Counseling
Counseling
Counselors are trained to assist people who are struggling with a variety of problems in their lives, from marital or family difficulties to career and financial issues. These professionals help people manage stress, adopt new habits, skills and perspectives that will help them make good decisions, and overcome specific problems. Specialties in counseling include: marriage and family, guidance and career, rehabilitation, mental health, substance abuse, and educational counseling. Upon graduation many psychology majors pursue graduate work in psychology and related fields, pursue professional training in medicine or the law, or enter the private sector.
Job Title Examples:
- Child Protective Response Specialist
- Family Assessment Response Specialist
- Social Worker/Case Manager
- Intake Case Administrator
Skills Needed:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Flexibility
- Observational skills
Find Opportunities
Using IrishCompass, LinkedIn, and ND’s alumni association directory called myND is the best way to start on the networking front.
Job Databases:
- Career Shift
- ND Alumni Job Databases
- South Bend Community-Based Research
- Psychology Careers from the APA
- Psychology Jobs
- Ultimate Psychology Career Resource Guide
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology Jobs
Industry Timeline
Recruitment for these types of roles occur as the need arises in the organization. Unlike consulting or finance, there are not predictable surges of recruitment activity. Opportunities are available on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Applying and Interviewing
Resumes
Your resume will often be the first impression for a potential employer. You want to make sure that your resume is concise, direct, and specific. Ensure that your resume is tailored for the position and for the industry. Highlighting relevant coursework can demonstrate your fit for a particular position. Review our guide on resumes for more information on how to construct one.
Cover Letters
A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer. Use the position description to make specific connections between your skills and experience and what the organization is looking for in a candidate. The cover letter should be concise and well-written—if a potential employer reads your cover letter and is intrigued, they will then read your resume. Your cover letter should not repeat your resume verbatim, but enhance it. Together the cover letter and resume can help land you an interview. Review our guide on cover letters for more information on how to construct one.
Interviewing
Most interviews will contain a mixture of resume based questions (questions about your past experience) and behavioral based questions (your ability to handle prospective situations at work. Most positions will begin with an interview that has a mix of these questions. Review our guide on common interview questions.
Preparation is extremely important for interviews. Research the company/organization, current and previous projects they’ve worked on, and even the people that you’re interviewing with. This will not only help provide talking points but will show your knowledge and genuine interest in the position. Utilize our resources on how to best prepare yourself to excel in your interview.
Online Resources
Explore:
- ND's Psychology Department Information on Careers
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (Occupational Health Handbook - OOH)
- Mental Health Counselors (O*Net)
- Counseling Psychologists, PhD required (O*Net)
- Careers in Psychology, PDF (APA)
- Careers in Psychology Deep Dive (APA)
Professional Associations:
- American Psychological Association
- Comprehensive List of Psychology-Related Professional Associations
Other Resources:
- The Psychology Podcast
- Speaking of Psychology Podcast (APA)
- The Positive Psychology Podcast
- Comprehensive Psychological Journal Listings
- South Bend Community-Based Research
Campus Resources
Meet with a counselor
Schedule an Appointment
Employer Examples:
- Private practices
- Hospitals and mental health facilities
- School systems
- Government agencies
- Nonprofits and for-profit organizations
Join Handshake:
Personalize your feed, explore your curiosities, and get updates that matter to you. Handshake is a dynamic system that works to match students with the most relevant resources and opportunities offered by our office including:
• Access to personalized job recommendations – This is based on major, career interests, and profile information such as skills and experiences. When students fill out their profile, they’ll be able to see jobs and internships that match their interests and skills.
• Ability to schedule one–on-one counseling appointments – Counseling appointments are able to be scheduled through Handshake and held virtually via Zoom.
• Ability to Interact with employers – Students can research contact information for local and national employers. Employers can also message students with opportunities and information.
• Connect with students across the country - Students can interact with their peers through messaging, get tips and advice, as well as network.
• Search for and apply to open positions - On Handshake, students can see jobs and internships posted specifically for them as well as employers actively recruiting from Notre Dame.