Psychiatry offers a wide range of job opportunities within its subspecialties. The career of a psychiatrist is becoming important because of arising mental problems in the society. The profession is growing slowly and new applications are opening up. The work done by psychiatrists vary widely between jobs.

The profession of the psychiatrists begins with the diagnosis of the patient's problems, followed by treatment, which could take the form of medication, counseling, psychotherapy or electrotherapy. They make use of techniques such as hypnosis and abreaction for the treatment of their patients. Psychiatrists often work with occupational therapists and social workers for the rehabilitation of their patients, helping them to resume their normal activities.

Psychiatrists can seek employment in regular hospitals as well as in mental hospitals. They are free to set up their own private clinics. They can work as counselors in large-scale industries, rehabilitation centers dealing with drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental problems. Apart from these, psychiatrists also often work as counselors in institutions, including schools, colleges, hospitals and health centers. Many private nursing homes and polyclinics employ psychiatrists to attend to the psychological problems arising from various medical, surgical, cardiac and gynecological cases. Psychiatrists specialised in children's problems deal with juvenile delinquents and they can work in children's' rehabilitation centers. Psychiatrists are often required to work in the courts and prisons where they are required to deal with person's suing for divorce and other such matters.