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Original poster

If you have a psychology degree what job do you do?

80 replies

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 09:59

I have just finished my psychology degree - spent 4 years after having my youngest child studying for this.

I am not sure what I want to do now!! Ideally I would like to work from home for the most part (yes my youngest will go to after school club!) as my 14yo has additional needs so I'd like to be in the house when he gets home from school/school holidays - he doesn't need direct input and won't be a distraction!

Before having youngest child I was working in early years but I don't want to go back to that as not enough earning potential and 15 years ago I worked in conveyancing and property law but I have been out of that so long I don't think I could get back in.

I find psychology fascinating and was looking into PWP/EMHP roles but it's super competitive to get a trainee place. I also enjoyed the research side of psychology and statistics/analysis so I thought about something along those lines but again I am struggling to get interviews as have no recent relevant experience!

I'm interested in what other jobs people do following psychology degrees - how did you get into your role? What is the flexibility and earning potential? Do you enjoy your job??

OP posts:

Turnleftturnright · 06/06/2023 10:15

Interested. Similar situation to you. I have found that most jobs in this kind of area require some kind of accreditation. So a case of doing another postgraduate course, like you say as an emhp or pwp ect. Sometimes it's a case of trying to get on the Psych doctorate. I have heard of others going on to do a masters in mental health nursing or occupational therapy.

Failing this it tends to be really poorly paid jobs in schools, social care, psychology assistant jobs in the nhs or councils that people tend to go in to.

I wish I was in a position over my degree to have chosen a course with placements that would have qualified me for something. So much work, stress, time and debt and it doesn't feel like it has made much of a difference.

Original poster

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 10:33

Yes that is exactly it people tend to work in lower paid jobs in schools/social care that I could have done without doing the degree!

I'm reluctant to get into more debt on a masters or doctorate to find myself in the same position of still not being able to get a decent paid job because they all went 5 years experience on top of the masters lol.

I am more than happy to start at entry level and lower pay even basic admin jobs unrelated to psychology but I still can't even do that as they all want experience.

People say it's a candidate's market at the moment but I am not finding that the case at all! How does anyone get experience if no one will give you an interview in the first place?! I'm 36 so not fresh out of uni but surely not too old to employ either?!

OP posts:

crossstitchingnana · 06/06/2023 10:46

I have one and now working as a counsellor. Psychology degree redundant really.

SabrinaThwaite · 06/06/2023 10:52

My niece works for the prison service - was going to go into psychology for the service but found that being a prison officer was better pay. She has moved into a psychology based office role and is now generally WFH.

MrsOnions0 · 06/06/2023 10:55

I work in Quality and Performance for a large charity; overseeing incidents, safeguarding, coroners, CQC, data/outcomes etc.

Previously worked for NHS and other charities.

I WFH but all my prior jobs have been f2f in hospitals, prisons etc

Beamur · 06/06/2023 11:01

Not me, but my DSD. She's studying for a doctorate but it's been a slog.
Degree, year working as a support assistant as she didn't get offered a place for a master's. Considered mental health nursing but it's not what she wants to do. Did Master's. Worked in a residential school for a while. Got a job in the NHS. Finally got a PhD student position.
Has taken the best part of ten years and £50k of student debt. Really competitive. Very hard work!

CosmoK · 06/06/2023 11:04

I'm a careers consultant at a university.
I earn £48k and could earn more if I went into management.

I had to do an MA in Career Development but it was worth it as I got a job before I'd even finished the course!! There's a skills shortage at the moment and loads of jobs.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 06/06/2023 11:05

Psychology is the most popular degree followed by economics. I have one and my colleague the other. We are senior Data Protection advisors for the local government, so nothing at all in relation to our degree.

CosmoK · 06/06/2023 11:05

Oh and psychology is definitely relevant and the MA had quite a bit of psychology in it and it's definitely links to the job.

