Careers by Major - Psychology

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Careers for Graduates

There are many different career options available for Psychology graduates. Below is a sample of types of positions that Psychology graduates have gone on to.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

Counsellor/Therapist/Psychologist

  • Academic Counsellor
  • Addictions Counsellor*
  • Art Psychologist
  • Art/ Music Therapist*
  • Athletic Therapist*
  • Behaviour Therapist
  • Career Counsellor*
  • Exercise Therapist
  • Family Therapist*
  • Industrial Psychologist
  • Immigration Officer*
  • Light Therapist
  • Marriage Therapist*
  • Massage Therapist*
  • Media Psychologist
  • Mental Health Counsellor
  • Military Psychologist
  • Movement Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist*
  • Psychologist*
  • Recreation Therapist*
  • Rehabilitation Counsellor*
  • Residential Counsellor
  • School Counsellor*
  • Speech-Language Pathologist*
  • Voice Therapist
  • Women’s Counsellor

Residential Care

  • Activities Coordinator
  • Case Worker
  • Child And Youth Worker*
  • Community Worker*
  • Crisis Worker
  • Gerontologist*
  • Health Care Administrator*
  • Home Care Worker*
  • Hospital Service Worker*
  • Mental Health Nurse*
  • Relief Worker
  • Resident Services Provider
  • Special Services Supervisor

Social and Human Services

  • Child And Youth Worker*
  • Child Life Specialist
  • Community Worker*
  • Clinical Coordinator
  • Clinical Manager
  • Communications Specialist*
  • Correctional Officer*
  • Health Care Administrator*
  • Hospital Service Worker*
  • Probation Or Parole Officer*
  • Program Coordinator
  • Religious Worker*
  • Social Worker*
  • Sociologist
  • Support Worker
  • Volunteer Coordinator

Human Resources

  • Admissions Evaluator
  • Benefits Manager
  • Compensation Manager
  • Corporate Trainer*
  • Education Specialist
  • Employment Interviewer
  • Grievance Officer*
  • Human Resources Specialist*
  • Human Resources Worker*
  • Job Analyst
  • Labour Relations Specialist
  • Mediator*
  • Organizational Psychologist
  • Recruiter
  • Trainer/Training Specialist*

Academic and Teaching-Related

  • Educational Administrator
  • Elementary School Teacher*
  • ESL Teacher*
  • High School Teacher*
  • Librarian*
  • Professor*
  • Researcher
  • School Counsellor*
  • Special Education Teacher*
  • Speech-Language Pathologist*
  • Teacher*

Business-Related and Other:

  • Account Manager (Banking)*
  • Advertising Copywriter*
  • Advertising Account Executive*
  • Credit Counsellor
  • Entrepreneur*
  • Event Planner*
  • Foreign Services Officer*
  • Fundraiser*
  • Lawyer*
  • Management Trainee*
  • Market Research Analyst*
  • Media Buyer*
  • Planner*
  • Public Policy Analyst*
  • Public Relations Specialist*
  • Sales Representative
  • Statistical Consultant
  • Writer*

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Cdn. electronic career guide available in the Centre

Who employs psychology graduates?

  • Universities and Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Not-for-Profit Agencies
  • Federal/Provincial/Local Government Agencies
  • Community Mental Health Providers
  • Correction and Rehabilitation Facilities
  • Insurance Companies
  • Market Research Firms
  • Medical/Health Organizations
  • Behavioural Health Clinics
  • Community Services
  • Religious Organizations
  • Residential Care Facilities
  • Public Relations and Communications Firms
  • Employee Assistance Plans (among others)

Skills developed by psychology majors

  • Ability to read materials accurately and analytically
  • Proficiency in understanding, organising and integrating information
  • Ability to carry out tasks with thoroughness and precision
  • Skills in formulating criteria, evaluations and making decisions
  • Strong data assessment and analytical skills
  • Critical thinking and abstract reasoning skills
  • Creativity and flexibility in thinking
  • Skill in formulating and defending positions
  • Conceptual and interpretive skills
  • Information-gathering skills
  • Ability to understand complex problems and identify potential solutions
  • Ability to understand the physiological, emotional, cognitive and social determinants of human behaviour
  • Skill in approaching problems from a variety of perspectives
  • Ability to understand, explain and conduct research in psychology
  • Socio-emotional skills, e.g. perspective-taking, clear communications, interpersonal problem-solving
  • Good listening, clarifying, questioning, and responding skills
  • Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity
  • Mathematical and logical reasoning skills
  • Effective writing and speaking skills
  • Skill in summarising complicated materials
  • Skill in writing carefully reasoned reports and essays

Sample job listings for graduating students/recent graduates

Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates. To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend the 'Now That I'm Graduating' Workshop. Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information. Some of these job opportunities are taken out from Employer Directories which can also be found at the Career Centre.

