Start with registering for the Career Planning Essentials program and combine with 1-1 Career Counselling.

Career Planning Essentials: A comprehensive on-line self-assessment and career planning program that is designed to help you build more clarity and explore career and education options. The program guides you through a series of self-assessment activities to help you gain more self-awareness of your values, interests, personal strengths, and skills. To register, go to oscarplusmcmaster.ca > Student Success Centre > Events. You will find the event listed on the first Monday of each month and registration stays open all month.

1-1 meetings with a career counsellor: A collaborative and confidential space to discuss your unique background and experiences and address your career and education questions or concerns. Meet with a Career Counsellor as you work through Career Planning Essentials program and you will be well on your way to navigating your career and education decisions with more clarity and confidence.

To meet with a Career Counsellor, go to oscarplusmcmaster.ca > Student Success Centre > Appointments – Career Counselling. Appointments are available both in person and virtually through zoom meetings.

Here are just some of the additional supports we have to help you reflect and build more self-clarity on what is best for you

Here are some activities you can try now:

• Digital Challenge Cards: This activity is designed to help you prioritize and focus on what matters most to you. You can start now and follow up with a career counsellor for further guidance
• Values Reflection Activity: This will help you consider what you really want in a career
• Pondering My Life: The questions in this activity will help you ponder and discover new insights.

Here are some additional career assessments you can speak with a Career Counsellor about:

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Personality assessment
• Strong Interest Inventory: Interest career assessment
• SkillScan: Skills self-assessment sort
• One-Life Narrative Storyteller: Reflect on your stories to develop a career statement

• Career Cruising: A Canadian source of career and education options.
• Alis: Occupational and labour market information.
• U of M: Occupational info and associated resources.
• O*Net online: American comprehensive database of occupations and labour market info.
• What can I do with a major in: A helpful site to explore occupations, industries and strategies.
• Careers by Majors: A helpful site to explore occupations, sample job titles, employment areas or professional associations.

• LinkedIn is an effective tool to explore and learn more about career pathways and job titles. You can expand your contacts by joining McMaster’s Alumni groups. Search for people with similar degrees, or search by occupations and learn from others’ education or experiential pathways.
• Job postings found through general or industry specific job posting sites can help you understand specific requirements for a job. Explore by using keywords or specific job titles and pay attention to job titles, companies, skills and competencies, and education required or considered an asset.

Speaking with people in the career field, industry or occupation you are interested in or curious about is another great way to get further clarity. This can be done informally through being open and curious to learn about other’s career and education pathways. This can also be approached through intentionally reaching out to find people in the career area you are exploring – you may have heard this called “informational interviews” .

To help you find people to talk with about their career and career pathways, here are some resources to consider:

• MacConnect: An alumni database
• Professional Associations: Look for directories or mentorship programs
• McMaster’s LinkedIn site: Use the Alumni section to search for people that might have graduated from your program, in an occupation you are curious about, or working for an organization in your field you are considering.
• Supports through SSC’s experiential learning team: Ask about Career Conversations and mentorship opportunities (experiential@mcmaster.ca)

When exploring and researching, try to stay open to learning about the careers and education paths and don’t let the uncertainties or questions stop you.

After you have explored and researched options,

• Narrow down your ideas based on your self-assessment and research on the occupations. Perhaps a list of of 3 – 5 occupations that seem to interest you on some level.
• Develop a list of questions you have about each occupation, career field or education path to help direct your next steps.
• Create an action plan that includes specific steps and timelines to help you move forward in your career planning.
• Try not to force a decision too early but put some tentative plans in place to test out your ideas
• Meet with a career counsellor to help guide you and strategize with you on your next steps. Book an appointment on oscarplusmcmaster.ca > Student Success Centre > Appointments.
• Considering building new experiences and developing skills through paid and unpaid work.

