Researchers explore the experience of those with baccalaureate degrees

How do those who?ve earned baccalaureate degrees in psychology feel about their jobs and the market?

APA?s Research Office has some clues. The office surveyed 767 1992 baccalaureate recipients two years after they graduated. Of those employed full time and who felt underemployed in their current positions, 23 percent said that their job was not commensurate with their level of training and 15 percent stated that the job was not commensurate with their level of experience.

Twenty-one percent responded that they were seeking a more suitable position, 21 percent said the job was not in their field and 30 percent said that they wanted a job with greater challenges.

Perceptions of the job market varied, with the single largest proportion (40 percent) indicating a fair perception. Almost equal proportions claimed poor or good perceptions (23 percent and 24 percent, respectively).

Overall this was a positive outcome given the fact that the career options in psychology for baccalaureates in psychology are limited, the Research Office says.

The three most successful methods of finding jobs were through classified ads (21 percent), a family member or friend (9 percent), or submitting unsolicited (7 percent).

Time to find employment varied but two-thirds had a job within three months of graduating. They were already working or had obtained a new position in that time.

Respondents were most apt to endorse field placements, intensive writing experiences and computer experience as helpful in obtaining their current positions. Relatedly, the three psychology skills found most useful in their current positions were communication, writing and analytical abilities.

APA?s Research Office is planning a study to be launched this fall that will follow first-year graduate students throughout their educational careers. The office plans to gather data on the students? decision-making processes and any changes that occur in the students? perceptions of psychology and career plans.

For more information on students and graduates across levels of education and training, please visit the Research Office web site at http://reaserch.apa.org, or call (202) 336-5980.

?M. Waters