA In Psychology R. Eric Landrum Department of Psychology Boise State University Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Park City, UT April 6, 2002

Psychology Degrees Conferred in the United States, Doctoral: 4,310 Doctoral: 4,310 –Men: 1,405 –Women: 2,905 (67%) Master’s: 14,465 Master’s: 14,465 –Men: 3,552 –Women: 10,913 (75%) Bachelor’s: 74,060 Bachelor’s: 74,060 –Men: 17,430 –Women: 56,630 (76%)

Desired Bachelor’s Level Abilities Work effectively with others Work effectively with others Ability to acquire and use information Ability to acquire and use information Use technology to solve problems Use technology to solve problems Communication skills Communication skills Computational skills/numeracy Computational skills/numeracy Problem solving skills Problem solving skills Flexibility Flexibility Proficiency in field of study Proficiency in field of study

One Example: Mission Statement Faculty members of the Department of Psychology at Boise State University strive to enable students to think critically about behavioral and mental processes, to appreciate and respect others, and to educate students for a variety of postbaccalaureate alternatives. These objectives are implemented via a rigorous, science-based curriculum that focuses on the application of research methods and statistics, development of effective speaking and writing skills, respect for the diversity of human experiences, and appreciation of how psychology contributes to the improvement of the human condition. Faculty members of the Department of Psychology at Boise State University strive to enable students to think critically about behavioral and mental processes, to appreciate and respect others, and to educate students for a variety of postbaccalaureate alternatives. These objectives are implemented via a rigorous, science-based curriculum that focuses on the application of research methods and statistics, development of effective speaking and writing skills, respect for the diversity of human experiences, and appreciation of how psychology contributes to the improvement of the human condition.

What Employers Want: Top 20 Qualities, Skills, and Abilities Listening skills Listening skills Ability to work with others as part of a work team Ability to work with others as part of a work team Getting along with others Getting along with others Desire and ability to learn Desire and ability to learn Willingness to learn new, important skills Willingness to learn new, important skills Focus on customers/clients Focus on customers/clients Interpersonal relationship skills Interpersonal relationship skills Adaptability to changing situations Adaptability to changing situations Ability to suggest solutions to problem Ability to suggest solutions to problem Problem solving skills Problem solving skills Ethical decision making Ethical decision making Critical thinking Critical thinking Ability to see the big picture Ability to see the big picture Flexibility/shifting gears Flexibility/shifting gears Being able to identify problems Being able to identify problems Working smarter to improve productivity Working smarter to improve productivity Timely decision making Timely decision making Time management Time management Problem-definition skills Problem-definition skills Personality Personality

What You Can Do with Your BA: Related to Psychology Academic advisor Academic advisor Alcohol/drug abuse counselor Alcohol/drug abuse counselor Behavior analyst Behavior analyst Career counselor Career counselor Career planning and placement Career planning and placement Counselor Counselor Case management aide Case management aide Case worker Case worker Child care worker Child care worker Child protection worker community Outreach worker Child protection worker community Outreach worker Community support worker Community support worker Corrections officer Corrections officer Counselor aide Counselor aide Day care center supervisor Day care center supervisor Director of volunteer services Director of volunteer services Eligibility worker Eligibility worker Employment counselor Employment counselor Family services worker Family services worker Gerontology aide Gerontology aide Group home coordinator Group home coordinator Housing/student life coordinator Housing/student life coordinator Life skill counselor Life skill counselor Mental health technician Mental health technician Mental retardation unit manager Mental retardation unit manager Parole officer Parole officer Political campaign worker Political campaign worker Probation officer Probation officer Program manager Program manager Public affairs coordinator Public affairs coordinator Public relations specialist Public relations specialist Publications researcher Publications researcher Radio/TV research assistant Radio/TV research assistant Rehabilitation advisor Rehabilitation advisor Residential counselor Residential counselor Residential youth counselor Residential youth counselor Secondary school teacher Secondary school teacher Social services assistant Social services assistant Social services director Social services director Social work assistant Social work assistant Urban planning research assistant Urban planning research assistant Veteran’s advisor Veteran’s advisor

What You Can Do with Your BA: Related to Business Administrative assistant Administrative assistant Advertising agent Advertising agent Advertising trainee Advertising trainee Affirmative action representative Affirmative action representative Airline reservations clerk Airline reservations clerk Bank management Bank management Claims specialist Claims specialist Customer relations Customer relations Customer service representative Customer service representative Employee counselor Employee counselor Employee relations assistant Employee relations assistant Energy researcher Energy researcher Events coordinator Events coordinator Financial researcher Financial researcher Hotel management Hotel management Human relations director Human relations director Human resources recruiter Human resources recruiter Insurance agent Insurance agent Insurance claims/underwriter Insurance claims/underwriter Intelligence officer Intelligence officer Job analyst Job analyst Loan officer Loan officer Lobbying organizer Lobbying organizer Management trainee Management trainee Marketing representative Marketing representative Marketing researcher Marketing researcher Media buyer Media buyer Occupational analyst Occupational analyst Office manager Office manager Personnel worker/administrator Personnel worker/administrator Property management Property management Public information officer Public information officer Sales representative Sales representative Small business owner Small business owner Staff training and development Staff training and development Store manager Store manager Technical writer Technical writer Warehouse manager Warehouse manager

