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I'm currently doing my bachelor of psych, about to go into my honours year and while i'd love to go straight into a masters, cost of living and the postgrad bottleneck are major barriers at the moment. I was wondering what jobs would be smart to do post my honours and before my masters that would allow me to build a bit of capital and also benefit me in gaining profession relevant skills. ? Thank you :)
I currently work in admin/reception with a psych association if that's helpful!
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Jane’s Answer
Hi, Ren! Since you're already working in admin at a psychology association, you have a good starting point. Consider looking into jobs like mental health support worker or psychosocial recovery coach, especially with organizations that work with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These roles value empathy and communication skills and often provide training.
You might also explore case management or intake roles in community groups, youth services, or family support programs. These jobs teach you about client advocacy and service coordination, which are useful for future studies or clinical work. If research interests you, look for research assistant roles at your university, hospitals, or non-profits. Even part-time work can give you experience with data collection and interviews, which can help with postgraduate applications.
Another option is working as a behavior technician or in applied behavior analysis (ABA), often helping children or young adults with autism. These roles usually offer training and introduce you to behavioral interventions. If you're interested in justice or forensic work, entry-level roles in youth justice or correctional programs might be a fit and offer insight into those fields.
If you decide to stay in admin, try moving to settings like university psychology departments, clinical research units, or school wellbeing programs. These places can help you build connections and understand mental health work better. Remember, there's no single "right" path between honors and postgrad. Best of luck!
You might also explore case management or intake roles in community groups, youth services, or family support programs. These jobs teach you about client advocacy and service coordination, which are useful for future studies or clinical work. If research interests you, look for research assistant roles at your university, hospitals, or non-profits. Even part-time work can give you experience with data collection and interviews, which can help with postgraduate applications.
Another option is working as a behavior technician or in applied behavior analysis (ABA), often helping children or young adults with autism. These roles usually offer training and introduce you to behavioral interventions. If you're interested in justice or forensic work, entry-level roles in youth justice or correctional programs might be a fit and offer insight into those fields.
If you decide to stay in admin, try moving to settings like university psychology departments, clinical research units, or school wellbeing programs. These places can help you build connections and understand mental health work better. Remember, there's no single "right" path between honors and postgrad. Best of luck!
Thank you Jane! Immensely grateful for your direction. I think I might be interested in some case management and intake roles but I rarely see them advertised. Would you happen to know of any key word or job titles that I could use to search for these kinds of roles? Thanks once again!
Ren
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian-Nutritionist & Software Developer since 1972 🡆 Optimization Of Human Performance
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hi Ren! Check out the psychology departments at local universities to see if they offer any internships. It would be great if you could do this work remotely. Try meeting with the Heads of these departments to learn about their research interests. You can then look up these topics online. PubMed is a useful place to find academic papers on psychology. You might even get involved in research projects that could lead to a doctorate. Once the staff know you, this could happen more easily. For jobs before a master's degree, look for roles that need admin or receptionist skills. The university library might be a good place to start.
Thank you James! I will! I have some experience with research postitions at uni and while its not my favourite it was incredibly valuable.
Ren
Updated
robert’s Answer
Your knowledge of psychology could be suited for project management this is a broad field of work that can pay well.
perseverance & resilience are a huge part of this field of work being a leader is too
You would be a counselor to a whole team championing for a specific goal with key measurable objectives
Offering different perspectives of how to complete tasks is a lot like therapy healing functions of operations.
Keep up the good work you'll find a way to succeed.
perseverance & resilience are a huge part of this field of work being a leader is too
You would be a counselor to a whole team championing for a specific goal with key measurable objectives
Offering different perspectives of how to complete tasks is a lot like therapy healing functions of operations.
Keep up the good work you'll find a way to succeed.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ren !
Congratulations on completing your Psychology Degree and approaching your Post Graduate Honours Year during which you will focus on a project for your Thesis and the pathway to take before your Masters ! Great !
Since you already work at a psychology based agency, my advice is to stay at that job - do not quit. As the receptionist and administrative assistant, you are going to know when job openings are available. You can apply for any Bachelor Level positions right at your own agency. You will be quite busy in your Honours Year, so do not try to pack anything additional to your schedule.
If your agency doesn't hire you for upcoming different positions, ask them if you could expand your role adding situational counseling and case management in addition to what you are doing now. Tell them that this may be a way to relieve the other staff of work and for you, you will get experience working with clients doing direct services. The way it would possibly work is if a mental health client needs housing or benefits or other things, you would be able to counsel them and assist them with whatever they may need. The Mental Health Professionals would not have to do it or refer out and it can save them a lot of time. This is what I would do if I were in your circumstances.
As for your Masters Degree, when you are in your Honours Year, you're most likely going to become aware of Grants and Scholarships that you can apply for to help with the cost. You can look to see what's available now by doing a search online. You can also consult with your previous academic advisor and ask about Masters level grants. There is a way to do it that will maintain your focus without adding an additional time commitment with a different job that may have demanding requirements. You need time for your Honours Year work and the job you have now seemed to work out fine with your undergraduate path.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Congratulations on completing your Psychology Degree and approaching your Post Graduate Honours Year during which you will focus on a project for your Thesis and the pathway to take before your Masters ! Great !
Since you already work at a psychology based agency, my advice is to stay at that job - do not quit. As the receptionist and administrative assistant, you are going to know when job openings are available. You can apply for any Bachelor Level positions right at your own agency. You will be quite busy in your Honours Year, so do not try to pack anything additional to your schedule.
