Industrial and Organisational Psychologist
Tasks & duties
Industrial and organisational psychologists may do some or all of the following, depending on whether they work for an organisation or as a consultant:
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investigate productivity and efficiency in workplaces
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test, survey or interview employees
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run assessment centres for selecting employees
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write assessment reports
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design and submit work proposals to clients
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advise clients on recruitment and selection methods
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take part in dispute resolution
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advise clients on staff motivation issues
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assess the effects of change in workplaces
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help clients set up new systems within their organisation
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design and deliver staff training
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provide general human resources (HR) advice
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provide counselling or career advice
Specialisations
Industrial and organisational psychologists may specialise in these areas:
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occupational health and safety
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recruitment
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training
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vocational guidance and career development
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industrial relations
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organisational behaviour
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marketing
Skills & knowledge
Industrial and organisational psychologists need to have:
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knowledge of employment legislation, such as the Privacy Act, Employment Relations Act, Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act and the Health and Safety Act.
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knowledge of assessment, counselling and dispute resolution techniques
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knowledge of psychological measurement methods and practices, and the ethics of psychology
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understanding of different jobs and organisations
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knowledge of training methods
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knowledge of trends and developments in the industry
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research and writing skills
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communication skills, and knowledge of interviewing techniques
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decision-making and problem-solving skills
Sales skills may be useful for those who work as consultants.
Entry requirements
To become registered as an industrial and organisational psychologist you need a masters degree in any area of psychology, although specialisation in industrial and organisational psychology is preferred.
Secondary education
An A or B Bursary or NCEA equivalent is needed to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include English, maths with statistics and science.
Training on the job
On-the-job training varies between employers, but industrial and organisational psychologists usually learn through experience and professional development.
Registration
Industrial and organisational psychologists need to be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. To apply for this you need to complete a Masters degree and 1500 hours of supervised practice by an approved supervisor (equivalent to one year of full-time work).
Useful experience
Useful experience for industrial and organisational psychologists includes:
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work in a large business or organisation, especially in personnel or human resources
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research work
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teaching
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vocational guidance or counselling
Related courses
Human Resource Management
Organisation Management
Psychology
For more information, please refer to Career Services.
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