Excerpted and reprinted with permission from the complete article published in the Spring
1976 issue of the Psi Chi Newsletter (vol. 2, pp. 5-13). Copyright 1976 by
Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved
The first section describes the kinds of course work students might elect while undergraduates in order to enhance their career opportunities at the bachelor's degree level. The next section describes briefly the broad range of career opportunities psychology students are encouraged to consider and how an individual student and/or a psychology club or Psi Chi chapter might develop a good file of relevant local employment opportunities. The third section of this article describes the numerous pertinent state, federal and government employment opportunities, how to find out information on these positions, and how to apply and compete for them. The final section gives hints on how to present yourself in the most positive way when applying and interviewing for positions.
All of this information has been developed especially for psychology students. Much general information about career opportunities and procedures for finding employment is available in college and university career development or placement offices. Please use this article as a supplement for such general information.
This compilation has been prepared under the auspices of the central office staff of Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology. The impetus for developing this material was a 1975 workshop sponsored by the Council of Undergraduate Psychology Departments. Professors Douglas Bloomquist and Joyce Hoffman of Framingham (Mass) State College prepared much of the material included below on employment in federal and state governments and helpful hints for the job hunt; they generously consented to permit us to include and expand upon their initial presentations. Other parts of the material in effective interviewing were developed by Hugh Warner of the University of Maryland Career Development Center. Many of the areas we have elaborated were at the suggestion of the workshop participants and Psi Chi members reviewing this article; most of the additional research and preparation of supplemental material was completed by Sharon Lieberman, a University of Maryland Psi Chi member. To all these people we owe our sincere thanks and appreciation.
Additionally, either within psychology or as available in other departments, students should elect courses which prepare them to use psychological tests, interview techniques, or research design. In some schools such courses are more frequently available for undergraduates in colleges of education than in psychology departments.
Even more important may be independent study, research, or field work as part of your undergraduate curriculum. Field placements and research assignments often lead directly to job opportunities in similar settings after graduation. Additionally, in such activities a professor or professional psychologist often can refer you to potential employers.
Any Psi Chi chapter or psychology club wishing to develop better knowledge of local employment resources could plan to survey all agencies in the area which employ any of the types of persons listed in the foregoing occupations. Much useful information might be gained through a series of telephone calls and/or letters to the personnel departments of area businesses, hospitals, research institutes, newspapers, military bases, department of corrections, mental health agencies, child care centers, and all the service agencies that one finds listed in the brochures for United Fund giving.
Federal Government: The Federal Career Directory 1975- A Guide for College Students (check for more recent editions in your college placement office) describes a variety of Federal careers and jobs for college graduates. Among positions which are relevant to psychology majors with a B.A. degree are the following: psychology technician (e.g., in a VA hospital or research laboratory), correctional officer, employment assistant specialist, manpower development specialist, social science analyst, writer-editor (scientific and technical writing), and statistician (for candidates with a strong background in math and statistics plus courses in social sciences). Other professional and administrative jobs specify no particular major with the bachelor's degree.
To find more about these jobs and how to apply you should get in touch with the nearest Federal Job Information Center. At least one center is located in every state. (A list of information centers for each state appears at the end of this article.) Write, call, or preferably visit one of these centers located nearest to you or in the area in which you seek employment. These centers serve as a "one stop information service" for the prospective candidate, as they provide information about the job opportunities and vacancies, requirements and qualifications, and application and examination procedures. A variety of pamphlets is available from the information centers.
Most federal positions are filled on a competitive basis under the civil service merit system. You will receive a civil service rating on the basis of your education, experience, and performance on written examinations (if required for the particular job). If you meet the requirements for a particular job announcement, then your name will be put on a list of eligibles. Appointments to jobs may be made from within federal agencies, e.g., by promotion of an employee or by hiring a qualified employee from another federal agency. However, when a job is to be filled from a list of eligibles, appointments are made by choosing any one of three top ranked eligibles.
Some professional and administrative positions for college students require applicants to take the Professional and Administrative Career Examination (PACE). Satisfactory performance on the PACE plus suitable education and experience will qualify you for an appointment at the grade of GS-5 or GS-7.
To qualify for a professional job covered by the PACE you must meet certain education and/or experience requirements (in addition to scoring well on the parts of the exam which are relevant to the job you are seeking). The education and experience requirements for GS-5 positions are easily met; your bachelor's degree satisfies this requirement. For a GS-7 job the requirements can be satisfied in two ways, either by (a) having a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of graduate study, or 4 years of relevant experience, or (b) having a bachelor's degree, an earned rating of 90 or higher on the PACE, and either a 2.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate courses, or a rank in the upper third of your class, or membership in a recognized national honorary scholastic society (e.g., Psi Chi). As stated previously, selection for open positions is based upon your relative standing (ranking) among all applicants who qualify for the position.
Each position announcement will list other education, experience, and perceived characteristics that are important for applicants.
State Government. State government employment opportunities will vary from state to state. Merit or civil service systems are established in all the states. Addresses for information and application appear below. You should write or call the appropriate agency or officer in your state for information. State job qualifications are similar to those adopted for Federal positions. Thus, education, experience, and examination performance will determine your merit rating for state jobs.