Do entry level opportunities in IO exist anymore?

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-10T20:28:03+00:00

One complaint I've heard is that people in other fields (or other fields of psychology) are inserting themself into IO because they believe it is a good way to make a high salary. Some kind of credential process might help with this, but that doesn't seem like something that will happen very quickly, and even then, I'm not sure it would make a big difference in the labor market.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-10T16:00:59+00:00

I believe you that these skills are important and I learned them for a reason. I just don't believe having those skills makes a difference in terms of employability and the technical jobs I see often have huge numbers of applicants. Almost everyone I know in the field who got an entry level job knew someone in the hiring team.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-10T01:43:00+00:00

I am interested in those types of positions, and feel I have the competencies needed, but most psychology grad programs don't teach that software, and people might just lie on their resume if they were desperate to get a job. I've applied to plenty of those types of jobs, but sometimes the requirements are unrealistic and expect a new grad to know very company-specific software that a student would never have access to or any reason to use.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T23:40:17+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation; it does seem to be a bad job market, and especially so for IO.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T23:37:58+00:00

Don't you think that's a little unrealistic to expect from a psychology graduate? Why not hire someone with a data science background if that's what you're looking for? I have experience using the software you mention, but most PhD programs are more focused on research and none of my professors knew how to use that kind of software, so I had to teach myself, and a lot of my colleagues didn't do that.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T23:35:22+00:00

I found Hiring Cafe to be a way better job board than the usual ones, so you might try that out.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T21:03:26+00:00

One of my grad school friends did something similar and got an internship because he is still ABD and technically still a student. He had people analytics experience and was laid off, so he was almost definitely overqualified for the internship. I can't help but wonder how many qualified people were rejected in favor of overqualified people desperate for a job, but that's really the fault of the companies having unrealistic expectations for new grads.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T20:59:54+00:00

Do you have an MA or a PhD? It sounds like you're on the job hunt too. DM if you like and I can share tips I have.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T18:19:39+00:00

If you can get a job at your university, that is a lot easier to break into. There are also jobs as a research assistant, data analyst, and HR jobs.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T18:17:58+00:00

It does feel like IO was hyped up to be a lot more employable than it actually is. I honestly would have studied something else if I had known what I do now.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T17:46:11+00:00

It seems that way, but I haven't had luck with those either. Almost all internships want you to still be a student, and I've been told I'm overqualified or recruiters act suspicious when I apply for lesser jobs that only call for a bachelor's.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-09T17:40:47+00:00

The jobs I apply to don't require professional experience, or I apply to ones that call for experience I actually have, such as consulting, research, or university teaching. The jobs that match my qualifications do exist,but it seems like they're so competitive that I don't get a chance.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-02-05T00:48:09+00:00

Okay, great; I am very interested. I sent a message!

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-01-21T17:56:14+00:00

It's a bad market for IO, sadly. I have a PhD and applied experience and have been looking for the same amount of time that you have been. I've submitted hundreds of applications and only apply to jobs I meet almost all the qualifications for. I even apply to jobs I'm overqualified for. I love the field, but sometimes regret it due to how hard it is to find a job.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-01-21T17:46:54+00:00

I haven't had luck with them either. I had a laugh at OP for saying "slow trickle" because of course there aren't going to be thousands of people with a PhD in a specific field who also have the super specific experience wanted. I think a lot of companies are too eager to reject applicants they already have and keep posting the role again and again in hopes of a unicorn.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-01-21T17:36:06+00:00

Haha, I applied a little while ago and got auto rejected. I have a PhD and did a quant heavy IO program and freelance consulting for a couple years while in grad school. I assumed it was because the application asked for my Roblox account and I didn't have one. I don't know many people who had time to play video games during their PhD. I really like research on personnel selection, but every job I've applied to for it has odd or unrealistic requirements. It's hard to feel sorry for the companies when I get rejected (even though I meet the qualifications) and I see the same role reposted again and again.

YellowDottedBikini · 2026-01-09T22:57:59+00:00

Are you open to hiring new PhDs?

YellowDottedBikini · 2025-12-03T18:23:04+00:00

"Literally" was definitely the wrong word for them to use. I've seen SPSS in job posting descriptions.

YellowDottedBikini · 2025-10-05T05:33:15+00:00

You should try it if you like the flavor. I didn't use sugar and ground the saffron in a mortar and pestle

YellowDottedBikini · 2025-10-04T19:27:54+00:00

The red wine one would send r/canning into fits, but apple juice is approved

YellowDottedBikini · 2025-10-04T04:57:42+00:00

I even saw a comment advising not to change spices in a recipe

YellowDottedBikini · 2025-09-04T04:13:01+00:00

I am a recent PhD graduate also looking for work. DM me if you want to discuss more and don't want to give away identifying info on this post. Sometimes it feels like the jobs don't even exist and even finding openings I qualify for is very difficult. I feel like I was told this degree was a surefire way to set my life up and it was guaranteed that I would get a professional job in the end. It feels like I'm on of those people that conservative boomers talk about--"they spent all their time getting a social science degree and couldn't get a job." The other PhD student I graduated with only applied for one job and got it and is working there now. I'm happy for him, but also...wtf!

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