Psychology Career Pathways

Psychology Career Pathways

If you're wondering what you can do with a psychology degree, you are not alone! Many psychology students believe they have limited options with just a bachelor's degree, but in reality, psychology opens the door to a wide range of careers. On this page, you will learn about common career myths, the basics of career development, and psychology career pathways.

Common Career Myths

You probably recognize these common career myths. Read more below to learn the truth about these misconceptions!

  • Myth #1: "The only thing I can do with a psychology degree is be a therapist."

  • Reality: Psychology students work in a variety of industries, including business, healthcare, education, technology, research, public service, and more. Many industries value the skills that psychology students have such as understanding human behavior, communication, and scientific thinking.

    A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that only 23% of employers surveyed only hire majors exclusive to their industry, but 50% of employers hire majors exclusive to their industry plus other majors. 24% of employers hire for all majors.

    Source: https://www.naceweb.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2025/publication/research-report/2025-nace-job-outlook-jan-2025.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=57d47fb0_3

  • Myth #2: "I have to go to graduate school if I want a chance at getting hired somewhere".

  • Reality: Unless you want to pursue a career pathway that requires a specific master's or doctorate degree (like a therapist or professor), you don't need to go to graduate school.

    A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that two-thirds of employers are using skills-based hiring when screening recent graduates. Skills-based hiring "focuses on a job candidate’s specific skills and competencies for the job, focusing on the candidate’s abilities. In contrast, traditional hiring practices tend to forefront the candidate's educational attainment, experience, and background.” This means that part-time employment, volunteering, and other experiences that help students develop skills play a more significant role in employability than area of study.

    Source: https://naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/trends-and-predictions/nearly-two-thirds-of-employers-use-skills-based-hiring-practices-for-new-entry-level-hires

  • Myth #3: "Everyone has it all figured out except for me. There must be something wrong with me".

  • Reality: Almost no one has their career fully planned out from the start. It's also very common to change your mind as you start to learn more about yourself and the world of work. Career development is a time-dependent, life-long, and ongoing process. Many people who are happy in their careers have explored multiple interests before finding the right fit. Stay curious, keep learning, and take small steps toward your goals.

The Basics of Career Development

Just like the process of building a skill or adjusting to college, career development also happens through a process. This process requires certain steps or actions to achieve an end goal. People often think finding a career is a spontaneous event, but developing your career takes time, is a life-long journey, and goes through stages. This wheel of career development is one way to organize the steps you need to take to develop your career.

 

Step 1: Self-Exploration

We can’t know what is the right fit for ourselves if we don’t know ourselves well. Here are some areas to reflect on and links to activities for self-exploration.

Step 2: Work Research

After you've engaged in self-exploration, it's time to learn more about what careers are out there. It's easy to name common jobs like accountant, programmer, or teacher. However, there is so much more out there and here are ways to discover them:

 

Step 3: Experiential Education

Feel out your options with internships, part-time work, student organizations, job shadowing, and volunteering.

Step 4: Decision-Making

At this point, you should have a clearer idea of what direction to head in. Make sure to:

  • Focus on the starting point.
  • Write out a road map of what steps you need to take to get to where you want to go.
  • Set short-term goals and objectives to get started.
  • Remember that your decisions do not seal your fate and you can always change your mind later.

Decision Making Strategies for Career Success

7 Steps to Effective Decision Making

 

Step 5: Job Search Skills

Develop your job search skills, learn how to write a compelling resume, and grow your interview skills with the UC Davis Career Center.

When exploring job opportunities, it's important to remember that job titles are not always clear-cut. Many positions have multiple titles that vary by organization, industry, or region, even if the job responsibilities are similar. Rather than focusing solely on job titles, it's crucial to read the job description carefully to understand the duties, required qualifications, and the type of experience the role provides. This approach ensures that you don’t overlook valuable opportunities just because of how they’re labeled.

Step 6: Career Management

Since career development is a life-long process, you will be continuously re-evaluating your career. This includes setting professional goals, building skills, seeking mentorship, or staying adaptable to industry changes. You'll also assess how satisfied you are with your work, ways to grow, and strategic career moves.