Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Also called : Consulting Psychologist, Industrial Psychologist, Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (I/O Psychologist), Management Consultant, Organizational Consultant, Organizational Development Consultant (O

What they do

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

On the job, one would

Formulate and implement training programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences.

Conduct research studies of physical work environments, organizational structures, communication systems, group interactions, morale, or motivation to assess organizational functioning.

Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.

Provide expert testimony in employment lawsuits.

Study consumers' reactions to new products and package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests.

KNOWLEDGE

Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

SKILLS

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.

ABILITIES

Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

PERSONALITY

People interested in this work, will do well at jobs that need;

Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.

Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Related Occupations

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Training and Development Specialists

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Human Resources Managers

Human Resources Specialists

Survey Researchers

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

TECHNOLOGY

Analytical or scientific software

Computer based training software

Data base user interface and query software

Document management software

Electronic mail software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Human resources software

Internet browser software

Office suite software

Presentation software

Process mapping and design software

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Preparation
Extensive Preparation Needed
Education
Graduate Degree or higher.
Experience
Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations.
Jobtraining
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.