IO Psychology for new docs?

[psychedout69]

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If you already have a PHD in Clinical Psych, and you'd like to explore getting into IO Psychology -- Do most companies require that you go back and get a Masters in it, or will some of the professional certification programs for IO Psych get your foot in the door?

Met a guy in the airport a couple months back, who was working as an IO psych consultant on the road most of the time, and doing very well. Said he did it with just a Masters in Psych and an IO Certificate he got online. He said the demand was very high, and that he had a job within a month of completing the certificate program online, and doing some online networking on LinkedIn, etc... Sounded interesting....

Anybody know anything about getting into that segment of the business?

 

[graduatingsoon]

If you already have a PHD in Clinical Psych, and you'd like to explore getting into IO Psychology -- Do most companies require that you go back and get a Masters in it, or will some of the professional certification programs for IO Psych get your foot in the door?

Met a guy in the airport a couple months back, who was working as an IO psych consultant on the road most of the time, and doing very well. Said he did it with just a Masters in Psych and an IO Certificate he got online. He said the demand was very high, and that he had a job within a month of completing the certificate program online, and doing some online networking on LinkedIn, etc... Sounded interesting....

Anybody know anything about getting into that segment of the business?

I was considering this as a career option several years ago and I happen to know many people with this specialty (they generally do executive coaching, management consulting, workshops/public speaking etc). Everyone that I know that is doing well in this area (10+ people) have an MBA from a top 5 school with management consulting experience or a PhD in organizational or clinical psychology with significant management/consulting experience (e.g., worked at Mckinsey etc). The private sector does not care that much about whether you have a PhD. What matters is connections and industry experience.

Your typical clinical psychologist is not going to be able to easily get into this area. The clinical psychologists that I know who ended up in this area did research in this area in graduate school, published a book related to organizational issues, and/or got an MBA after graduate school. One of them also worked for a management consulting firm. I don't know anyone personally who just got a certificate.

 

[psychedout69]

I was considering this as a career option several years ago and I happen to know many people with this specialty (they generally do executive coaching, management consulting, workshops/public speaking etc). Everyone that I know that is doing well in this area (10+ people) have an MBA from a top 5 school with management consulting experience or a PhD in organizational or clinical psychology with significant management/consulting experience (e.g., worked at Mckinsey etc). The private sector does not care that much about whether you have a PhD. What matters is connections and industry experience.

Your typical clinical psychologist is not going to be able to easily get into this area. The clinical psychologists that I know who ended up in this area did research in this area in graduate school, published a book related to organizational issues, and/or got an MBA after graduate school. One of them also worked for a management consulting firm. I don't know anyone personally who just got a certificate.

Outstanding advice, THANK YOU! 😀

 

[undecidedman]

I for a brief period in time considered trying to go to a IO program to work in program evaluation. But i'm not sure how much programs place an emphasis on program eval in IO, or if there is much demand after.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

If you don't come from a top I/O program, don't have prior consulting experience, and/or don't have an MBA and worked in a similar area...you will have an uphill battle and then some if you want to be competitive in most/all cities.