Preparing for Graduate Study or Entering the Workforce

Resumes Your resume “sells” you and your skills. Keep your resume up to date

If you change jobs, update Receive a certification, update Keep a record of jobs, dates, supervisors, and contact

information to help you fill out applications

Bring copies to conferences or other events where networking can take place

Keep several versions (themes) Different schools/jobs look for different skills and

abilities being highlighted

UB Career Center

Located in the Student Center, 3rd FloorCareer Advisors Interview Training/tipsMock InterviewsCareer FairsJob SearchResume/Cover Letter Tips and ReviewsWorkshops/Skill Building

Finding a Job Be aware of what a job/career requires.

Experience Degrees/Certifications General knowledge

Look for jobs of interest and see what employers are looking for in candidates. Is there anything you can be doing now to prepare?

(i.e. specific coursework) Know how long the hiring process takes.

Government jobs that require clearances can take up to a year to complete the hiring process.

Can you apply with a company/orgnanization before graduation so you are not scrambling later?

Networking Professional Psychology

Conventions/Conferences: APA = August 12-15, 2010; San Deigo, CA EPA = March 4-7, 2010; New York, NY SIOP = April 8-10, 2010; Atlanta, GA APS = August 4-7, 2010; Westminster, CO

Go to Psi Chi sponsored events Go to UB sponsored events Go to open events at other local universities

(Speakers, career fairs, etc.)

Conferences Presentations of research and current

issues Workshop/Training opportunities Speakers (typically experts in the field/key

researchers) Panel Discussions Networking Vendors/Publishers Student Research/Presentations

Internships Test the water before you dive in. Many internships are unpaid; however:

You gain experienceYou make connections in the working worldSometimes there exists the opportunity for

employment upon graduation Utilize the Career Center, MonsterJobs,

Career Builder, etc., to find internships. Check with your advisor or Dr. Eyssell for

credit possibilities.

Research

Participate in departmental research as a research subject.

If you really want to do research, find a professor whose work you may be interested in. There may be possibilities to assist on research

projects.

PSYC 490 Senior Project in Psychology Don’t wait until your senior semester to start thinking

about your project.

Professional Memberships

There are advantages to joining professional groups as a student. Discounts on journals and free trade magazines Discounts on conference registration

Some Professional Psychology Orgs to look at: American Psychological Association Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Eastern Psychological Association Association for Psychological Sciences

Psi Chi – International Honor Society of Psychology Contacts/Officers:

Cindy Mason, President Krissa Jackson, Vice President Christian Gruhler, Secretary Alex Mattern-Roggelin, Treasurer Janet Yun, Ph.D., Advisor

Get involved! If not in Psi Chi, join other student organizations or

student government

GREs General vs. Subject Exam

Some schools only require the General exam, others require both exams.

General Sections: Verbal Reasoning (800), Quantitative

Reasoning(800), Analytical Writing (5x 2 essays) Subject: Psychology

Sections: Experimental, Social, “Other” Get a study guide (with a CD if possible)

Princeton, Kaplan, Barrons Go to www.gre.org for more information

Testing sites, dates and times, online practice exams, prep classes, and more.

Applying to Grad School Review the admission requirements

thoroughly.Letters of recommendations

Provide with writers plenty of time and pertinent information to write their letters.

GREsTranscriptsEssays

No two essays are the same, you may have to write several different essays for each school.

Resumes

Applying to Grad School

Know who is doing research, at which university. If you have a particular career/research

interest look for schools with professors that have similar interests.

Familiarize yourself with their work, you may be asked how your research goals fit into their current research.

Figure out if the program fits you and your goals.

Stay Informed Stay current with subjects of interest

Use APA student membership to subscribe to journals in your area of interest

Conduct periodic literature searches

Follow the news Distinguish between research hype and truth Be aware of what the general public is being told

about our discipline Be aware of the issues relating to our government

and mental health care

Keep-up with APA Manual changes