How the Psychology Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Psychology is the study of human mental behavior and patterns in an attempt to understand why humans act the way that they do and react to situations in the way that they do. Psychology majors are often curious about the human mind and its relation to action, and are interested in how external forces can influence internal behavior. Psychology majors take courses in research, statistics, learning, and other topics that directly relate to the field of psychology the major hopes to pursue, such as child psychology or clinical psychology. For example, those wishing to pursue child psychology would take courses in behavior therapy and childhood behavioral disorders, while those wishing to pursue clinical psychology would take courses in testing and measuring and abnormal behavior. Psychology majors also often complete internships in hospitals, schools, or mental health institutions. This combination of formal education and professional work experience makes psychology majors valuable candidates for a position upon graduation.

Best Career Paths for Psychology Majors
Psychology is a fascinating field that provides valuable traits applicable to many varying career opportunities. The best career paths for psychology majors are:

• Psychologist. Many successful psychologists work in the mental health field, working with patients in hospitals, schools, or private settings. Clinical psychology is the most popular concentration, and these psychologists specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Although psychologists may seek the aid of medication to improve a patientís condition, the psychologist may not prescribe medication him or herself. Instead, the psychologist must seek the professional advice of a physician or psychiatrist to prescribe medication. Psychologists make an average salary of $64,140 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Human Resources Director. Human resources directors oversee the work of human resources specialists. They coordinate the activities between all the different departments to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Directors facilitate communication between the departments as well, and pass information along from recruitment specialists to training specialists about new hires. A psychology majorís educational background in understanding human behavior and patterns would greatly benefit the human resources department. The majors can apply their knowledge of behavior management to handle employees sensitively, develop the best training programs, and rearrange the management organization into a social network that allows for maximum productivity. Human resources directors make an average salary of $96,130 annually, according to the Bureau.

How to Market Your Psychology Degree
Your psychology degree is more flexible than you may realize. Although psychology may seem like a narrow field of focus, it is actually applicable to many areas of study. Psychology majors not only learn about human behavior in terms of mental illness, but also learn about the fundamentals of human social interaction. This understanding makes psychology majors particularly adept and sensitive leaders and empathetic employees. The psychology major builds research, observational, and writing skills due to the nature of the course work involved. This skill set is immensely valuable in many fields other than mental health, and psychology majors need only to remind employers of their skills to successfully market their psychology degree.