RolosGalore · 06/06/2023 11:09

Educational Psychologist. Mostly love the job. Wfh quite a lot. Earn 70k.

caringcarer · 06/06/2023 11:12

I was a Teacher of Psychology for almost 25 years. I loved teaching but early retired at 54.

caringcarer · 06/06/2023 11:15

@Aria20, have you considered data science? The strong research methods and statistics from your Psychology degree would be used.

StainlessSeal · 06/06/2023 11:27

Clinical Psychologist! I earn about 70k and I work around my daughter who has ASD.

Original poster

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 15:26

@caringcarer I'm not sure what else I'd need to do with data to be qualified enough to work in that field. I did enjoy the statistical analysis side of the degree and using spss software but I'm guessing it was very basic compared to actually working in the field?

Some interesting replies. It seems most other careers related to psychology even hr require further study and costs and even then not guaranteed a job!

I'm a positive person but feeling a little deflated that I'm prob too old/qualified for an entry level job but not experienced or qualified enough to go in at mid level! Thought a degree was going to help me get a better job/opportunities but not yet....

OP posts:

Original poster

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 15:28

@crossstitchingnana what further study did you do for counselling? I'm not sure I can afford to do a masters in counselling and all the placement hours unpaid otherwise I'd have probably liked counselling - kind of why I've been looking at PWP/EMHP but hard to get on the placements!

OP posts:

caringcarer · 06/06/2023 15:31

You could do a PGCE and teach like I did.

Original poster

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 15:58

@caringcarer I also considered doing a teach first type qualification to get into teaching but it seems most people are trying to get out of teaching now!

OP posts:

CosmoK · 06/06/2023 16:11

Your age could be an advantage in some sectors. When I did my MA most of my fellow students were in their 30s and 40s.... some older too. All of us walked into jobs, some paying quite well and certainly not entry level.

For most professions you will need additional training. That's just how it is now.

caringcarer · 06/06/2023 16:19

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 15:58

@caringcarer I also considered doing a teach first type qualification to get into teaching but it seems most people are trying to get out of teaching now!

I really enjoyed teaching. I loved seeing students achieve good grades for all their hard work. I did work them hard too.

Original poster

Aria20 · 06/06/2023 16:30

@CosmoK I would be happy to do further study if I had a secure job to progress in if you see what I mean, I'm just reluctant to do more without a guarantee of a decent paying job at the end of it.

I guess I'm just unsure what path to take and want to explore all options. I want to enjoy the job but also earn enough - I live in Greater London and we have a big mortgage and 3 children so money doesn't go far....

OP posts:

CosmoK · 06/06/2023 16:32

That's sensible.... there are a number of routes you can take.
Your previous university might still offer you career guidance so speaking to them might help?

porkpiesinthepark · 06/06/2023 16:40

I work alongside a lot of psychology graduates and I don't think I could think of a more competitive career. I see about 30 students per year who do their placement with us with the hope of getting onto a trainee psychologist programme. We have two of them working as admin with us whilst they wait to get onto the next stage.

What I find strange is that there is a complete lack of experienced clinical psychologists. We can't recruit easily at that level. So where do they all go?

qandp · 06/06/2023 17:15

I work in quality and performance for a healthcare charity. I took a FT job but returned PT after having a child and work from home now 99% of the time. I could do my job without the degree but it has been helpful to understand performance data and analysis, survey design and research, and report writing. It also really helps me understand the work the charity does with our service users. The salary has ranged from £25k for a junior position to £45k for the top range of a senior manager position.

cardboardbox24 · 06/06/2023 17:22

I know a few UX researchers and they all seem to have an undergrad psychology degree.

SusannahHolmes · 06/06/2023 17:34

RolosGalore · 06/06/2023 11:09

Educational Psychologist. Mostly love the job. Wfh quite a lot. Earn 70k.

Also an ed psych. Also love it. It's a brilliant job. How are you earning 70k though? Are you in private practice? Or a manager?

Top of scale outside of management, with 3 spa points for excellence, is 59k. I am 25 years in the job and on 59k FTE.

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