19-3032.00 Bright Outlook

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.

Career Cluster:Management & Entrepreneurship
Job Family:Life, Physical, and Social Science
Job Zone:Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
STEM:Research, Development, Design, and Practitioners
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Technology Tools

Google SheetsHypertext markup language HTMLIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointOracle PeopleSoftMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordAdobe AcrobatSAS

Key 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.
  • Analyze job requirements and content to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.
  • Facilitate organizational development and change.
  • 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.
  • Participate in mediation and dispute resolution.
  • Study consumers' reactions to new products and package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests.
  • Teach industrial-organizational psychology courses to undergraduate or graduate students.
  • Develop and administer surveys to employees of organizations.

Skills

Reading Comprehension
85%
Active Listening
85%
Writing
81%
Speaking
78%
Critical Thinking
78%
Judgment and Decision Making
78%
Complex Problem Solving
75%
Systems Evaluation
75%
Systems Analysis
72%
Active Learning
72%
Social Perceptiveness
72%
Monitoring
72%
Coordination
69%
Persuasion
69%
Science
69%
Instructing
66%
Time Management
66%
Learning Strategies
66%
Mathematics
63%
Operations Analysis
63%
Management of Personnel Resources
60%
Service Orientation
60%
Negotiation
56%
Programming
44%
Management of Material Resources
28%
Management of Financial Resources
28%
Operations Monitoring
25%
Quality Control Analysis
25%
Technology Design
22%
Troubleshooting
0%
Repairing
0%
Installation
0%
Operation and Control
0%
Equipment Selection
0%
Equipment Maintenance
0%

Knowledge

Personnel and Human Resources
98%
Psychology
95%
Education and Training
87%
Administration and Management
76%
Mathematics
75%
English Language
69%
Customer and Personal Service
66%
Sociology and Anthropology
59%
Law and Government
59%
Computers and Electronics
56%
Communications and Media
47%
Administrative
42%
Therapy and Counseling
42%
Sales and Marketing
38%
Philosophy and Theology
22%
Economics and Accounting
20%
Engineering and Technology
17%
Public Safety and Security
17%
Telecommunications
15%
Production and Processing
15%
Foreign Language
12%
Geography
11%
Design
11%
Biology
9%
Transportation
9%
History and Archeology
8%
Medicine and Dentistry
6%
Fine Arts
5%
Mechanical
4%
Food Production
2%
Building and Construction
2%
Chemistry
2%
Physics
2%

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Abilities

Oral Expression
85%
Written Comprehension
85%
Oral Comprehension
81%
Written Expression
81%
Deductive Reasoning
78%
Inductive Reasoning
78%
Problem Sensitivity
75%
Speech Recognition
75%
Speech Clarity
75%
Information Ordering
75%
Fluency of Ideas
72%
Mathematical Reasoning
72%
Originality
72%
Near Vision
69%
Category Flexibility
69%
Selective Attention
53%
Number Facility
53%
Far Vision
50%
Flexibility of Closure
47%
Perceptual Speed
44%
Speed of Closure
44%
Visualization
41%
Memorization
41%
Time Sharing
31%
Visual Color Discrimination
28%
Hearing Sensitivity
22%
Auditory Attention
19%
Depth Perception
13%
Finger Dexterity
13%
Trunk Strength
10%
Extent Flexibility
0%
Wrist-Finger Speed
0%
Speed of Limb Movement
0%
Reaction Time
0%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
0%
Night Vision
0%
Sound Localization
0%
Stamina
0%
Static Strength
0%
Explosive Strength
0%
Peripheral Vision
0%
Multilimb Coordination
0%
Spatial Orientation
0%
Dynamic Strength
0%
Gross Body Equilibrium
0%
Control Precision
0%
Glare Sensitivity
0%
Rate Control
0%
Dynamic Flexibility
0%
Response Orientation
0%
Manual Dexterity
0%
Gross Body Coordination
0%

Work Activities

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
94%
Getting Information
93%
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
92%
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
91%
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
91%
Analyzing Data or Information
90%
Working with Computers
89%
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
89%
Processing Information
87%
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
84%
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
84%
Coaching and Developing Others
83%
Training and Teaching Others
79%
Developing Objectives and Strategies
78%
Communicating with People Outside the Organization
76%
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
74%
Developing and Building Teams
73%
Documenting/Recording Information
72%
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
71%
Staffing Organizational Units
68%
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
66%
Thinking Creatively
66%
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
65%
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
65%
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
60%
Selling or Influencing Others
60%
Scheduling Work and Activities
57%
Performing Administrative Activities
50%
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
47%
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
45%
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
45%
Assisting and Caring for Others
36%
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
26%
Performing General Physical Activities
10%
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
7%
Controlling Machines and Processes
6%
Handling and Moving Objects
5%
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
2%
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
0%
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
0%
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
0%

Work Context

E-Mail

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

99%

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

94%

Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?

90%

Telephone Conversations

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

89%

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

88%

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

86%

Spend Time Sitting

How much does this job require sitting?

86%

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

85%

Duration of Typical Work Week

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

83%

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

81%

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

81%

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

81%

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities

How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?

78%

Time Pressure

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

68%

Frequency of Decision Making

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

66%

Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

65%

Level of Competition

To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?

57%

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

56%

Public Speaking

How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?

52%

Written Letters and Memos

How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?

52%

Consequence of Error

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

47%

Physical Proximity

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

44%

Conflict Situations

How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?

43%

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks

How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?

38%

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

34%

Health and Safety of Other Workers

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

34%

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

33%

Spend Time Standing

How much does this job require standing?

26%

Degree of Automation

How automated is the job?

19%

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

16%

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

16%

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

14%

Work Schedules

How regular are the work schedules for this job?

14%

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

13%

Spend Time Walking or Running

How much does this job require walking or running?

11%

Outdoors, Under Cover

How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?

8%

Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions

How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?

6%

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

5%

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

5%

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

5%

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

5%

Exposed to Contaminants

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

4%

Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People

How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?

3%

Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions

How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?

2%

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?

2%

Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings

How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?

2%

Exposed to High Places

How often does this job require exposure to high places?

1%

Exposed to Whole Body Vibration

How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?

1%

In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment

How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?

1%

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment

How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)

1%

Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body

How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?

1%

Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling

How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?

1%

Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection

How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?

1%

Exposed to Disease or Infections

How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?

0%

Exposed to Radiation

How often does this job require exposure to radiation?

0%

Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles

How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?

0%

Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance

How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?

0%

Education

Master's degree

58%

Doctoral degree

31%

Some college, no degree

4%

Interests

Investigative

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f

72

Enterprising

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis

61

Social

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

53

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum

51

Artistic

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,

38

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t

2

Work Styles

Intellectual Curiosity
89%
Attention to Detail
87%
Achievement Orientation
82%
Innovation
80%
Integrity
79%
Adaptability
77%
Dependability
77%
Cooperation
73%
Initiative
68%
Self-Confidence
68%
Tolerance for Ambiguity
66%
Social Orientation
64%
Empathy
63%
Self-Control
62%
Leadership Orientation
60%
Perseverance
59%
Sincerity
54%
Stress Tolerance
49%
Cautiousness
46%
Humility
37%
Optimism
31%

Work Values

Working Conditions
86%
Relationships
83%
Achievement
78%
Independence
78%
Support
67%
Recognition
61%

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