Career Profiles, Options, Skills, & More - Department of Psychology

Career Profiles

Alumni who have graduated with a BA/BS in Psychology have pursued a wide variety of careers. The following are the several career profiles of alumni who have graduated from the University of Utah with a BA/BS in Psychology.

Mike Brutinel

Supply Coordinator & SEO Manager - Imaging Concepts, LLC

Education

B.S. in Psychology
Human Factors Certificate

Honors & Awards

Honor Roll

Activities & Societies

Research Assistant

Mike Brutinel began his education at the University of Utah in 2010. Over the course of several years he pursued a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology, and a certificate in Human Factors. Mike graduated in May 2016, and shortly thereafter found a position as a Supply Chain Coordinator & SEO Manager at Imaging Concepts, LLC in Salt Lake City, UT. In this role Mike is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the supply chain shipments and sales for the entire company. This includes ensuring all orders are shipped in a timely fashion, and resolving any issues that may occur. Mike is also directly responsible for managing Imaging Concepts’ online image and search engine rankings.

How an education in psychology benefits Mike Brutinel, Supply Chain Coordinator & SEO Manager:

“The Human Factors Certificate helped me gain experience in creating and analyzing surveys, which play a large part in our effort to control our online image. Overall, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology provided me with critical thinking skills and trained me to be a thrifty consumer of information.” - Mike Brutinel

Sarah Abraham

Enrollment Counselor - Western Governors University

Education

B.S. in Psychology
Minor in Political Science

Honors & Awards

Honor Roll

Activities & Societies

Research Assistant
President of Psi Chi
Secretary of PSAC

Sarah Abraham was a transfer student from Salt Lake Community College. She attended the University of Utah from 2014 – 2016, and completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Political Science. Sarah graduated in the spring of 2016, and soon found employment with Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, UT as an Enrollment Counselor. In this role Sarah is responsible for helping students identify which programs are the best fit for their goals and interests, and assists them through the process of enrollment.

How an education in psychology helps Sarah Abraham as an Enrollment Counselor:

“We spend a lot of time on the phone getting to know our students and helping them decide if one of our programs would be a good fit for them. As the title implies there is lot of counseling involved, so I have been able to utilize many of the skills I obtained while achieving my degree at the University of Utah. I also have the pleasure of working with at least five other graduates from the University of Utah’s – College of Social and Behavioral Science, so that has been a delight.” - Sarah Abraham

Madeleine McCarty

Research Associate - University of Utah, Department of Psychology

Education

B.S. in Psychology
Human Factors Certificate

Honors & Awards

Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Undergraduate Research Scholar
UROP Funding Recipient

Activities & Societies

Research Assistant
Member of Psi Chi

Madeleine McCarty attended the University of Utah from 2012 - 2016 while pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology, and a certificate in Human Factors. She graduated in May 2016, and was immediately employed by the university as a Research Associate in the Department of Psychology. Maddie is currently involved in research using human factors principles to evaluate in-vehicle information systems in the context of distracted driving. As a Research Associate she is responsible for assisting with study coordination and design, data collection and management, and writing summaries and journal papers.

How an education in the field of psychology helps Madeleine McCarty as a Research Associate:

“Working towards the Human Factors Certificate as an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) student provided me with the hands-on opportunity to learn about the entire research process, from literature review and study design to collecting data and writing up results. I use the knowledge gained from completing my undergrad certificate and degree every day.” - Madeleine McCarty

Career Options

Psychology has a vast influence in the marketplace, and there is a large number of career options available. The following is a short list of careers by industry.

Business & Finance

Career, Financial, or Other Advisory Positions
Advertising, Marketing, & Sales
Market Research & Analysis
Public Relations
Management

Criminal Justice

Probation, Parole, or Corrections Officer
Intervention, Advocacy, or Rehabilitation Counselor
Investigator
Criminal Profiler
Jury Specialist

Education

K – 12, Higher Education, & Special Education
Adult Learning or Community Instruction
Information/Library Science

Healthcare & Human Services

Case Management
Counseling & Therapy
Hospice Care
Physical & Mental Rehabilitation
Wellness Promotion
Crisis Planning, Intervention, & Management

Labor & Employment

Human Resources or Labor Relations
Training & Development
Staffing & Recruiting
Compensation & Benefits
Organizational Development

Public Service & Non-profit

Social Work
Fundraising, Convention, & Event Planning
Community Relations
Policy & Program Management
Humanitarian Services & Disaster Relief

Research & Technology

Applied & Experimental Research
Data Analysis
User Experience, User Interface, & Human Centered Design
Error & Risk Analysis

Skill Development

Exploring and developing a well-rounded skillset is an integral part of undergraduate education. As a hub science, psychology places you in one of the most unique and advantageous environments to cultivate the type of skills that are highly prized by nearly every employer. From Ad Executive to Zen Master, the skillset you develop through the study of psychology is one of the most articulate and comprehensive platforms you can use to launch the career of your dreams.

Below is an example of some of the skills you may develop while studying the science of psychology:

Social, Political, & Legal Cognizance
Independent & Group Work Oriented
Effective Communication
Research
Statistical Analysis
Technologically Literate
Ethical Decision Making
Sales & Marketing
Leadership & Motivation
Learning & Development
User Experience & User Interface Design
Error & Risk Analysis
Model & Systems Thinking
Crisis Intervention & Response

Industry Certifications

To increase employment opportunities it is often advantageous to consider certifications that are valued and recognized by particular industries and fields. Complimentary skill sets and certifications can often set you apart from your peers in occupational settings. It will be important for you to determine those certifications that best fit your interests and circumstances, as well as who the appropriate granting body is (as there may be more than one). The following is meant to serve as possible areas of interest. There are many other areas to consider, and this list is not intended to be comprehensive in scope.

Branded Personality Assessments
Coaching
Counseling
Human Resource Certifications
Project Management
Psychiatric Technician
Six Sigma, Agile, or other process management methodologies
Substance Abuse

Professional Organizations

Joining professional organizations can be an important part of career development. Professional organizations facilitate networking, keep you abreast of industry trends, and may provide other benefits such as members only: training, scholarships, job boards, and discounted services with certain affiliates. There is a large number of professional organizations one could join, and they are typically tied more specifically to your academic and career interests. A few are listed below, with an example of how one might consider this process.

American Psychological Association (APA)
Association for Psychological Science (APS)
Any subfield of psychology, and/or industry related fields

Example: Someone interested in becoming a consultant in Industrial/Organizational Psychology may consider joining the APA and/or APS as a student affiliate; joining the subfield organization of the Society of Industrial/Organizational Psychology (SIOP); and joining an industry related field such as Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).