Becoming a psychologist is the dream of many people in the world. Psychologists hold a very important role in society, in the community and within individuals who come and attend therapy sessions. This field is competitive when it comes to the job market and there are specific steps that you need to follow to become a legal and certified psychologist. If you are a budding psychologist or someone new to the field or perhaps you already have your undergrad and you’re seeking ways of improving upon your education and making yourself more interesting to prospective employers, then this article is for you.
This article aims to shed light on the idea of further education, such as completing your master’s online and the benefits that come with that, the importance of working on your curriculum vitae to broaden your job prospects, how you can try to intern and volunteer to become a more suitable candidate for your dream job and then why you should keep up with changes within the industry.
Complete Your Masters Online
If you already have your undergrad, so your bachelor’s in psych, then you need to first complete your master’s to be able to practice with actual patients or clients. The undergrad of a psychology degree is typically within the humanities faculty at any given college or university. The undergrad can take anywhere between three to six years. Then, completing your master’s is an additional degree that you can add, which puts you in the league of being able to potentially help clients. However, it is important to note that you first need to be registered and licensed with the psychologist board in the country that you wish to practice.
Doing your masters in counseling psychology online is a great way for you to be able to learn about more advanced material in the field of psychology but also to do so within your own timeframe, as online classes give you the flexibility of being able to keep a 9 – 5 job that interests you but also to continue learning in the evening and on the weekend through this online course.
The benefits of doing an online course are the fact that, as touched on above, you have more control of your timeframe, you’re able to still go to work as you can slot in your learning times as you please, they take less time in terms of commuting and getting ready for class and it’s much easier to balance work with studies and life through an online course.
Work on Your Curriculum Vitae
Another way that you can try to stand apart from others in the field of psychology is through working on your curriculum. When you apply for jobs, this is often the first document that prospective employees see. Therefore, it’s important that you fill in information that is accurate, honest but also sells you in a type of way. You need to make sure that you have all your previous work experience listed, the degrees are mentioned that you’ve done and you have some skills and hobbies that you feel are important to the job. Then it’s always good to add a little personal blurb somewhere in the CV. This can just be two or three lines outlining who you are as a person, what character you have and your personality traits.
Try to Intern and Volunteer Where You Can
Additionally, you can try to spice up your CV by turning to interning and volunteering if you can. This is a great thing that you can do alongside your master’s program, as it shows interest and passion in the industry. It’s important to note that oftentimes, internships and volunteer programs are not paid, so this is something that you will have to invest time on your own but you can learn a lot through these experiences and they also look great when you’re applying for jobs. Sometimes, you even get to shadow somebody who’s already passed their master’s or even has a PhD and therefore you get to learn firsthand what it means to be a psychologist in the field.
Keep Up with Changes Within the Industry
It’s also important to note that within the psychology industry things are ever-changing. You need to keep up with these changes so that you can be the best counseling psychologist possible. Luckily, there is an international book that all psychologists follow, the DSM Five, which outlines how psychologists see things in a global space. So, you need to know that information like the back of your hand but also to see whether or not any new articles are being published so that you can always be the best person for your patients.
As you can see from the above, becoming a psychologist is not a quick fix. You have to put a lot of work and energy into degrees like this. The course includes a lot of statistics and assessments because you need to be able to accurately understand data to make sound calls. However, it is a highly rewarding job, which is probably why so many people want to become a psychologist. If this is you, then try to remember the few steps mentioned above, so that you may excel in your education and your career.