Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Human Advantage 78%
Significant human skills needed
AI Automation Risk Low Risk
1.9 / 10
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
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.
Also Known As: Consulting Psychologist, Engineering Psychologist, HR Consultant (Human Resources Consultant), HR OD Consultant (Human Resources Organizational Development Consultant), HR Psychologist (Human Resources Psychologist), I-O Practitioner (Industrial-Organizational Practitioner), I-O Psychologist (Industrial-Organizational Psychologist), Industrial Psychologist +19 more
Core Tasks
- Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
- Develop and implement employee selection or placement programs.
- Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
- Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
- Observe and interview workers to obtain information about the physical, mental, and educational requirements of jobs, as well as information about aspects such as job satisfaction.
- Facilitate organizational development and change.
- Analyze job requirements and content to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.
- Advise management concerning personnel, managerial, and marketing policies and practices and their potential effects on organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.
- Coach senior executives and managers on leadership and performance.
- Conduct individual assessments, including interpreting measures and providing feedback for selection, placement, or promotion.
- Train clients to administer human resources functions, including testing, selection, and performance management.
- Assess employee performance.
- Identify training and development needs.
- Formulate and implement training programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences.
- Study organizational effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency, including the nature of workplace supervision and leadership.
- Provide expert testimony in employment lawsuits.
- Conduct research studies of physical work environments, organizational structures, communication systems, group interactions, morale, or motivation to assess organizational functioning.
- Develop new business by contacting potential clients, making sales presentations, and writing proposals.
- Write reports on research findings and implications to contribute to general knowledge or to suggest potential changes in organizational functioning.
- Write articles, white papers, or reports to share research findings and educate others.
- Review research literature to remain current on psychological science issues.
- Counsel workers about job and career-related issues.
Supplemental Tasks (2)
- Participate in mediation and dispute resolution.
- Study consumers' reactions to new products and package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests.
Emerging Tasks
New and evolving responsibilities for this role:
- Develop and administer surveys to employees of organizations.
- Teach industrial-organizational psychology courses to undergraduate or graduate students.
Education & Training
Job Zone 5 Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: 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.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (29)
Tools & Equipment (6)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Leadership & Operations Advanced Manufacturing
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