What did you do after your psychology degree?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

It's been interesting reading where an English Literature degree took people.

So I'm wondering what happened to those of us with a psychology degree. Apparently it's one of the degrees with the lowest earning potential/ perceived transferable skills.

I taught for a couple of years aged then trained as an educational psychologist. I love my job. It's interesting, flexible and well paid. Now I run a small independent practice, so I guess it worked out well. Others on my degree course went into academia, teaching, social work, corporate graduate schemes and a couple more are applied psychologists.

Where has it taken you?

Absolutely nowhere.

After graduation I ended up working in an office for HSBC and then various other office admin jobs, none of which I required a degree for and now I have been a SAHM for approx 10 years.
An influx of well meaning advice and interference from various folk meant I applied to do psychology rather than the teaching degree I always planned to do and stuffed up my life plan. Any attempts to get plan back on track are scuppered by everyday life! I also think my degree actually hinders my ability to get a job as they think I am overqualified for most positions and yet I have no relevant experience to get higher positions that may be available.

Others on my course have become either social workers or involved in HR.

Teacher training and then became a science teacher. As psychology is technically a science degree I was able to get extra bursaries etc.

Project management, support work and advocacy (all tied up into one handy role) then into marketing and operations, then into communications which I've been doing for several years and work in finance.

I did one of the best courses in the country at the time with a placement year, had a first class degree and still didn't get any interviews for psych related jobs on graduation.

That's interesting. I think that lots of young people ( especially girls) get advice to follow a psychology degree when they have an interest in helping others. There are so many other vocational degrees that can lead to the helping professions and only a minority of those who study psychology end up as psychologists. I also think that we need to be honest with young people over how massively competitive applied psychology training courses actually are and how much extra work experience and study is required before the courses will consider an application. The reality is that, nowadays, if you qualify this side of 30 you are doing great.

Clinical Psychologist.

Nowhere I don’t even use my degree I work a job I could do without a degree

I went into occupational psychology. I have a well-paid, flexible job.

Diddly squat. I would not encourage anyone to take a Psychology degree unless they either wanted to study purely for the love of studying, or had a longer-term plan of continuing straight on to a Masters.

Internal Audit. Zero connection to psychology; got the job purely because I had a degree.
Would not recommend it unless you looking for a psychology/counselling focused career

Clinical Psychologist

I'm going straight to masters next year. I've met loads of people who work in the field with the masters 💁‍♀️

Waves @Nooch

In the 10 years since graduating I have worked in MH, PD, substance misuse and resettlement. All with offenders. My degree has been pivotal in getting the jobs I have but it is a joint honours with Criminology. Currently applying for a Social Work Masters to hopefully further my career.

I worked in property whilst doing my degree. I enjoyed it and after graduating I built a career in this field. I now run my own business.

Although I enjoyed my degree and don't regret doing it, it hasn't had any baring on my life professionally. I could still have done what I did/am doing without it.

Teacher. Initially I thought I might consider ed psych but I don't think it's for me. I'm happy in my job but feel i can't do anything else!

Psychiatry

Assistant psychologist, doctorate in clinical psychology, clinical psychologist.

Social housing for me but 20 years after graduating.

I joined a grad scheme and then did a Masters in Occupational Psychology part time. I now work in leadership development/ learning & development so use my degree all of the time, which I love & feel like I’m using my brain.

Psychotherapist now.

I really enjoyed the workplace psychology elements of the course and psychometric testing so yes I went into HR

I did a postgraduate diploma in careers guidance. Worked as a careers adviser and now I manage careers advisers.
I wish I had done something more practical like occupational or speech and language therapy, although I do love my job.

I'm an auditor in the NHS. I enjoyed the statistical side of the degree so it's not a surprise that I work in health informatics now.

I’m head of marketing. Did a psychology degree 12 years ago and never had a job related to it.

Marketing. I think psychology has helped my career and can be relevant to training and learning - to help embed large campaigns/projects in the organisations I work with. I earn c£80k doing it too so not poorly paid at all!