5 Bachelors in Sociology Jobs in the Government Sector

Sociology is the science and study of human relationships. It is one of those majors with no set path after you graduate from college. The flexibility can be scary as you plan to enter the workforce for the first time. But, it can also be freeing. There are many sociology jobs to choose from after graduation. As a sociology major, your career path depends on your interests. You can find many sociologist jobs in the government sector. Read on to find out more about the best government jobs for sociology majors. Also, find out which are the best degrees for government jobs.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Sociology Degree

Once you have a sociology degree, your job search can take you down many different career paths. From human resources to behavioral sciences, you can qualify for work in the sociology field. Some jobs might require more schooling, such as a master’s degree. For example, to work as a market research analyst or human resources manager, you need an advanced degree. But sociology graduates can also find work in many different social services fields. Some jobs with a bachelors in sociology are in the government sector. These jobs want candidates with analytical skills and an advanced degree. But some government job opportunities want other types of job training and experience. Read on to find which government jobs are out there for sociology majors. Here are 5 government sector sociology jobs for sociology bachelor degree graduates. They are bachelors in sociology jobs that sociology majors can qualify for.

1. Child and Youth Specialist

Did you know military bases hire sociology majors? Bases function as complete, self-contained towns with:

• Community organizations
• Grocery stores
• Homes
• Recreation
• Schools

They are entire communities that need sociology graduates in many different areas, including mental health and social services. One such area where sociology majors work is in youth services. Since children and families live on base, they need specialized services. A child and youth specialist helps run different child and family-focused programs. They also work with individuals in particular situations. Sociology majors can land jobs overseeing the safety and welfare of children on base.

Average Salary

With a sociology degree, you can work as a child and youth specialist. The average annual salary for this job is $32,638/year. This number varies by geographic location and years of experience. But sociology majors can plan on making around $33,000/year right out of college.

2. Correctional Program Specialist

If you’re interested in the criminal justice side of sociology in government sociology work, this job might be a good fit. Correctional program specialists act as managers over prisoner holding methods. They also manage transfer operations. Being security- and safety-minded matter in this role. You won’t work directly with prisoners. But you will oversee operations that affect them. You see this job on domestic military bases and aboard ships. You also find this job in correctional facilities. To qualify for these employment opportunities, you need a sociology degree. Some management roles want an advanced degree and experience in the criminal justice system.

Average Salary

The average pay for this job is $60,250/year (reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). But pay and labor statistics vary depending on where you live.

3. Foreign Affairs Officer

The US Department of State is responsible for a wide range of goals. One of these goals is pursuing beneficial relations with other countries while also advancing American interests. In pursuing this goal, many foreign affairs officers are needed to do much of the groundwork. Many of these workers are best served by a background in sociology. Foreign affairs officers work from a home office in the US. You also travel abroad to work in advancing these relationships. You meet with foreign governing bodies to gain cultural understanding. You also travel back to the US to prepare diplomatic propositions. This is a role based on communication and understanding. So, having good communication and writing skills helps. You need a sociology degree for this job. Some employers prefer a master’s degree. But you can make your bachelor’s degree stand out with a foreign language minor or learning a second language.

Average Salary

Depending on where you work, you can earn between $85,000 and $100,000/year. But you will need more than a bachelor’s degree to land a high-paying job. Sociology students can prepare for this job by first getting a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree.

4. Senior Advisor

The Bureau of Human Resources, or BHR, is one government office which hires senior advisors with sociological knowledge. They handle many human resources issues, such as employee benefits and labor statistics. They also take care of:

• Assignment evaluation
• Career development
• Promotion
• Retirement policies and programs

The Bureau hires professionals from diverse backgrounds. Having a sociology degree helps. But you also need technical knowledge and experience using contemporary research methods. There are many employment opportunities for those with the right education and experience. If you’re getting started on your journey toward a senior advisor career, a sociology degree can help.

Average Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average salary for senior advisors as $65,000 to $85,000/year. This number can increase or decrease depending on where you live.

5. Training Officer

A sociology major can go to work as a training officer with the right schooling and experience. Training officers work in all branches of the military. They fill a role focused on training and educating officers. Many of these training specialists have sociology degrees. To earn this job title, you need experience with sociological theory and professional development. Most of the job deals with improving human relations, so it’s important to have relevant skills you can show a potential employer. You should also be good working with and leading teams.