• Check out the programs and services on the Experience Building and Global Opportunities web pages.
• McMaster’s OSCARplus Student Success Centre, connects you with paid and unpaid opportunities:
  • Summer, part-time, final-year and post-degree jobs
  • Volunteer and on-the-job learning opportunities (Career Treks)
  • Career Fairs and Volunteer Fairs
• Student-work program offers on-campus jobs during school year and summer – look on Mosaic under the Student Opportunities section. Most positions are posted in first week in August for part-time and first week in March for summer.
• Get involved on campus through clubs and services at McMaster Student Union
• Job search coaching to help you find employment or volunteer opportunities. Book your appointment on OSCARplus / Appointments / Job Search Coaching

• First, it is important to be clear about your intentions – Why are you interested in this career area? What motivates you to work in this field?  Consider booking an appointment for Career Counselling and signing up for the free, online Career Planning Essentials Course on OSCARplus to help clarify what you want and help direct your  education options.  
• Because there is a range of occupations and career pathways in working in the mental health field, it’s helpful to use  professional associations or regulatory colleges for career and education information.  
• Talking with people in the field will also help you understand the education pathways and the various roles and work environments you can work in. Informational Interviews can help you get clarity in this field that can be confusing to explore.  

First it’s important to be aware of the range of occupations in this career field: 

Psychiatrists train as a medical doctor (MD) first, and then specialize in Psychiatry.  They predominantly diagnose and prescribe medication and conduct follow-up for treatment stabilization, provide consultation/treatment planning recommendations to front line staff (ex. Social Workers, Psychologists, Nurses). Some opt to engage in psychotherapy or research. 

For more information:

• Ontario Psychiatric Association
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 

 Psychologists (PhD) and Psychological Associates (Masters) are “trained in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of behavioural and mental conditions. They diagnose neuropsychological disorders and dysfunctions as well as psychotic, neurotic and personality disorders and dysfunctions. In addition, Psychologists and Psychological Associates use a variety of approaches directed toward the maintenance and enhancement of physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning” (College of Psychologists of Ontario, www.cpo.on.ca).  They must attend an accredited program that provides supervised practice and prepares you for the Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) exams.  

An added note, as we get a lot of questions about the differences. The College of Psychologists of Ontario states: “Psychological Associates have completed a masters level degree in psychology (e.g. M.A., M.Sc., M.Ps., M.Ed.), which is then followed by four years of experience working in the scope of practice of psychology. Psychologists have completed a doctoral level degree in psychology (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D., D.Psy.) which typically includes a one-year internship.” 

For more information:  

•  College of Psychologists of Ontario 
• Canadian Psychological Association 
• Ontario Psychological Association 

 Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples, and families in individual and group settings.  Psychotherapists work together with their clients to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behavior and social functioning.  They do not diagnose and are limited to the kinds of psychological assessments they can perform.  Training for a master’s level psychotherapist is generally around 2 years.  A research thesis is typically not required but mandatory if you wish to pursue doctoral studies. 

For more information: 

• Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association 
• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario 

Psychometrists are “part of research or healthcare teams that specialize in administering, scoring, analyzing and interpreting psychological tests. In Ontario, Psychometrists are not legally allowed to communicate diagnoses, so they must work under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist or Psychological Associate, who are licensed to do so. Tasks include explaining testing procedures to clients, answering questions, administering tests, scoring tests, analyzing data, interpreting results, writing reports and communicating results to other mental health care professionals.” Educational requirements for this field can range from a bachelors degree in psychology/human behavior or Masters in Psychology.  

For more information: 

• Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals  

 Social Workers (Bachelor of Social Work)  can provide a range of supports including  counselling , case management services, advocacy, program facilitation, and various forms of service delivery depending on population they are working with.  Social Workers will refer their clients/patients to a psychologist or psychiatrist for evaluation. The Bachelor of Social Work program is typically a four-year undergraduate degree that must be completed at a recognized institution . There are also post-degree BSW programs, such as the one at McMaster, that can be completed in 2 years.  

For more information: 

• Ontario Association of Social Workers 
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers 

 Social Workers (Masters of Social Work) provide counselling or psychotherapy, case management services,  various forms of service delivery as well as policy related work. The Master of Social Work is  typically 2 years for those that have an Honours degree and 1 year for those that have a Bachelor of Social Work degree. 

