Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about psychology degrees and whether they’re actually useful. It got me thinking, and I decided to dig into it myself. No fancy research papers, just some good old-fashioned internet sleuthing and talking to people.
My Little Experiment
First, I jumped onto some job boards. I wasn’t actually looking for a job, but I wanted to see what was out there. I typed in “psychology degree” and, well, the results were a mixed bag. There were some counseling positions, sure, but a lot of them wanted further qualifications, like a master’s or specific certifications.
Then I started looking at the skills that psychology grads supposedly have. Stuff like communication, critical thinking, research, you know, the usual. I figured, these skills are pretty valuable everywhere, right?
- Communication: I mean, who doesn’t need to talk to people effectively?
- Critical Thinking: Gotta be able to analyze stuff and make decisions.
- Research: Being able to find and understand information is key.
So, I started tweaking my search. Instead of just “psychology degree,” I started looking for jobs that listed those skills. And guess what? A whole bunch of different stuff popped up! Marketing, HR, even some project management roles. Things I hadn’t really thought of before.
I also started reaching out to some friends and acquaintances who had psych degrees. Some were working in traditional psychology fields, but others were doing all sorts of things. One was a UX researcher, another was in sales, and another was a teacher.
What I’ve Figured Out (So Far)
It seems Like, a psychology degree by itself might not automatically open every door. It’s not like you get the degree and suddenly you’re a psychologist, you know? But, it does give you a foundation of skills that are useful in a ton of different fields.
I realized that it isn’t a “worthless” degree. I think the value and outcome will vary wildly though, depending on what you make of it.
It seems like it’s all about how you sell yourself and how you apply those skills. If you’re expecting to just walk into a psychology job with only a bachelor’s, you might be disappointed. But if you’re open to different possibilities and you’re willing to build on those core skills, there are actually a lot of options out there. It is all about how you take what you learned, and do something productive with it!
That’s my take on it, anyway. Just one guy’s experience messing around online and talking to people. Take it for what it’s worth!