  • Research Analyst, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Clinical Study Coordinator, McMaster University Anxiety Disorders Clinic
  • Consumer Insights Analyst, Spin Master Ltd.
  • Outreach Assistant, Share the Warmth
  • Organization & Human Performance Analyst, Accenture
  • Youth Project Manager, Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation
  • Inside Sales/Client Liaison Rep, Dale Carnegie Business Group
  • Management Trainee, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  • Activities Coordinator, EF International Language Schools
  • Psychology Assistant, Bloorview Kids Rehab
  • Research Assistant, Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Data Analyst, Scottworks Solutions Inc.
  • Psychometrist, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Services Centre
  • Information & Referral Counsellor, Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services
  • Research Assistant, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
  • Job Developer-Ontario Works, JVS
  • Service Coordinator, WarrenShepell
  • Market Research Analyst, LLS Market Research Inc.
  • Horticultural Therapy Intern, St. Joseph’s Health Centre
  • Developmental Services Coordinator, Options Mississauga
  • Compensation & HR Analyst, University of Toronto
  • Summer Respite Workers, Geneva Centre for Autism
  • Summer Job Coach, Jobstart
  • Resource Parents, Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
  • Personal Assistant, Family Service Toronto
  • Clinical Psychologist, Blueballoon Heath Services
  • Part Time Case Manager, S.W. Dermer and Associates
  • Client Care Counsellor, Shepell FGI

Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!

Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.

How to get experience

Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want. Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online.

Research Opportunity Program (ROP)

The ROP allows students to earn a course credit while participating in research with a faculty member. Project titles from past projects include: Brain systems related to maternal behaviour in rats; Emotional norming of words related to speech intelligibility tests; and Dissociating emotional and traditional Stroop effects in people who stutter (PWS).

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Hospital Volunteer, Toronto Grace Health Centre
  • Volunteer Visitor for Mental Health, VON Peel
  • Volunteer, Humber River Regional Hospital
  • Research Assistant, U of T Dept. of Psychology
  • Support Worker, National Eating Disorder Information Centre
  • Crisis Line Volunteer, Telecare Distress Centre Brampton
  • Research Assistant, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Human Resources Researcher, RL Media
  • Speech Language Pathology Volunteer, Child Development Centre of Oakville
  • Business Researcher, HR Club

Part-Time & Summer Work Positions

  • Research Assistant, Hospital for Sick Children
  • Junior Facilitator, Behaviour Institute
  • Community Outreach Assistant, Parkdale Community Information Centre
  • Academic Program Instructor, Learning Disabilities Association of Mississauga
  • Therapist, Home Program Established by Autism Partnership
  • Resource Information Specialist, Operation Springboard
  • Assistant Camp Director, Moorelands Community Services
  • Research Assistant, UTM Dept of Psychology (Auditory Development Lab)
  • Junior Therapist, Applied Behavioural Consulting Services Group
  • Support Worker, Family Service Association of Toronto

Work-Study Program

The Work-Study program provides eligible U of T students with an opportunity to work on campus during the academic year and gain academic/career related experience. Previous postings have included:

  • Research Assistant, U of T Dept. of Psychology
  • Research Assistant, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Data Compiler, Rotman School of Management
  • Project Assistant, U of T Dept. of Occupational Therapy
  • Coordinator, Big Brother/Big Sister Mentorship Program
  • Psychosocial Research Assistant, Toronto General Research Institute

Positions are posted online every September. Click here for more info.

Extern Job Shadowing Program

Extern is a career exploration program that offers you the opportunity to meet with people working in your preferred career area for placements of 1-5 days.

Samples of previous Extern placements include:

  • Director, Centre Serving Mentally Challenged Individuals, Under the Banyan Tree
  • Manager and Psychologist, Addictions Counselling, Bellwood Health Services Inc.
  • Guidance Counsellor, Turner Fenton Secondary School
  • Child Psychologist, Hincks Centre for Children’s Mental Health
  • Clinical & Counselling Psychology, Private Practice

Professional Associations and Journals:

Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume. In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one way to get an edge in the job market. It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.

Graduate Studies in Psychology

Resources

Career Centre Library Resources

  •  Career Cruising, a Canadian Electronic Career Guide
  •  Great Jobs for Psychology Majors
  •  Careers for Persuasive Types
  •  Careers for Talkative People and Others With the Gift of Gab
  •  Careers for High Energy People and Other Go-Getters
  •  What to do with your Psychology or Sociology Degree (book)
  •  Majoring in Psychology
  •  Career Paths in Psychology
  •  The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology and Related Fields
  •  Graduate Study in Psychology
  •  Life After Graduate School in Psychology
  •  Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology: 101 Questions and Answers
  •  Your Career in Psychology: Clinical and Counseling Psychology
  •  Your Career in Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  •  Your Career in Psychology: Psychology and the Law
  •  And many more!

Library Panel Packages

The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca

What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).