Average Salary

The average pay for training and development managers is over $120,000/year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Specialists earn less, but pay depends on where you live and how much experience you have.

Other Bachelors Sociology Jobs

You can find other sociology bachelor degree jobs in different fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are certain fields that employ more sociology majors than others. Some of the most popular fields for sociology majors include:

• Behavioral sciences
• Human resources
• Mental health
• Social services

Job titles sociology majors will find in these fields include:

• Human resources manager
• Market research analyst
• Public relations specialist
• Social worker
• Substance abuse specialist

But to land a job as a sociology major, you should have relevant skills and training. You should also stand out above your competition because many candidates compete for the same job. For example, a social worker position can have hundreds of applicants. But there are ways to make your sociology degree stand out.

Key Tips for Finding Online Sociology Jobs

Now that you’ve discovered which bachelors in sociology jobs are out there, you can make yourself stand out from your competition. Let’s face it. It’s a competitive market and jobs in government sector are hard to get. But there are ways to make yourself stand out as a candidate. Read on for tips on finding bachelor’s degree in sociology jobs.

1. Intern for Real-World Experience

Sociology students can get real-world experience by completing an internship. Before you earn a sociology degree, you can intern with a company or government agency. Your internship can help you get experience conducting research and working with focus groups in a closely related field of sociology. Internships also give sociology students an opportunity to explore your interests. While interning, you might discover you have a passion for working in a field that helps people handle substance abuse. You might also discover you want to put your research skills to work alongside a team of market research analysts. Internships are a great way for sociology majors to show employers they have real-world experience.

2. Make Your Resumé Stand Out

There are many employment opportunities for a qualified candidate. But you have to stand out above your competition. How do you do that? You must make your resumé shine. A glossy resumé shows off your schooling and experience. It tells a potential employer that you are more than your sociology degree. Because in a world where colleges are graduating record numbers of sociology majors, you have to stand out to compete for jobs. Highlighting relevant skills and experience helps you stand out. It is important to list leadership positions and volunteer roles that can help you stand out as a candidate. You can also list relevant courses you’ve taken as a sociology major. Your resumé can show an employer more than your sociology degree. It is the place to paint the picture of how qualified you are for the job.

3. Network and Connect with Alumni

Another great way to find jobs for sociology majors is to check out what other college grads are doing. Does your school have a large alumni network? If so, spend time seeing what career paths fellow grads have taken. Some schools offer a dedicated alumni directory. You can also visit LinkedIn and search for alumni. If you see someone doing something you’re interested in, reach out and try to connect with them. Start your communication with the fact that you are both connected to the same college or university. You can narrow your job search by connecting with other sociology majors who graduated from your school. In summary, you can make yourself stand out above other candidates through:

• Internships
• Networking

Both help you improve your resumé and make your sociology degree stand out. But you can also do other things in college that help your career path. These include working with a professor on a research project and taking experiential learning courses. When you work with a professor or grad student, you can improve your research skills. You get hands-on research experience that looks great to a potential employer. You can make your resumé stand out by having a research project listed. Another way to improve your resumé is to take courses that get you out of the classroom. Experiential learning courses turn your sociology degree into one with hands-on training. As a sociology major, you can take classes that improve certain skills by giving you practical applications. Your classes take you out of the classroom and into a certain field. You can participate in mental health or substance abuse workshops. Experiential learning looks great on a resumé. It’s one thing to learn a topic in the classroom. But it’s another to experience it in the real world.

Relevant Skills Sociology Students Need

Sociology majors develop relevant skills for different jobs in the field. They learn to conduct research and apply it to the social world. They collect and analyze data. They also gather labor statistics. What they research depends on the role they have. You can apply these skills to a number of jobs. Sociology majors learn how to interpret the data they collect. They also learn how to present their findings to faculty and peers. Sociology majors learn how to think globally and share their work with others. Sociology students develop strong communication skills through their studies, which employers like. Your sociology degree can also help you develop problem-solving skills. Employers look for candidates who can identify problems that exist in the real world. You also learn how to exercise your creative abilities and analytical skills. These work together to help you problem-solve. You learn many different skills while getting a sociology degree. This includes both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. But what makes you unique are the additional skills you bring to a potential employer. Whether you study behavioral sciences or have an advanced degree in sociology, you can show off your unique skillset to a potential employer. This concludes our article on finding government jobs for sociology majors.

BDP Staff

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