REGISTER NOW: 2023 VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR
The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), in collaboration with the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science (CSBBCS), is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Career Fair on Thursday January 12th, 2023, from 12pm – 4pm EST. The Fair marks continuing work the CPA is undertaking to help students understand the multitude of career paths available to them with a psychology degree.
Students participating in this event will have an opportunity to learn about various career paths and positions for psychology graduates outside of the health services and academic settings directly from individuals in those positions; connect with the people in these positions about their experiences via virtual break out rooms; and have an opportunity to talk to the CPA about what they would find helpful in terms of career-related resources and information.
For more information go to https://cpa.ca/careerfair/
2022 Job Fair: March 3rd, 2022
On March 3rd, the CPA hosted its first-ever virtual job fair. Over 40 employers from across Canada, many of whom had multiple positions, participated in the fair. Registered delegates can still access the booths of the employers to obtain information about the employers and their vacancies. If you missed the Fair, visit the Virtual Job Fair page to see which employers participated and to find out more about them and the numerous positions they are seeking to fill.
Visit the Virtual Job Fair page for more information.
EXPLORING A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY
Career Videos: Pathways Series
Part One: Clinical Pathways: Exploring your Career Options in the Mental Health Professions
Originally presented March 11, 2022, this video explores different career options after completing an undergraduate degree in the mental health field. Panelists discuss the education and licensing pathways toward each healthcare profession across Canada, hear the journeys of practicing mental health professionals, and from their experience learn how to become an outstanding applicant. Panel members include Clinical Psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists, and Occupational Therapist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SWXZa5isKk&ab_channel=CPAVideoChannel
Part Two: Different Roads to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
The second instalment of the Pathways series, originally presented April 22, 2022, discusses the different pathways and specializations in graduate clinical psychology. These include Forensic Psychology, Neuropsychology, Health Psychology, Child/Adult Clinical Psychology, and Counselling Psychology. The video also explores pathways to the PsyD and how to be a successful applicant. Panelists include representatives from these areas and in this video they relay their experiences of study and work in their fields of Psychology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsIbZYBgrg8&ab_channel=CPAVideoChannel
Part Three: Research Pathways: From Psychology Research Graduate Degree to Industry – Taking the Leap to a Fulfilling Career Outside of Academia
In this session, originally presented May 24, 2022, a panel of professionals and executives discusses how they leveraged their graduate studies and PhD in experimental psychology to career paths in various industries. These include data science, user experience design, strategy and consulting, marketing, and government policy work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZqRJeo5XY&ab_channel=CPAVideoChannel
(Please note that due to a technical error, the first section of the presentation is missing – efforts are being made to re-interview the missing panelists.)
Webinar Recording: Career Path Navigation: How to Become a School Psychologist. Tips and Tricks from those in the Profession
A panel of graduate students and school psychology practitioners and academics provide valuable information on a variety of exciting careers in school psychology, the academic path and requirements, and the promising job prospects in this field.
- For an overview on “A Career in Psychology” visit: https://cpa.ca/students/career/
- For an in-depth guide on possible career paths open to those with a background in psychology, check out The Canadian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychologycareers/
- For a Canadian perspective for University-bound student to “Planning a Career in Psychology”, refer to: Planning a Career in Psychology: A Canadian Perspective for University Bound and Beginning University Students.
- For examples of different “Careers in and related to Psychology” visit: https://cpa.ca/students/career/careersinpsychology/
- For an overview on the steps to become a licensed psychologist, visit: https://cpa.ca/students/career/becomingapsychologist/
- For a better understanding of provincial and territorial licensure and regulation , visit: https://cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/regulatorybodies/
CAREER RESOURCES
- 2020 Career Fair Presentations. (requires CPA Member login)
The Canadian Handbook for Psychological ScienceThe Canadian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science is a guide for psychology students featuring practical advice for the job-seeking student, such as the best way to construct an email, leave a voicemail, or ask for a letter of reference. The book also contains a lot of information about the possible career paths open to those with a background in psychology. There is a list in the first chapter of all the skills upon which employers are currently placing a premium. They include skills related to leadership, teamwork, communication (written and oral), problem-solving, work ethic, initiative, adaptability, and analytic and technical skills. This handbook is a useful roadmap for all students considering Psychology as a vocation.
- Canadian Association of University Teachers Handbook for Negotiating Starting Salaries
- For navigating salaries, glassdoor has a search function for different salaries in your area and by job title. It also has a “Know Your Worth” tool.
https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/index.htm?countryRedirect=true - For a “Sample Budget for Setting Up a Practice”, visit: Sample Budget for Setting Up a Practice.pdf
- For a “Guidebook for Starting and Operating an Independent Professional Practice in Psychology”, visit: Starting_A_Psychology_Practice_guidebook.pdf
- For tips on how to promote your research, visit: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/10/career-promote-research
- “Psychology Works” Fact Sheets;
- Dr. Meghan Norris, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology at Queen’s University, guides students through exploration for careers and training in Psychology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dRCl_R2T3U
- Map that highlights and connects professionals working in psychology: https://tinyurl.com/psycscholarmap
- For a Canadian perspective for University-bound student to “Planning a Career in Psychology”, refer to: Planning a Career in Psychology: A Canadian Perspective for University Bound and Beginning University Students.
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGISTS
- CPA hosts an on-demand course titled Starting and Operating an Independent Professional Practice in Psychology that helps students and psychologists understand the many issues associated with independent practice, and can help current practitioners enhance their business practices. Registration: register for the course here: https://cpa.ca/professionaldevelopment/webcourses/catalogue/#Course1
- For mapping out a career in psychology, self-assessment tools for individual development plans can be found here: https://www.apa.org/education/grad/self-assessment.pdf
- For an overview of CPA “Early Career” Membership options, visit: https://cpa.ca/membership/becomeamemberofcpa/membershiptypes/
- For more information on CPA member professional liability insurance coverage, visit: https://cpa.ca/insurance/
- For Early Career Psychologist grant and funding opportunities, visit here: COMING SOON!
- For navigating salaries, glassdoor has a search function for different salaries in your area and by job title found here: https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/ You can also check out their “Know Your Worth” tool.
- For a “Sample Budget for Setting Up a Practice”, visit: Sample Budget for Setting Up a Practice.pdf
- For a “Guidebook for Starting and Operating an Independent Professional Practice in Psychology”, visit: Starting_A_Psychology_Practice_guidebook.pdf
PRACTICING PSYCHOLOGY IN CANADA: RESOURCES FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS
- For an overview of “The Study and Practice of Psychology in Canada: Facts for Foreign Nationals”, visit: Facts for Foreign Nationals_FINAL.pdf
- It’s important to note that in Canada, licensure and regulation is under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. For a better understanding of how this works, visit: https://cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/regulatorybodies/
- Customs and Immigration Canada provides links to official educational assessment services. (more information can be found at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assessment.asp).
- For an overview on practice regulation in Canada, visit: https://cpa.ca/practice/practiceregulation/