The A to Z of a career in Psychology

The A to Z of a career in Psychology

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes and has evolved since 18th century more as a science. As a Psychologist, one will study a person’s reactions, processes, feelings, emotions, thoughts and behavior. Psychologists are therefore responsible for identifying psychological, emotional, and/or behavioral issues, as well as diagnosing any specific disorders, by using information gathered from client’s interview, previous tests and records, and medical reference. Their treatment is based on changing the behavioral patterns of the patients without medication and hence is completely different from a psychiatrist. They do counseling and help people by bringing about changes in their thought process, thus improving their quality of life.

Psychologists essentially are not always involved in addressing behavioral problems. These days, with increasing stress, fast life and no extended family systems, their role has changed to life coach, life skill trainers, Image consultants as well as sports psychologists.

What is the general aptitude and academic background required to pursue Psychology?

Psychologists need not have a medical degree. But they have to study several years to specialize in various aspects of psychology. Empathy, self-awareness, good communication skills, patience, ability to work with all kinds of social/ cultural and age groups are the essential qualities of a psychologist. They should have a genuine interest in people, their issues and must not be judgmental. They have to be sensitive and caring and also have the ability to understand people of very different backgrounds and upbringing.

To pursue a career in Psychology, one may choose any stream after class 10^th but psychology as one of the subject helps them in basic understanding and gives them an insight to make a decision whether it interests them or not.

What course(s) can one join to start out on a career in Psychology after XII?

• B.Sc/B.A in Psychology, Clinical Psychology or Applied Psychology
• Specialisation at the postgraduate level, with MA or MSc in Psychology, Social Work, or Counselling.
• PhD or MPhil 

What are the popular and emerging specialisations /super-specializations in the field of Psychology?

What are the best colleges/institutes in India and abroad in your opinion to study this course?

• NIMHANS
• Christ University, Bangalore
• IHBAS, Delhi
• Loyola College, Chennai
• Delhi University
• Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi

• Fergusson College, Pune

Are there any entrance exams one needs to take for Psychology? Can one get direct admission based on school qualifying marks/academic performance?

Most of the admissions are based on merit of grade 12 marks. University like BHU conducts entrance as well.

What should be the preparation strategy to secure admission in a good college?

Scoring high marks in grade 12 mainly will help the candidates. There might be a personal interview in a few colleges so being thorough with the basics of the subjects is recommended.

What are the various related job roles/fields that one can take on/explore in this career?

Psychology can diversify into almost all fields as shown above. Clinical Psychology, Counselling, Education Counselling, Career experts, Industrial Psychology, Sports Psychology etc.

What are some of the other careers that one can branch out into after spending a few years accumulating expertise in this area?
Career Experts, Human Resource Specialist or psychometrician are also possible depending on the interests and skills.

What is the typical job hierarchy for this role?
The nature of work of a psychologist depends on the area of specialization in the subject. They work in a number of different settings, including universities and colleges, primary and secondary schools, government agencies, private industry, hospitals, clinics, and private practices. They are also employed in social welfare organizations, research establishments, rehabilitation centres, prisons, child/ youth guidance centres, advertising industry and in a variety of other set-ups. Psychologist with master’s degree, work under the supervision of one or more doctoral level psychologists. Those with bachelor’s degree are eligible for jobs in community health centers and vocational rehabilitations and as administrative assistants. An industrial psychologist can be absorbed in corporates in HR department.

Is campus placement a norm or does one need to look out for employment on one’s own? How important is internship?
Campus placements are not offered as such but internships are always possible and provided either by the college or the guides during the course.

What are the prospects of employment? Who are the top recruiters?
Currently India lacks the required number of psychologists as per the population and concerns so the prospects are high.

What is the starting salary expected?
A clinical/ counselling psychologist with experience may easily get between Rs. 800 to Rs. 2,000 per hour/ per session in a metro city. It’s not as lucrative in smaller cities because one doesn’t get as many clients or the clients who do seek a psychologist are not willing to pay as much. A psychologist working with a private rehabilitation centre would be way underpaid and earns Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month. A school psychologist would earn a similar salary for services during school hours, depending on the scale. An industrial/ organizational psychologist has the potential to earn much more as corporate salaries are higher.

What is a typical day like in the life of a professional pursuing this career?

It may vary as per the specialization.

How demanding is this career? Is it easy to maintain work-life balance?

It takes almost 8 to 9 years to become an expert (Doctorate level) and since the job involves handling human emotions and behavior, it can be emotionally taxing sometimes. Long hours and demanding schedule with clients need to be balanced. One must also stay updated on latest researches and therapy trends in counselling.

About the Author

Chetna Sabharwal is a career counsellor with Ahlcon International School. Chetna is associated with many national bodies like NCERT and NIOS as an expert on career counselling. She has mentored an international team at Global STEM Alliance, New York (2016) and has received many awards in the capacity of a counsellor and teacher. She is a long standing expert with Shiksha. She also has her own NGO, Bass Ek Raah (bassekraah.com), that conducts workshops on personal branding, careers of the future, and skill sets for the job market.