Psychology is considered a broad science and art that involves the evaluation of human behavior as well as the development of principles to help control and manage the same. The field further consists of the study of mental functions and is, therefore, applicable in numerous other areas such as corporate and social institutions. Scholars, however, advise that before selecting a career path of psychology, an individual should critically assess themselves to ensure they are ready and equipped with appropriate skills required in the industry ( Taylor, 2015) . Not only is psychology physically strenuous in some instances but also mentally and emotionally draining.
Substance Abuse Counseling is a lucrative career discipline as it requires psychologists with a strong personality to perform their roles effectively. This profession involves working closely with individuals addicted to illegal drugs ranging from cocaine to heroin and hence dealing with patients with withdrawal symptoms is considered part of the job description. The labor market and availability are relatively high as it is a fast-growing profession in the United States. The projected rate of growth by Wubbolding (2017) within the business is estimated to be at 22% while the growth rate within other jobs is half the substance abuse counselor's rate.
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Consequently, the income range is set to lie between $25000 and $40000 depending on the level of education, the state of employment, and the years of experience ( Wubbolding, 2017) . Research suggests that within ten years; between 2012 and 2022, the profession will have nearly 30,000 new openings for individuals wishing to pursue the career path ( Taylor, 2015) . The field requires a bachelor's degree in psychology with the requirements of licensure, ranging from state to state. Additionally, individuals can increase their salaries through advancing in education, which then means attaining a master's degree or Ph.D. within the specific field to ensure higher pay.
The job availability is high based on the fact that substance abuse counselors are required in a variety of settings such as in treatment and rehabilitation centers, hospitals, school districts, and Methadone clinics. Scholars predict that the field is among the most viable careers in the future based on the growth rate predicted above ( Taylor, 2015) . The future stability is, therefore guaranteed as there continues to be a prevalent increase in the number of drug addicts who require rehabilitation and treatment to ensure a drug-free society. As mentioned earlier, scholars find that psychology generally involves physically and mentally draining and hence, time consuming.
Benefits associated with substance abuse counseling involve getting such incentives as paid holidays, health insurance covers, and retirement plans. However, there exist challenges mostly related to ethical issues that may arise in a specific line of practice. Problems involving the nurturing of dual relationships with clients or involvement with a client's direct family pose a significant challenge to substance abuse counselors based on the fact that despite having work ethics, they remain humans who continue to have emotions and biased thoughts and judgments.
Opportunities for advancement include the ability of a counselor to own the institutions in which they conduct counseling referred to as "halfway" houses. The career allows for the employment of individuals with interest and hence, the minimum level of education is a high school diploma and thus matches my skillset. Substance abuse counselors are expected to have a strong personality that can manage individuals with withdrawal symptoms and effectively guide them towards a life of recovery and abstinence from illegal drugs.
Human Resource Personnel
Pursuing a career in becoming human resource personnel is a lucrative career for individuals who prefer a corporate setting as opposed to a based clinical career. Research suggests that this is an entry-level job and is thus open to all individuals with interest in psychology despite their lack of interest in working in a clinical setting ( Buckley, Wheeler, Baur & Halbesleben, 2019) . The profession involves assisting human resource managers in developing and implementing effective policies within the organization while considering the psychological perspective and experience. While the career may not be as psychologically engaging as the counseling in substance abuse profession, individuals in the human resource department determine the success or failure of an organization and should thus be qualified and competent.
The labor market and availability may be considered relatively lower than the profession in substance abuse counseling; however, it is ideal for individuals who find that they are passionate about psychology and helping others but may fail to be interested in working in a clinical or business set-up. These individuals, therefore, work in corporate settings within organizations while the entry-level income range lies between $10,000 and $30,000 ( Buckley et al., 2019) . The education or training required includes a bachelor's degree in personnel psychology, which is expected to take four years to study.
The job availability, based on the fact that it exists as a career path of psychology in general, is high as compared to other professions. Scholars predict that the growth rate of this industry is 19% growth annually and hence, a secure and stable future as a profession ( Viswesvaran & Ones, 2017) . Similarly, the job description involves working closely with the human resource management within an organization to ensure the appropriate selection of personnel for the appropriate roles while consequently establishing and imposing policies that are sustainable and profitable for the organization and hence time consuming.
Various benefits associated with human resource personnel who have majored in psychology is the ability to earn salaries equal to or relatively higher than other individuals within the same field depending on the level of education and work experience. Research suggests that human resource personnel consequently playing g the role of a personnel psychologist may earn a salary ranging from $60,000 to $80,000 annually ( Buckley et al., 2019) . The challenges, however, include burnout propensity, which involves a constant state of stress and mental exhaustion. The opportunities for advancement include the ability to advance in education and hence earn a higher salary.
The profession fails to match my skill level as professionals are expected to have a bachelor's degree as the minimum level of education. Additionally, it further fails to align with my personality and value system based on the fact that my interest in psychology is clinical. In conclusion, this text finds that the most suitable career path that fully aligns with my personality and skill level is substance abuse counselling which involves working in a clinical setting to facilitate and impact behavioral change in individuals. This continues to be my passion as I hope to change numerous lives and helping them sustain a drug-free lifestyle. Additionally, the field of psychology is a surprisingly broad area of expertise which allows individuals to venture into diverse professions depending on one's area of interest.
References
Buckley, M. R., Wheeler, A. R., Baur, J. E., & Halbesleben, J. R. (Eds.). (2019). Research in personnel and human resources management . Emerald Publishing Limited.
Taylor, S. E. (2015). Health psychology . McGraw-Hill Education.
Viswesvaran, C., & Ones, D. S. (2017). Job performance: Assessment issues in personnel selection. The Blackwell handbook of personnel selection , 354-375.
Wubbolding, R. (2017). Counselling with reality therapy . Routledge.
