Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
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.
At a Glance
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists earns a median of $109,840/yr with +6.3% projected growth. Typical entry: Master's degree. Top skills: Intellectual Curiosity, Integrity, Dependability.
$109,840/yr
+6.3%
N/A
Master's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (23)
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Knowledge (9)
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
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.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Abilities (15)
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Technology (14)
Work Activities (27)
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Work Styles (6)
A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep understanding of work-related subjects.
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Marketing Managers
Management · 198 shared skills
Management Analysts
Business and Financial Operations · 197 shared skills
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Office and Administrative Support · 197 shared skills
Human Resources Specialists
Business and Financial Operations · 197 shared skills
Training and Development Specialists
Business and Financial Operations · 197 shared skills
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer and Mathematical · 197 shared skills
Sociologists
Life, Physical, and Social Science · 197 shared skills
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Business and Financial Operations · 196 shared skills
Explore Key Skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to build these skills?
Sign up to find courses that teach these skills, track your progress, and build a skills passport aligned to Industrial-Organizational Psychologists.
Get Started Free