Alright, so I wanted to get into psychology, but I had no clue where to start job-wise. I mean, I just finished my bachelor’s, and the idea of jumping straight into more school for a master’s or Ph.D. was kind of daunting, not to mention expensive. So, I started digging around to see what kind of entry-level jobs I could snag with just my undergrad degree.

Research Assistant
First, I started hitting up job boards and university websites. I figured research was a good place to look, so I typed in “psychology research assistant” and boom, a ton of stuff popped up.
- I applied to a bunch of positions at local universities.
- I tailored my resume to highlight any research experience I had from school, even if it was just class projects.
- I brushed up on my stats knowledge because it seemed like every job posting wanted someone who knew their way around SPSS or R.
I got a few interviews, which was cool. I didn’t get all of them, but I definitely learned a lot about what researchers are looking for. One of the labs actually contacted me and I got the position.
Case Manager
Next, I started looking into social services. I saw a lot of “case manager” or “case worker” positions. It was a lot of coordinating care and connecting folks with resources.
- I scoured job sites for these roles and found quite a few at non-profits and government agencies.
- I emphasized my communication and organizational skills in my applications.
- I volunteered at a local community center to get some hands-on experience, which I think helped a lot.
This one was tougher. It seemed like they really wanted people with experience. But I kept at it, and I eventually landed an interview with a small non-profit. And I got an offer, which is awesome. So now I’m gaining the working experience in this field.

Mental Health Technician
Then there were these “mental health technician” jobs I kept seeing. They seemed to be mostly in hospitals or residential treatment centers.
- I researched the requirements for these positions, and some needed specific certifications, but others were willing to train on the job.
- I applied to a few places and even shadowed a technician for a day to see what it was really like.
- I made sure to highlight any experience I had working with people, even if it was just customer service jobs.
This one was a bit of a mixed bag. Some places got back to me, others didn’t. I realized that direct patient care could be pretty intense, so I decided to focus on other areas for now.
So yeah, that’s been my journey so far. It’s been a lot of trial and error, and I’ve definitely learned a ton about the different paths you can take with a psychology degree. I’m still figuring things out, but I’m excited to see where these experiences take me. I’ll keep you guys posted!