I/O in D.C. - By Kyle Swaim

First year I/O student Kyle Swaim

Who would have thought that Washington D.C., our nation’s capital, would be where I found out that Industrial-Organizational Psychology was my passion? Typically, this town is reserved for campaigning politicians, aggressive lobbyists, and big name think tanks, but to my surprise, I/O psychology was well recognized and much needed. I did my first post-grad internship at a mid-sized company in the D.C. area and was shocked by how much I did not know and got a glimpse into what exactly my future in I/O holds. This internship was a great opportunity and an enlightening experience that ultimately confirmed I/O Psychology as my passion.

Before I talk more specifically about my job in D.C. I will provide some background. For most of my undergrad career, I bounced from major to major trying to find the best fit for my personality and skill set. I tried out some biology, did civil engineering for a couple years (found out physics was not exactly my thing), tried some information systems, but I kept coming back to psychology. These classes were always captivating and each one showed me more about the field. However, I still had not found what I felt was my calling. Inside of psychology, I dabbled in everything from applied neurocognition to forensic psychology. After a great deal of thought it occurred to me that, at the heart of it, I want to improve people’s lives. And so I thought, where does the majority of our adult life take place? Well that is obviously wherever we are employed. So why not seek to apply the things we know about human behavior, cognition, and emotion to the workplace.

My internship in D.C. allowed me the freedom and gave me the resources to do just this. The company I worked with was an educational consulting business that employed tutors and consultants in order to enrich the academic development of students and learning institutions on the east coast. My job there, upon arrival, was very vague, which at first was intimidating, however, with time and a little direction, I began to understand what my role could be for this organization. Throughout my internship, I conducted employee attitude assessments, developed job analyses, and was essentially the lead recruiter for all tutors. From these various projects, I learned more than I had anticipated, but most significant was the necessity of authenticity. On several occasions, I found myself second-guessing my ideas and delivering guarded recommendations that were not representative of my potential. Towards the end of the summer though, I became more confident with my suggestions and more comfortable with my superiors. This led to the development of several projects and initiatives that I believe positively impacted the lives of many employees, and that I hope will serve as the foundation for numerous other ventures.

All You Need is Dedication … and a Field Trip

By Second Year I/O Master's Student Lori Dawson

We were sitting on an old and dilapidated park bench, soaking in the southern sun and sipping on our iced lattes. “Tell me something you learned from your first year of graduate school”, I asked.  She thought for a moment and then smiled, “take a shot at every opportunity that comes your way.”  Several months later, keeping her advice in mind, I found myself applying to a government agency that recruits highly competent graduate students from the UTA to assist in their assessment center. The students selected to participate in this time intensive assessment process gain a valuable understanding of employee selection; and I was determined to be among them.

Two weeks out of the summer we gathered in downtown Birmingham, AL, for extensive training as an assessor for various job roles. This agency not only provides graduate students the opportunity to assist in the scoring of candidates’ interview performance but also allows students to closely observe the infrastructure of a smoothly run assessment center. Students meet, interact, and network with a group of geographically diverse individuals that are either studying or working in a similar field. The insight acquired from this experience is indispensible and helps shape each student as a professional in the field.  

Recognizing the knowledge and expertise obtained by collaborating with outside organizations, the dedicated I/O Professors at the UTA encourage their students to expose themselves to a multitude of experiences within various industries. These venues for learning and development allow students to purposely cultivate their skills and give back to the local community through organizational development, human resources, and external consultation initiatives. It seems our goal to “bridge the gap” begins with taking a shot at good ole opportunity!