Sometimes one of the most difficult things for industrial-organizational (IO) psychologists to explain to non-IO psychologists is what exactly

it is that they do. The field of IO psychology is, in fact, a varied one, encompassing almost any aspect of the workplace and people within organizations. IO psychologists' job titles and employment environments can be even more variedranging from employment consultants in private firms to testing and assessment experts in government agencies to psychology and business professors in university or research settings. . (For a PDF explaining potential job titles of IO psychologists, read What's in a Name? . For informational brochures about IO, click .) The following is part of the SIOP Psychology at Work series, a group of surveys of SIOP members meant to better explain the myriad career paths and research interests explored by SIOP members as well as the numerous contributions and innovations the field of IO psychology has made to the workplace. For each profile, we will delve into the job of a SIOP member to gain a greater depth of insight into what they do, who they work with, how their work affects others, and why they believe IO psychology matters. Continue reading for information on what it's like to be an IO psychologist for SIOP Member Valerie Sessa ! Name: Valerie Sessa Job Title/Company: Associate Professor, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Montclair State University Job responsibilities: Teach graduate and undergraduate courses; advise and mentor students; develop new courses and programs; manage the graduate program for the psychology department and director of the IO graduate psychology program (including recruitment, evaluating applications, and advising students, managing graduate assistants, and strategic planning for moving the graduate program forward); conduct research and communicate it via presentations and publications; engage in service to the department, to the university, and to SIOP and other professional societies. My specific IO interests (research and/or practice): Learning at the individual, group, and organizational levels and how these three levels interact. A typical day at my job includes: Teaching, advising/meeting with students, working in a research group (with my studentsthis depends on where we arelit searches and reading, planning studies, collecting data, analyzing data, or writing), attending meetings for the committees I'm on. (Note that I did not say go to lunch!) What I like best about my job is: The freedom. I generally teach the courses I want to teach at the times I want to teach them (though sometimes I DO have to do what the department needs), and I love interacting with the students and impacting their development. . I can research what I want to research. I can join the committees that make the most sense for my knowledge, skills, and abilities. I do work long hoursbut it is on my own initiative and schedule. The very best part, though, is I am in knowledge creation and knowledge communication. That is where my talents lie and the kind of work I enjoy the most. Some of the challenges of my job are : Saying No. I'm like a kid in the candy store. There are so many opportunities that it is easy to get overbooked. My career path/job history: While in graduate school I had the opportunity to adjunct teach and to hold internships/consultantships in a variety of organizations. Right out of school, I worked as a research scientist for the Center for Creative Leadership and moved into a director-level position. I then worked for a consulting agency for a short time before entering the academy. My advice to future IO psychologists: While in graduate school, try out a variety of different experiencesdo research, participate in internships. Join professional associations and meet people and find out what they do. People with a background in IO can go down many different paths. Also, if possible, work in a few different organizationsyou will experience firsthand the differences in organizations that take IO learning to heart versus those that do not. The differences are astounding. Why IO psychology matters: Do you remember the bullies and the mean girls at school? Well, guess what, they grow up and get jobs. . The world of work is a tough place. IO psychologists are working to ensure that all people are treated fairlythat the right people (based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities) are hired, paid fairly, and promoted; that employees receive performance appraisals and that the ones they receive are good quality; that employees are trained to keep up to date on their jobs; that employees are not harassed or bullied; that employees are treated like adults and are treated with dignity and respect. They also work to ensure that the organization has a highly motivated workforce that produces, that the organization has the structure, the leadership, and the groups/teams it needs. There is much more! Ada banyak lagi!

Is there anything else you would like to add? It's a great field.