Industrial and organizational psychologists focus on the behaviour of employees in the workplace. They may work directly in an organization’s human resources department, or they may act as independent consultants, called into an organization to solve a particular problem.
The career path to becoming an industrial and organizational psychologist begins with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Opportunities with a bachelor’s degree alone aren’t unheard of, but they are sparse. Most students interested in becoming an industrial and organizational psychologist go on to earn an advanced degree. A person with a master’s degree is often able to find an entry-level position to launch a career. However, those with a doctoral degree will have more employment opportunities in this field.
