After Graduation Void
Ah graduation! The caps and gowns. Finally receiving that diploma we have put all of our sweat and tears into these last several years. No more final exams, pulling all-nighters, or worrying about the next assignment grade. We toss the tassel over our caps and with brilliant smiles, we walk down the aisle on our way to a bright new future.
But…what is that future exactly?
For me, graduation was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Throughout college, I was told that the best option is to go straight into graduate school, and since I wanted to get a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, it seemed the most logical step. So, I planned that, in my senior year, I would go through the grueling process of completing applications.
Unfortunately, things did not quite pan out that way for me. When senior year arrived, I had taken a lighter class load and started planning for after graduation. As I developed my plan, I realized that there were still things that I wanted to do before graduate school. I wanted clinical experience and to join another lab. Some members of my family became very ill, as well. I could not just leave the state or devote my time wholly to graduate school. I needed a new plan.
With the realization that I wasn’t going to apply to graduate school right away, a new fear settled in the pit of my stomach. I was tossed upon the waves of uncertainty. I was nauseous, anxious, and disbelieving that this was my choice. What now? Our lab has so much to offer in the way of instructions and workshops when it comes to graduate school prep. This was not the case for guiding someone who wasn’t applying to graduate school right away.
After some thought, I realized that, although I wasn’t going to graduate school this year, the world wasn’t ending. There was much that I could do with my new found time. This wasn’t time wasted.
I joined Dr. Benning’s lab, and I continued to help Dr. Barchard. With my continued involvement with research secured, I began to look at internships in psychology. I also started to look at job opportunities that could offer me new insights or experiences.
I had been hopeful that I would find good internships quickly. That wasn’t the case, unfortunately. Most of the jobs I found required a Masters or PhD. Internships that interested me were out of state. These searches often left me discouraged and stressed. Instead of waking up in the morning to go to school, I would get up, grab a cup of coffee, and plop myself down in front of a computer, while still in my pajamas. Having all that free time was one of the most frustrating parts of the process.
In the midst of my frustration, I gave up trying to find psychology jobs. I liked writing. At one point, I had considered making English my minor. I also had managerial experience. So, I started to look up job listings that revolved around writing, English, and managerial work. That is when I found my life-line. I saw a job listing for something called a Communications Assistant for Sorenson CaptionCall. The job listing required someone who knew English to help those with hearing impairments. I decided to give it a shot and sent in my application. That night, I got a wonderful call back.
It turned out that I would not be interacting directly with people who have hearing disabilities. Instead, my job would be to help these people communicate with loved ones and others via telephone. When they make or receive a phone call, I would have to caption (speak) what is being said by the person without the hearing disability, so that the computer could convert the words to text. That way our clients could read what is being said while they are listening, so they can respond accordingly.
Though being a Communications Assistant isn’t directly related to psychology, it has given me some interesting training to add to my repertoire. Captioning requires a lot of mental stamina to focus on what is being said, while speaking at the same time, and so it has allowed me to train my mental stamina. This is important to me since I want to see patients in the future. I need to have a high stress tolerance and be able to work long hours while staying focused. As a Communications Assistant, I also hear people saying very strange things and cannot be surprised by what is being said, much like how a clinical psychologist cannot be startled by what their clients discuss with them.
Since the main point of my job is to help people who are deaf or hearing impaired communicate, I have a hand in increasing their quality of life by helping them connect with their loved ones. This population often suffers from isolation and depression because they withdraw from friends and family that they used to communicate with. They stop going out and enjoying things they love. Though I never see the people I assist, I get to help them find that connection again and I promote their well-being through that connection. They don’t feel invisible or uninvolved anymore. So even a job that is not related to psychology offers skills and experiences that can contribute to your future goals, whatever they may be.
Now that I have this job, I can add a unique skill to my CV. Since I am not freaking out about finding a job, I can focus on studying for my GRE and knock one more thing off my list.
My advice to you is to look over your CV and see what you are lacking. Find jobs that have something to do with the gaps you want to fill. Take note of what you have experience with and are good at, and look up job opportunities related to that. It doesn’t hurt to have more experiences and sometimes these jobs can help fill in your missing areas as well. Look for internships that are close by or affiliated with the school you wish to attend. Volunteer at another lab. And finally, study for your GRE.
So, in the end, graduating is full of jubilation and nervous nail biting. There are options out there and the most important thing to remember is to bring whatever you do back to your CV. Do not be afraid to try something new. Even if it is not wholly related to your field of interest, it can provide new experiences, connections, and unique skills you may not have had if you went straight into graduate school.
Brianna Maxim is a recent graduate from UNLV and has been in Dr. Barchard’s lab for 4 years. She continues to work with Dr. Barchard, and now Dr. Benning, to further her research knowledge. Her plan is to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and begin to teach, research, and treat patients. Her research interests include personality and how stigma affects those with mental disorders, and the field in general.