The Path to Finding My Major

By: Massiel Mendoza

I am one of the most indecisive people who cannot make a decision to save my life. So, when college came around and I was constantly getting asked what I was going to major in, I was completely clueless to the answer. I came into college believing I might major in biology but realized quickly that that was not the path for me. I did not enjoy anything I was learning in biology. Biology was more of a huge stressor in my life than it was a major I was passionate about. I soon started taking psychology classes and enjoyed what I was taking and what we were learning. I switched to a psychology major because it was something that I was enthusiastic to learn about. I had enjoyed the psychology classes I had taken in high school and was eager to learn more. However, I was now posed with new questions: “What are you going to do with your degree” and “What are you getting your masters in?” I had finally just figured out what I was going to major in and was overwhelmed with that decision. I had no idea what I was going to do as a future career or with my degree. Despite being clueless to this new question, I never doubted I had chosen the right major for me. I decided I was going to take it day by day and see where I ended up in the future. Business quickly began to gain my interest and I started taking some classes. I was constantly listening to my friends rave about how much they were fascinated by the business classes they were taking. I suddenly had the urge to take these classes that once had never interested me. A flip had switched in my head and I suddenly was genuinely excited to learn more about the business world. I enjoyed the math that is involved in business as well as learning more about how to do well in business while constantly adjusting to a consumer’s wants and needs. I decided to minor which rapidly turned into a major. The question of what I was planning to do after graduation still occupied my mind. I was still unaware of the answer to those questions…but I just knew I was fascinated with what I was learning in both majors. A professor asked me one day what I was majoring in and what I was planning to do with my degree. I replied by saying, “Psychology and business but I have no idea.” She then brought up Industrial Organizational psychology and how that field incorporates both psychology and business. I was immediately intrigued by the field but was uninformed on what IO psychology was since it is not a commonly talked about psychology field. 

IO is not as well known in the field of psychology. It involves studying human behavior in formal places such as the work place. These psychologists may help companies better address issues in recruitment, quality of work life, workplace motivation, etc. They use research to help a company figure out and apply the best practices to improve workplace behavior as well as teach employees how to work better. IO psychologists are trained to be flexible with their work and adjust to their different work environments such as health care facilities, manufacturing, and labor unions. Their exact job role depends on their position but some industrial roles may involve training employees, developing job performance standards, and measuring job performance. The organizational side of IO psychology deals more specifically with comprehending individual behavior. They look at different management styles and role expectations. One thing I am considering after college is to work for a company and help oversee different tasks in the human resources department. My human resource course in college has sparked this interest. However, they do not always work for companies, IO psychologists can also work for universities, technical consulting services, scientific research and development services, as well as for the government. Many of these psychologists who do work for companies take on roles in the human resources department or act as independent counselors. They are contracted by companies at times to work on specific issues or perform an evaluation to uncover specific issues. With this career, people are usually expected to earn a master’s degree in IO psychology; however, some colleges may offer an IO bachelor’s degree or concentration. A median salary for an IO psychologist was $111,150 in 2019. Salaries can range widely depending on experience, education, location, and many other factors.  It is a growing field that is expected to expand tremendously in the next decade. I am still trying to figure out if IO psychology is the path for me, but I grow more interested in this field every single day because it incorporates psychology and business which are two fields that interest me greatly. 

Additional Resources:

https://www.apa.org/action/science/organizational/education-training

https://www.verywellmind.com/industrial-organizational-psychology-careers-2795653

https://nobaproject.com/modules/industrial-organizational-i-o-psychology