On March 27th, Swarthmore Psychology alumni and students gathered on Zoom to discuss their path in psychology and their careers after Swarthmore. Alumni panelists were asked what they did during their time at Swarthmore, how to decide on grad school, and identify research and job opportunities. After the Q&A, students had the chance to go into breakout rooms to share with alumni and chat in small groups. Here are the main takeaways:
- “Any experience is good experience”
Whether you are considering going to grad school or not, having research experience in psychology will always be valuable for your career. However, if research opportunities are not available to you, any experience in which you are working with people will greatly benefit you by building interpersonal skills that can contribute to your career in psychology. “It’s about getting your foot in the door” and “Might not be exactly what you want but it is something to get you started,” said some of the panelists.
- “There are many paths you can take”
From working in non-profits for education to research in public health, we have a very diverse alumni body in terms of career paths. Panelists made emphasis on the fact that the liberal arts education, their leadership, and work experiences granted them transferable skills that they were able to show on their resumes, cover letters, and interviews helping them land important jobs. For instance, one of them spoke on how being a campus tour guide and a writer for the Phoenix helped him get started in journalism, which allowed him to later go to grad school and become a therapist. Others spoke on how taking classes in computer science or different writing courses allowed them to go into non-profits and research. Panelists encouraged students to keep an open mind and explore different areas!
- “Have a strong network”
Having relationships with your professors and alumni is the best resource! They will be able to guide you in the process of grad school, research, and internships, or will put you in touch with someone who could help you. Panelists emphasized how their professors helped them discover career paths and people that allowed them to get to where they are. They also highlighted their enthusiasm to help other students, so make sure you stay in touch with alums. A good way to do this is using our new resource, SwatLink. SwatLink makes it easy for students and alumni to find each other for networking, career exploration, or connection based on shared interests or affinity.