For more information: 

• Ontario Association of Social Workers 
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers 

 Occupational Therapists  typically focus on improving functioning and reducing impairment in practical ways by improving life skills, community participation, building motivation, and support. They may choose to get specialized training in counselling or psychotherapy or work with individual with chronic mental health that impairs their daily living.  

For more information: 

•  Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists 
• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario 

Child and Youth Workers work with children and youth who have social, emotional or behavioural issues. Primarily offered as an Advanced Diploma at Ontario Colleges, other pathways include Bachelors or diploma.  Skills gained include crisis management, treatment options and strategies, counselling, case management and child and youth development.  Typical workplace settings include schools, shelters, group homes, social service agencies, correctional facilities and community/mental health centres. (Child and Youth Worker, Ontario Colleges). 

For more information:

• Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care 

Because there is a range of professions in the field, with different education pathways, it might be helpful to first outline the different educational credentials. As you review, you can consider the education path that is best for you personally and to also prepare you professionally for your career path.   

Graduate Certificate (or Diploma) : Requires a university degree or college certificate/diploma for admission, building on knowledge and experience gained in previous postsecondary study in a specialized area (ontariocolleges.ca). 

• Social Service Worker-Accelerated, Career Development Practitioner, Child and Youth Worker – Accelerated.  

BSW : A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a 4-year undergraduate degree that gives you the entry-level requirements for registering with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). 

• You can also find post-degree BSW (2 years)  

MEd: A professional masters program with a focus on preparing students for working as a practitioner. Does not generally have an independent research/thesis component or is optional, and tends to be focused on coursework and internship experience.

• M.Ed in Counselling & Psychotherapy  

MA: A Masters of Arts program that includes an independent research component.  Generally, the completion of a Masters thesis is required for entrance into a doctoral program. To prepare you for the clinical/counselling practice, look for MA programs that include a clinical internship/practicum.  Typically these Masters programs in the field will require an Honours Psychology degree or equivalent. 

•  M.A in counselling & clinical psychology. 

MSc:  A Masters of Science program in the science or health science faculty. It does not necessarily mean you need a B.Sc to apply to these programs. Professional degrees like Occupational Therapy and Psychotherapy might have this designation. Typically focused on evidence based clinical practices and providing clinical experience. 

• Masters of Science in Psychotherapy 

MSW: A Masters of Social Work (MSW) can be completed in 1 year after your BSW or 2 years after an Honours Degree (some pre-requisites may be required ). The MSW programs that have clinical practicum placements will prepare you for a range of helping roles, including therapy/counselling. 

• Masters of Social Work (FT or PT). 

PsyD (Doctorate of Psychology): Following a scientist-practitioner model, this degree tends to have a greater emphasis on training students to become clinicians/practitioners. This model is more common in the United States, although these programs do exist in Canada.

• PsyD in Clinical Psychology .  

PhD: (Doctorate of Philosophy): Following a scientist-practitioner model, this degree has a  emphasis on research in the field as well as clinical skills through internship. There are direct entry options or programs that require you to first apply to the MA program then continue to the Ph.D program.

• MA/Ph.D Child and Adolescence Clinical psychology  

EdD (Doctorate of Education):  a pathway for professionals working in the field to build on their knowledge and skills and take on leadership roles. Is primarily for professionals who are already engaged in a career in counselling services in an educational and/or community setting. 

• EdD Counselling Psychology 

Many of these careers are regulated health professions and the regulatory college or Associations have helpful resources.  

• Associations: group intended to support the professionals in the field.  These are specific to your career area of interest and often list accredited programs and job boards.  Pro-tip: often, you can use the directory to connect with professionals for an Informational Interview.
• Regulatory Colleges: body intended to protect public interest, the college gives information on registration requirements to practice and scope of practice. Understanding the registration requirements is important if exploring programs outside of Ontario or Canada.  
• Research using career information databases like Career Cruising, through the search feature on LinkedIn, and by talking with professionals in the Alumni and Partners Network who are currently in the occupation or industry.  Working in Mental Health is a website that profiles occupations in mental health. 
• Consider volunteer opportunities with organizations that allow you to volunteer with the population/issue or work setting (you likely will not practice formal counselling until in placement in some professional program). 
• Use education databases to search for programs  include UniversityStudy.ca and OntarioColleges.ca.  and you can refer to our Considering Further Education tip sheet for more guidance on your application. 

