Sociology : Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Social researcher - plans, designs and manages social research projects on topics such as unemployment or crime. 
• Counsellor - helps people to explore emotions that are often related to their experiences; works with them to deal with difficulties, feelings of distress, dissatisfaction or a loss of purpose.
• Community development worker - works with individuals, families and communities to develop skills, plan goals and identify rights and opportunities in order to improve quality of life.
• Advice worker - responds to requests for help from members of the public and assists clients by providing information and confidential advice on a wide range of issues including careers, finance, health and welfare issues.
• Further education lecturer - organises and teaches one or more subjects in a general or specialist college of further education (FE), a tertiary or sixth form college or community education centre.
• Social worker - works in a variety of settings and within a framework of relevant legislation and procedures, supporting individuals, families and groups within the community. 

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Probation officer - aims to rehabilitate offenders by enforcing conditions of court orders, conducting risk assessments and ensuring offenders’ awareness of the impact of their crime.
• Charity fundraiser - works with the general public and corporate/business organisations, as well as with charitable trusts, to raise awareness of a charity's work, aims and goals.
• Housing manager/officer - develops, supplies or manages housing and related services on behalf of local authorities, housing associations, universities and property management companies.
• Primary school teacher or secondary school teacher - develops work and lesson plans and teaches in line with curriculum objectives.
• Human resources officer - advises, develops and implements policies relating to personnel within an organisation such as working practices, recruitment, pay, conditions and diversity.
• Youth worker - promotes the personal, educational and social development of young people. This could be based within social, community or educational settings.

The chief concern of sociology graduates is people, and therefore, jobs in the police force, market research, retail management, disability advising and the civil service are all areas into which sociology graduates may choose to go.

Other options

Practical skills and work experience may be required depending on the career you choose. For some posts, a postgraduate qualification is needed. Part-time and voluntary opportunities can be combined with your course or job in order to gain experience. These include opportunities in schools, community education and social work departments or with groups including young people, victims of crime or homeless people.

Have a look at the British Sociological Association  website and think about the group or environment you are interested in. Narrowing down your preferences allows you to focus your approach to specific employers. Securing work after your degree with a relevant employer in a temporary post or in an introductory role is worth considering in the short term in order to gain experience and knowledge of the job. It could also open up vacancies that are only advertised to existing staff. 

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.