What You Can Do with Your BA: Other Activity director Activity director Assistant youth coordinator Assistant youth coordinator Camp staff director Camp staff director College admissions officer College admissions officer Community organizer Community organizer Community recreation worker Community recreation worker Community relations officer Community relations officer Congressional aide Congressional aide Crime prevention coordinator Crime prevention coordinator Director of alumni relations Director of alumni relations Director of fund raising Director of fund raising Driving instructor Driving instructor Educational coordinator Educational coordinator Fast food restaurant manager Fast food restaurant manager Foster home parent Foster home parent Film researcher/copywriter Film researcher/copywriter Historical research assistant Historical research assistant Hospital patient service rep. Hospital patient service rep. Juvenile probation officer Juvenile probation officer Laboratory assistant Laboratory assistant Law enforcement officer Law enforcement officer Neighborhood outreach worker Neighborhood outreach worker Newspaper reporter Newspaper reporter Nursing home administrator Nursing home administrator Park and recreation director Park and recreation director Private tutor Private tutor Research assistant Research assistant Security officer Security officer Statistical assistant Statistical assistant Statistical reports compiler Statistical reports compiler Store manager Store manager Task force coordinator Task force coordinator Teaching Teaching Technical writer Technical writer Vocational rehabilitation counselor Vocational rehabilitation counselor Volunteer coordinator Volunteer coordinator Warehouse manager Warehouse manager Work activity program director Work activity program director Youth minister Youth minister

What Can You Get Paid with Your BA in Psychology? There are a variety of estimates available. These are STARTING SALARIES: There are a variety of estimates available. These are STARTING SALARIES: –Schwartz (2000) BLS: $20,600 –NACE Fall 2000: $28,811 –NACE Summer 2001: $30,388 –NACE Fall 2001: $29,952

What Can You Do, As An Undergraduate, To Enhance Your Chances of Getting a Good Job with Your Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?

Acquire Lifelong Learning Skills Via the Covert Curriculum Reading with comprehension and the ability to identify major points Reading with comprehension and the ability to identify major points Speaking and writing in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner Speaking and writing in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner Writing in a particular style Writing in a particular style Listening attentively Listening attentively Taking accurate notes Taking accurate notes Mastering efficient memory strategies Mastering efficient memory strategies Developing critical thinking skills Developing critical thinking skills Submitting assignments on time and in acceptable form Submitting assignments on time and in acceptable form Behaving in a responsible, punctual, mature, and respectful manner Behaving in a responsible, punctual, mature, and respectful manner Managing stress and conflict successfully Managing stress and conflict successfully Organizing the physical environment to maximize efficiency Organizing the physical environment to maximize efficiency Observing, evaluating the attitudes and behaviors of role models Observing, evaluating the attitudes and behaviors of role models Maintaining an accurate planner or calendar Maintaining an accurate planner or calendar Working as a productive member of a team Working as a productive member of a team Interacting successfully with a wide variety of people Interacting successfully with a wide variety of people Seeking feedback about performance and using it to improve future performance Seeking feedback about performance and using it to improve future performance Accepting responsibility for your own behavior and attitudes Accepting responsibility for your own behavior and attitudes Utilize technology Utilize technology

Serve as a Research Assistant. The Advantages:  Acquisition of skills not easily gained in the classroom  Opportunity to work one- on-one with a faculty member  Contribute to the advancement of the science of psychology  Become familiar with general research techniques  Opportunity to practice written and oral communication skills  Cultivation of a mentoring relationship with faculty; helpful for letters of recommendation

How to Negotiate a Research Assistantship  Do your homework on the instructor prior to contact  Contact the instructor using his/her preferred method (office hours, )  Discuss the level of commitment expected (hours/week, number of semesters)  Discuss up front any plans for conference posters, papers, and order of authorship

Faculty Attitudes: What Do RAs Achieve?  Develop one-to-one relationship with professor  Participate in data collection process  Form relationship for letters of recommendation  Prepare for graduate school  Gain enthusiasm for research  Influences decision about attending graduate school or not  Meet other students involved in research  Ability to code data accurately  Get to know faculty members in the department  Opportunity to enhance critical thinking skills

How NOT to Receive Good Letters of Recommendation Barely tolerate your instructors and classes Barely tolerate your instructors and classes Be consistently late to class Be consistently late to class Don’t ask questions of the instructor, even when asked Don’t ask questions of the instructor, even when asked Don’t read assignments before class Don’t read assignments before class Try to be the exception to the rule Try to be the exception to the rule Disagree with instructors in a condescending manner, especially in public Disagree with instructors in a condescending manner, especially in public Label assignments you do not understand as boring, irrelevant, or busy work Label assignments you do not understand as boring, irrelevant, or busy work Be the classroom lawyer Be the classroom lawyer Never help plan or participate in departmental activities Never help plan or participate in departmental activities Avoid using an instructor’s office hours Avoid using an instructor’s office hours

Strategies to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation Deal effectively with a variety of people. Deal effectively with a variety of people. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Listen carefully and accurately. Listen carefully and accurately. Show initiative and persistence. Show initiative and persistence. Exhibit effective time management. Exhibit effective time management. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Handle conflict successfully. Handle conflict successfully. Speak articulately and persuasively. Speak articulately and persuasively. Work productively as a member of a team. Work productively as a member of a team. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Think logically and creatively. Think logically and creatively. Remain open-minded during controversies. Remain open-minded during controversies. Identify and actualize personal potential. Identify and actualize personal potential. Write clearly and precisely. Write clearly and precisely. Adapt to organizational rules and procedures. Adapt to organizational rules and procedures. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Gather and organize information from multiple sources. Gather and organize information from multiple sources.

For More Information U.S. Mail: U.S. Mail: –Eric Landrum –Department of Psychology –Boise State University –1910 University Drive –Boise, ID 83725