The careers available to industrial and organizational psychologists
Industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists can explore careers across various work settings, including private corporations, government agencies, consulting firms and academic institutions. Your role could focus on applying psychology principles towards problems within human resources, administration, sales or marketing. You may also work directly with upper management to restructure and optimize processes in the workplace. Some of the common career paths include:
- Compensation and benefits analyst
- Employee development specialist
- Executive coach
- Human resources manager
- Market analyst
- Performance improvement specialist
- Policy officer
- Project manager
- Staffing and recruiting manager
- University professor
The opportunities in this field are broad, so when you’re searching for a career in I-O psychology, avoid concentrating on specific job titles. Instead, you should direct your search towards your level of education, skills, personal interests and preferred industries.
The skills and experience needed for a career in I-O psychology
A career in this field requires a mix of both hard and soft skills to effectively address workplace issues and improve organizational operations.
Important hard skills emphasize analytical abilities, such as interpreting data, proficiency in statistical analysis and critical thinking. Being confident in your knowledge of research methodologies and presenting solutions for complex issues is also very important.
In addition, you’ll also need interpersonal soft skills to successfully manage employee relations. Some of these skills include relationship-building, conflict resolution, empathy and active listening. If you’re in a I-O psychology management role, you’ll need to be skilled in project management, attention to detail, adaptability and time management.
Is organizational psychology and I-O psychology the same thing?
The fields of organizational psychology and industrial-organizational psychology share many similarities, including the overall goal to continually improve the workplace environment.
- Organizational psychology takes a more personal approach by engaging directly with employees and developing solutions based on human behaviors.
- I-O psychology takes an analytical approach focused on identifying trends and collecting organizational data to implement changes.
Earn your I-O psychology bachelor’s or master’s concentration online with Arizona State University
Given the broad and varied career opportunities in this field, the necessary experience and educational backgrounds are equally as diverse. When pursuing a career in I-O psychology, you should choose a career path based on your personal interests and then research the specific educational requirements.
Typically, for any career in I-O psychology, you’ll need to complete an undergraduate degree in a related field. ASU Online offers both a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a concentration in industrial and organizational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology with a concentration in industrial and organizational psychology.
- The BA program is a better fit if you’re interested in the roles that are centered around people or services such as human resources.
- The BS program is more research-oriented and prepares you for the positions that emphasize data analysis and statistics.
Additionally, if you’re looking to upskill and advance your career leadership roles in human resources, business, management and more, an online master’s in I-O psychology can help you reach your goals.