Industrial Organizational Psychologist

To give an inside perspective of industrial organizational psychology, we sat down with I-O psychologist Dr. Peter Seely to get his view on the ins-and-outs of the field.

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• What's your area of specialty?
• Where do you currently work?
• What's your favorite part of the job?
• What's your educational background?
• Is there anything you don't like about the work?
• What's the most interesting case you've come across?
• What's your favorite industry to work with?
• Do you recommend doing anything in undergrad/grad school to better set yourself up for success?
• Who do you think makes the best I-O candidates?
• Why did you choose this path?
• What do you think is the most exciting thing happening in this field right now? Who is doing the most exciting research?
• How did you choose your program?
• What's the best "must-read" book for this field?
• Any other advice for those looking to go into the field?

• What's your area of specialty?

  Industrial/Organizational (I-O) Psychology. In particular, I was trained in the area of team effectiveness. I’ve also done research in areas like leadership, team identity and technology in the workplace.

• Where do you currently work?

  During graduate school, I worked as a research assistant in the lab for Developing Effective Teams, Leaders and Alliances (DELTA). I begin a position as a Human Capital Consultant at Federal Management Partners in June 2015.

• What's your favorite part of the job?

  I enjoy using scientifically based techniques and methods to help people become happier and more effective at their jobs.

• What's your educational background?

  I received my B.A. in Psychology from Emory University, with a minor in Spanish. I then completed my master’s and Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Georgia Tech.

• Is there anything you don't like about the work?

  I believe there needs to be a closer connection between scientific and practical work in I-O psych. Oftentimes, the scientific work does not result in tangible products or services. Likewise, many practical interventions are not sufficiently validated by scientific support. We, as a field, need to do a better job of bridging this science/practitioner divide.

• What's the most interesting case you've come across?

  I just finished up my degree, so I’m just now getting my feet wet in the applied world. However, I’d have to say working on a training project for the Army was quite fascinating. Being able to apply my research-based skills to improve an organization that is so important to American life was incredibly insightful and rewarding.

• What's your favorite industry to work with?

  Thus far, the majority of my applied work (through internships and contract work) has been with private organizations that work with federal clients. I’ve worked with a variety of federal organizations, from research foundations to military clients to public health organizations. As a whole, federal organizations bring their own unique problem space and place their own value on the contributions of industrial/organizational psychologists. That's not to say the same isn’t true in the private sector, but the pace and scope of the work can differ.

• Do you recommend doing anything in undergrad/grad school to better set yourself up for success?

  Industrial/Organizational Psychology is a very small but growing field. As such, many universities may not even have an introductory I-O classes. If that's the case, I would reach out to any nearby schools to see if they offer any related classes or research experiences. I’d also recommend reaching out to any consulting firms that work in the areas of human capital, talent management or corporate psychology to see if they have any internship or shadowing opportunities. Aside from those points, you’ll want to pursue a major in general psychology, seek out any psychology-related research opportunities and take the GRE.

• Who do you think makes the best I-O candidates?

  I-O Psychology draws from the foundation of basic psychological principles and applies this knowledge to making people happier and more effective at their jobs. Therefore, people who enjoy applying scientific knowledge to solving real world problems will be best suited for the field. In addition, given that the field is relatively small, it’s important to be a self-starter in that you’ll have to be ready to seek out opportunities for education and subsequent employment.

• Why did you choose this path?

  I started out as a psychology major at Emory University simply because I found the subject to be interesting. I also had an interest in business, and took some classes in the business school. Emory does not have an I-O department, nor does it offer any classes in the area, so it wasn’t until my junior year that I discovered the field. During this time, I met an alum from Emory who eventually pursued a career in I-O. The field seemed to be the perfect marriage for my interests, so I immediately started taking the necessary steps to ensure that I could pursue I-O as a career.

  In terms of educational path, you can be successful as an I-O Psychologist by completing either your master’s (2 years) or PhD (5 years, approx.). Most individuals pursue their degree immediately after undergraduate or a year or two after. These programs do not typically require work experience beyond an internship, so it’s to your benefit to enroll early.

• What do you think is the most exciting thing happening in this field right now? Who is doing the most exciting research?

  From my perspective, working in the realm of teams and team effectiveness, there are currently some major advances in how we investigate and study teams (and individuals). I-O Psychologists have begun incorporating perspectives and methods from other disciplines (sociology, communications, management), which has really enhanced our ability to collect and analyze data. For instance, many researchers have begun incorporating and using social network analysis to examine how people interact in organizations. In addition, we’ve also begun leveraging the capabilities of technology to better understand how to improve work effectiveness. Many researchers are now using interaction logs gleaned from these tools to better understand how and why people interact, and are using this information to better capture workplace functioning.

• How did you choose your program?

  I chose Georgia Tech because it provides a strong foundation in research methodology and statistics, in addition to providing training from some of the most accomplished I-O Psychologists in the field.

• What's the best "must-read" book for this field?

  A great introductory, popular-press read relevant to the study of teams and team effectiveness is “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni. The book provides a great story-based intro to the importance of teamwork in organizations.

• Any other advice for those looking to go into the field?

  My main advice is to be very proactive in seeking out exposure to the field, whether that be through taking classes, doing research, or internships. It’s a young field that has a lot to offer in terms of career growth and potential, but you’ve got to seek it out.

Dr. Seely's I-O Psychology Pros and Cons

• Pros

  • Fast-growing field
  • Strong salary base
  • Gratifying to help people become happier and more effective in the workplace
  • A lot of flexibility and variety in the kinds of work you can do

• Cons

  • Most relevant positions require at least a master’s degree
  • The field is small, so finding open positions may take some time, particularly if you are wedded to a specific geographic location