Careers

Human Services

Direct Care:

• Counseling
• Psychotherapy
• Case Management
• Mental Health Services
• Physical Health and Wellness
• Crisis Work
• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy

Administration:

• Advocacy
• Programming
• Community Relations
• Management
• Development/Fund Raising
• Grant Writing

Employers

• Federal government, including Departments of Health andHuman Services, Justice, Veterans Administration, VA Hospitals
• State government, including Departments of Human Services, Mental Health & Mental Retardation, Community mental health centers, State psychiatric hospitals, Facilities for mentally impaired, Justice, Probation and Parole
• Local government
• Senior citizens' centers
• United Way agencies
• Social service/nonprofit organizations
• Religiously affiliated service organizations
• Hospitals/healthcare providers
• Private psychiatric facilities
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• College and university counseling centers
• Private practice

Strategies

• Obtain essential practical experience through part-time or summer jobs such as camp counselor, tutor, or resident hall advisor. 
• Complete an internship for academic credit. 
• Gain experience through volunteering with organizations such as crisis hotlines, Big Brother or Sister,Special Olympics, service fraternities or sororities, etc. 
• Many entry-level helping positions require one year of related experience. 
• Volunteer experience and internships can typically fulfill this requirement. 
• Learn to work well with different types of people. 
• Develop strong communication skills. 
• Cultivate the desire to help others. 
• Become fluent in a foreign language to serve clients who may not speak English. 
• Be willing to relocate for increased job opportunities. 
• Become familiar with government hiring procedures. 
• Acquire knowledge of government and community resources available for those in need. 
• Obtain a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, or social work for positions involving substantive counseling or psychotherapy or for advancement into administrative/supervisory positions. 
• Many specialties exist at the graduate level, for example school counseling, mental health counseling, counseling psychology,etc. 
• Pursue particular degrees depending upon interests and career goals. 
• Maintain an excellent academic record and seek experiences valued by graduate programs.

Research

• Social Research
• Market Research
• Data Analysis

Employers

• Federal, state and local government agencies
• National headquarters of non-profit organizations
• Universities and colleges
• Market research firms
• Market research departments of consumer goods and manufacturing firms
• Consulting firms

Strategies

• Work with a professor on his or her research project. 
• Develop strong quantitative and statistical skills. 
• Take additional math and statistics courses. 
• Obtain a graduate degree for greater opportunities. 
• Obtain related experience. Get a part-time or summer field service position with a market research firm. 
• Get involved in the American Marketing Association. 
• Earn a graduate degree in psychology, statistics or marketing for the greatest number of opportunities.

Education

• Teaching
• Student Affairs
• Administration
• Training
• Adult Learning

Employers

• Public and private K-12 schools
• Colleges and universities
• Community instruction offered by government or socialservice agencies, e.g. GED classes, life skills, parenting, etc.

Strategies

• Obtain a teaching certificate for public school positions. 
• Multiple certifications will increase marketability.
• Seek guidance from the education department of your college. 
• Earn a doctoral degree for post-secondary teaching. 
• Secure strong personal recommendations. 
• Volunteer or work as a tutor. 
• Gain experience working with children or adolescents. 
• Acquire related experience on campus as a resident hall advisor, orientation leader, admissions tour guide, or peer mentor. 
• Develop strong communication skills and learn to speak well in front of a group.

Human Resources

• Employment and Recruitment
• Labor Relations
• Compensation and Benefits
• Organizational Development
• Training

Employers

• Large companies
• Government agencies
• Staffing and employment services
• Large non-profit organizations including hospitals and educational institutions

Strategies

• Gain relevant experience in human resources by completing an internship. 
• Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with business courses. 
• Seek leadership positions in student organizations. 
• Develop strong computer skills.  Earn an MBA or a graduate degree in human resources to attain higher-level positions.

Business & Industry

• Sales
• Customer Service
• Management
• Insurance: Claims Management, Underwriting
• Real Estate: Sales, Property Management
• Public Relations

Employers

• Service providers
• Wholesalers
• Manufacturers
• Retail stores including:  Department stores, Specialty stores, Discount stores, Super retailers
• Online retailers
• Call centers
• Financial institutions
• Insurance companies
• Real estate companies
• Property management firms
• Apartment complexes
• Public relations departments of large businesses or nonprofit organizations

Strategies

• Develop career goals and seek relevant experiences to prepare for those goals. 
• Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with business or communication courses.
• Obtain relevant experience through internships or part-time jobs. 
• Work a part-time or summer job in a retail store. 
• Demonstrate a willingness to take on additional responsibilities such as "assistant manager." 
• Participate in student organizations and seek leadership roles. 
• Learn to work well with different types of people. 
• Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. 
• For sales, develop the ability to work well under pressure and be comfortable in a competitive environment.
• Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions. 
• When job searching, seek employers interested in hiring "any major." 
• Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), computer, interpersonal, leadership and teamwork, etc.

Other Professions

• Advertising
• Affirmative Action Officer
• Career Counselor
• Caseworker Child Development Specialist
• Child Welfare Worker
• Clergy
• Clinical Manager
• Community Relations Director
• Correctional Officer
• Criminologist
• Customs Inspector
• Day Care Center Supervisor
• Day Treatment Clinician
• Deaf & Hearing Impaired Service
• Director, Counseling Center
• Drug Abuse & Prevention Educator
• Ethnic Organization & Service Director
• Geriatric Case Manager
• Grievance Officer
• Health Educator
• Hospice Health Worker
• Human Resource Manager
• Infant Mental Health Specialist
• Intensive Family Therapist
• Job Analyst
• Juvenile Detention Center Advisor
• Lawyer
• Management Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Mental Health Worker
• Minority & Race Relations Specialist
• Motivational Researcher
• Occupational Therapist
• Police Officer
• Populations Studies Researcher
• Probation Officer
• Professor
• Recreation Worker
• Recreational Professional
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• Research Assistant
• Services Director
• Psychologist
• Psychometrist
• Rape Crisis Services
• Suicide Prevention Services Specialist
• Trauma Support Specialist
• Youth Services Specialist