5 Signs It’s Time for a Change in Your School Psychologist Career

As a field, education often draws mission-minded individuals driven to make a difference. School psychology careers are the perfect example. If you work in a school psychology role, you’re likely focused on how to help your students excel in school and life.

But if you haven’t been feeling a sense of progress or accomplishment lately, it may be time for a second look. That could come in the form of exploring new opportunities in your school psychology career – looking at new schools, clinics, and programs in your field. Whether you’re a well-experienced psychologist or a relatively new graduate, here are 5 signs it may be time to talk to a recruiter and see what else is out there.

1. Your work is coming home with you

People in all types of roles may occasionally need to bring work home. However, that should be the exception and not the rule. That includes the paperwork, but also the mental weight of the responsibilities waiting for you the next day.

Any time you don’t have enough time to do your work at work, there is a problem. Any time you’re not able to catch the mental and physical rest needed to support your students, it’s an issue worth addressing.

2. Commuting is taking too much time

A bad commute can be a big problem for your school psychologist career. Being physically present is required for providing the most effective support to your students, but a long drive to get there every day will significantly detract from your career satisfaction.

Alternatively, you can look into other positions and locations that are closer to home, giving you more time to devote to your students. Either way, commuting shouldn’t eat into your work time or leisure time too significantly.

3. The workload is too high

Unfortunately, this is another all-too-common problem in school psychologist careers and other education-based roles. Schools may load up school psychologists with students, not taking into account that each student is a person with varying needs. Each student deserves dedicated time and attention, and you can’t provide that if you’re stretched too thin.

4. Lack of flexibility

One of the requirements to be effective in your school psychologist role is flexibility. Students sometimes need intervention when it’s not expected and you should have time to address those needs as they appear. If your time is too regimented and assigned for you rather than by you, that’s a problem both for you and your students.

5. A stall in your professional development

School psychologist careers benefit from continual outside learning. The education field is always growing with new techniques and there are continual studies analyzing new methods to provide effective support. You should have time to understand these developments so you can apply them with your students. Your district should afford you the time and funds to do so.

Finding Opportunities Adjacent to Your School Psychologist Career

Most people go into School psychologist roles to work in a school setting, but if you’re realizing that setting isn’t right for you there are other ways to use your skills. Nonprofits focusing on mental health support for youth are always looking for more psychologists to help assess and work with individuals. Hospitals may also need psychologists for long-term care pediatric patients to help them cope with their diagnosis. Finally, you may consider transitioning to a private practice that works with children or families to use your skills as a psychologist in a non-school setting.

Find Your Next Role with the Support of Nyman Associates

Whether you’re looking for a new School psychologist role or want to expand to another professional area, the team at Nyman Associates can help. We’re dedicated to your success, working with you through every step of your search, application, onboarding, and work.

We work with our applicants to help them achieve the possibility of higher compensation, better hours and work flexibility, and better location among other areas. We can even work with you to get access to the tools and technology you need to best support your students.

Discover your next best step. Connect with us on LinkedIn and send us your resume to get started today.