Advice from the best in the UAE.
Q
I’m a grade 12 student and am in the commerce with psychology stream. I would like to pursue a career in psychology. What are the different courses in psychology and the the job opportunities available?
A
Studying psychology along with commerce is an amazingly astute decision and I congratulate you for thinking outside the box. It is important to understand that studying psychology does not necessarily mean you would end up us a psychologist offering medical advice. The study of psychology and behaviour can prove to be immensely beneficial in the business world and daily life making you an invaluable asset to any organisation.
You could use your knowledge of psychology to improve the effectiveness of communication and how best to respond and engage individuals. This could prove extremely helpful not only in job interviews and the work place but also in developing healthy relationships. By studying psychology you will be better prepared to understand and analyse emotions behind human actions leading to skillful conflict resolution.
As a psychologist you will be trained to think critically and analyse any given situation from various angles before coming to an informed decision. Obviously critical and analytical reasoning is an indispensable trait for any leadership position. These are skills that are developed by studying psychology and will help you at work and in your career.
You also have a wide spectrum of options to choose from the conventional medical related opportunities. Clinical psychology is a stream whose applicability lies mainly in healthcare. A clinical psychologist diagnoses and subsequently treats psychological disorders like depression, personality disorders, anxiety and trauma. An educational psychologist helps youngsters achieve life goals and also understand and help resolve emotional problems emanating from family, social or peer pressure. With workplace stress becoming a regular phenomenon most large companies today use the services of an organisational psychologist to advise management and workers how best to improve relationships between peers, increase productivity and combat depression. Another career option is that of psychometric which involves customising psychometric tests, evaluating, reporting and interpreting the findings.
In the corporate world, graduating with a business psychology degree could help you join the HR team. In addition to determining the IQ, organisations routinely screen prospective candidates for their EQ or emotional quotient and a specialist with a psychology background is a value added opinion in the recruitment process. The emphasis would be on human behaviour in the professional space and motivating the resources for better performance. It also includes identifying and analysing personality traits which might be essential for key leadership positions.
Another interesting career is that of marketing psychologist which involves understanding consumer behaviour to predict product suitability and consumer spending habits.
In addition to Ivy League and Oxbridge Universities, psychology on its own or as a dual degree combined with business can be studied at Kings College, Anglia Ruskin, University of Chicago, University of Melbourne and University of Toronto.