If your agency doesn't hire you for upcoming different positions, ask them if you could expand your role adding situational counseling and case management in addition to what you are doing now. Tell them that this may be a way to relieve the other staff of work and for you, you will get experience working with clients doing direct services. The way it would possibly work is if a mental health client needs housing or benefits or other things, you would be able to counsel them and assist them with whatever they may need. The Mental Health Professionals would not have to do it or refer out and it can save them a lot of time. This is what I would do if I were in your circumstances.
As for your Masters Degree, when you are in your Honours Year, you're most likely going to become aware of Grants and Scholarships that you can apply for to help with the cost. You can look to see what's available now by doing a search online. You can also consult with your previous academic advisor and ask about Masters level grants. There is a way to do it that will maintain your focus without adding an additional time commitment with a different job that may have demanding requirements. You need time for your Honours Year work and the job you have now seemed to work out fine with your undergraduate path.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Thank you Michelle, my association doesn't deal directly with clients and mostly deals with psychologists unfortunately. But i will definitely bring up the point about grants and scholarships at my next meeting with my course advisor!
Ren
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1024
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Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Ren,
The strain of living expenses and the competitiveness of admission to graduate programs is certainly not particular to you. It's good that you're considering the time between honors and a master's degree strategically; if you use it wisely, that gap can truly work to your advantage.
You have a solid foundation because you currently work in administration and reception for a psychology association. In addition to helping you develop soft skills like communication, organization, and client support, all of which are very important to psychology, that position probably gives you a close-up look at how the industry operates.
The following employment opportunities will help you save money and obtain good experience:
1. A Support Worker for Mental Health or Disabilities: These positions normally don't call for a master's degree and let you interact closely with individuals who are struggling with mental health issues or developmental issues. Additionally, they assist you in developing clinical knowledge, empathy, and crisis management abilities—all of which are valued by graduate schools.
2. Roles of Research Assistants (RA): Try applying for part-time RA positions, even casual ones, if your university or other nearby institutions offer them. When applying to postgraduate programs, working on a research project enhances your academic credibility, sharpened your data analysis abilities, and strengthened your resume.
3. In Community or Health Services, Case Manager or Intake Coordinator: These positions, which are frequently found in public health, non-profits, or support organizations, involve organizing client care and services. You will gain useful skills in communication, assessment, and managing intricate systems, all of which are a great start for a career in psychology.
4. School-Based Programs and Youth Workers: Early intervention, behavioral support, and practical experience with vulnerable populations are all provided by roles that assist young people, whether in schools or through community outreach.
5. An ABA or behavioral therapist: To work with neurodivergent kids and teens, especially in autism support programs, several clinics employ psychology graduates. Usually offered, training aids in the development of skills related to applied behavioral analysis.
An additional piece of advice is to, if possible, research short courses or certifications that could enhance your skills during your gap years. These could include workshops on basic counseling techniques, trauma-informed treatment, or Mental Health First Aid. When applying for future positions or master's programs, these cost little and show a strong sense of initiative and interest.
In summary, it is completely possible to make good use of this time, not only to build savings but also to advance professionally and increase your competitiveness when it comes time to reapply. You're already doing great by planning ahead.
Best wishes!
The strain of living expenses and the competitiveness of admission to graduate programs is certainly not particular to you. It's good that you're considering the time between honors and a master's degree strategically; if you use it wisely, that gap can truly work to your advantage.
You have a solid foundation because you currently work in administration and reception for a psychology association. In addition to helping you develop soft skills like communication, organization, and client support, all of which are very important to psychology, that position probably gives you a close-up look at how the industry operates.
The following employment opportunities will help you save money and obtain good experience:
1. A Support Worker for Mental Health or Disabilities: These positions normally don't call for a master's degree and let you interact closely with individuals who are struggling with mental health issues or developmental issues. Additionally, they assist you in developing clinical knowledge, empathy, and crisis management abilities—all of which are valued by graduate schools.
2. Roles of Research Assistants (RA): Try applying for part-time RA positions, even casual ones, if your university or other nearby institutions offer them. When applying to postgraduate programs, working on a research project enhances your academic credibility, sharpened your data analysis abilities, and strengthened your resume.
3. In Community or Health Services, Case Manager or Intake Coordinator: These positions, which are frequently found in public health, non-profits, or support organizations, involve organizing client care and services. You will gain useful skills in communication, assessment, and managing intricate systems, all of which are a great start for a career in psychology.
4. School-Based Programs and Youth Workers: Early intervention, behavioral support, and practical experience with vulnerable populations are all provided by roles that assist young people, whether in schools or through community outreach.
5. An ABA or behavioral therapist: To work with neurodivergent kids and teens, especially in autism support programs, several clinics employ psychology graduates. Usually offered, training aids in the development of skills related to applied behavioral analysis.
An additional piece of advice is to, if possible, research short courses or certifications that could enhance your skills during your gap years. These could include workshops on basic counseling techniques, trauma-informed treatment, or Mental Health First Aid. When applying for future positions or master's programs, these cost little and show a strong sense of initiative and interest.
In summary, it is completely possible to make good use of this time, not only to build savings but also to advance professionally and increase your competitiveness when it comes time to reapply. You're already doing great by planning ahead.
Best wishes!
Thanks so much Chinyere! That's an incredibly detailed answer with so many good tips. I think I might explore some intake positions and youth work positions.
Ren
You're welcome, Ren!
Chinyere Okafor