The Student Success Centre can help you explore you options through career counselling, career planning essentials course, career assessments and career exploration supports. We are here to help. 

This is not an exhaustive list, but hope it helps you explore more career possibilities with different education pathways.  

• Addictions Counsellor 
• Autism and Behavioural Therapist 
• Brain Disorders Management 
• Career Development Professional 
• Learning Disabilities Specialist 
• Disability Management 
• Mental Health Nursing (for RNs and RPNs)  
• Probation Officer 
• Life Coach 
• Recreational Therapist  
• Spiritual Care Provider 
• Social Policy Analyst 

• Undergraduate degree – a psychology undergraduate degree is not your only option, be sure to check the schools/programs for requirements.  
• GPA requirements  – these will vary depending on the competitiveness of the program.  Many programs will be more interested in your last 2 years of academics as more representative of your ability to perform at a Master level program.  
• Letter of reference – many will ask you to provide professional and academic references. The professional references may be from volunteer positions.  
• Experience – this will be highly valuable to prepare you for the clinical placements in these programs but also it is generally required for most programs in this field. Look for building experiences in a direct helping role and experience that shows your knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and supports.   
• Resume/CV   
• Interview  
• Deadlines  

• Make a list of schools that you are interested in  
  • An Excel spreadsheet outlining the program details might be useful 
  • Further Ed Program Organizer (Excel) 
• Many schools require experience in the field  
  • Consider volunteering or gaining experience at clubs, organizations and professors 
  • It might also be useful to conduct informational interviews with professionals in the field  
  • Networking and Informational Interviews (PDF) 
  • Experience Building: Career Conversations (PDF) 
• You will need to consider references  
  • How to Ask for Grad School References (PDF) 
• Might need to update and tailor your resume/CV 
  • Resume Tips (PDF) 
  • Resume Workbook (PDF) 
• You might need to review your GPA  
  • Consider deadlines for applications and work backwards to develop a plan. Consider building in time after your degree to gain experiences and put in a strong application.  

For M.A/Ph.D in Psychology, some programs might require you write the GRE.

Absolutely. We are here for you. For assistance with all-things further education, feel free to reach out to the Student Success Centre in whichever way is most comfortable for you. We offer workshops, one-on-one appointments, research and application support, interview preparation and many more services.

• Guide to Grad School (PDF) 
• Volunteer Applications: Police Checks (PDF) 
• Volunteering on Campus (PDF) 
• Volunteer: Places of Interest (PDF) 
• Accessible Involvement and Volunteering (PDF) 
• More Student Success resources  
• Check out the Grad and Professional School Fair offered at McMaster usually in the beginning of the fall term.   

Here are some suggested actions you can take to help build your career with purpose.

1. Follow the suggested activities in your Challenge Card Profile report.
2.  Get curious about organizations and people working on the same challenges. Here are some suggested resources to help you do that.
   • MacConnect is a database of McMaster alumni who you can contact to get advice and insight into different career areas.
   • Use LinkedIn to learn about people and organizations, and join groups with similar interests.
   • Use the Ask a Librarian service to get connected to directories and resources, and develop a list of potential organizations working on the challenges that interest you.
3. Explore opportunities to gain more experience and build skills in the areas that have meaning for you. Here are some suggestions on how to do that.
   • Career events and fairs: Meet with representatives to connect your challenges to real-world opportunities.
   • McMaster Students Union (MSU): Offers many clubs and services that might provide opportunities to start working on your Challenge Card areas.
   • MacChangers: Open to undergraduate and graduate students from all programs at McMaster.
   • CityLabHamilton: A collaboration between the city of Hamilton and McMaster University.
   • Charity Village: Explore volunteer and job postings to learn how you can get involved or work for an organization with purpose.
   • United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals: Supplement your Challenge Cards results with these UN goals.

Meet with a career counsellor to learn about your skills and strengths and get support as you navigate your career journey. To book a one-on-one appointment with an SSC career counsellor, go to OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Careers.