Career Assistance From Psychology Programs and Career Services: Who Is Preparing Psychology Students?

Abstract

Background:

Despite the popularity of the undergraduate psychology major, little is known about career support and preparation available to psychology students.

Objective:

This study examined the prevalence, types, and methods of career assistance available to undergraduate psychology students both through their psychology programs and through their institutional career services.

Method:

A total of 240 programs from a stratified random sample of institutions offering undergraduate psychology programs responded to an online survey, yielding a response rate of 42.5%.

Results:

Undergraduate psychology programs most often provided assistance in applying to graduate school, while career services provided a wider range of resources. Baccalaureate institutions offer career assistance, via the psychology program or the institutional career center, more frequently than associate institutions. Most common forms of assistance consisted of instruction on how to apply for a job, how to find information about career possibilities in psychology subfields, resumé or curriculum vitae preparation, and individual advising.

Conclusion:

Although career assistance was widely available, there are several ways in which the type and scope of assistance can be improved upon to better support students and increase access.

Teaching implications:

Undergraduate psychology students could benefit from more career assistance content throughout psychology curricula.