Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

Work and Organisational Psychologist have a broad range of work activities, covering diverse areas such as recruitment and selection, personnel management, organisational change, work environment and ergonomics, and stress management.  

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organisational development and analysis. May work with management to organise the work setting to improve worker productivity. 

Work and Organisational Psychologist identify the main aspects of a successful job performance and set up appraisal systems for the benefit of staff and management. They train managers in appraisal techniques and recommend the best type of management system for the company.  
 
 
 
They advise on health and safety issues, studying the causes of accidents and methods to prevent them. Occupational psychologists are also experts on stress management, helping individuals and organisations to prevent or manage stress.  

 
Some occupational psychologists help organisations to adapt during periods of change. They may help to design a new management or staff structure, or a new company image. Occupational psychologists may give one-to-one counselling to people who face redundancy, helping them to plan their next career or training decision.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Formulate and implement training programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences.
• Conduct research studies of physical work environments, organisational structures, communication systems, group interactions, morale, or motivation to assess organisational functioning.
• Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.
• Provide expert testimony in employment lawsuits.
• Study consumers' reactions to new products and package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests.
• Review research literature to remain current on psychological science issues.
• Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
• Conduct individual assessments, including interpreting measures and providing feedback for selection, placement, or promotion.
• Write articles, white papers, or reports to share research findings and educate others.
• Develop new business by contacting potential clients, making sales presentations, and writing proposals.

Further Information

• Work and Organisational Psychologist - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

In order to become an Work and Organisational Psychologist, an accredited honours undergraduate degree where psychology is the major subject is required. Completion of a recognised accredited postgraduate training programme in Occupational / Organisational psychology is then necessary. Recognition with the The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), is the learned and professional body for psychology and psychologists in the Republic of Ireland.
 
This degree must be accredited (by the British Psychological Society and the Psychological Society of Ireland) as conferring the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR), as this is a requirement for all postgraduate training courses. 

Training & Development Pathways

FET PLC Courses: Applied Psychology, Applied Psychology & Social Studies, Community Development with Psychology , Counselling & Psychology, Psychology - Applied, Human Resource Management at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Psychology, Applied Psychology, Human Resource Management, Psychology - Arts, Psychology and Sociology, English and Psychology at NFQ Level 8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 
 
Postgraduate training is an essential prerequisite for employment in most areas of psychology, e.g. clinical, counselling, scientific research, teaching, and occupational and educational psychology.  

Postgraduate Study Options Psychology - Applied Psychology, Psychology - Work & Organisational Psychology / Behaviour, Psychology - Conversion Course NFQ level 8-10

Chartered Work and Organisational Psychologist can follow their degrees with an accredited training course, usually lasting one-year full-time. This should be followed by at least two years' appropriate practice under the supervision of a chartered psychologist. A Masters, Ph.D and a Higher Diploma in psychology can be done in most universities throughout Ireland.

Last Updated: May, 2024

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €66k - €150k

Salaries vary by employer, grade, duties, role, location, and experience.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ PSI/ Indeed/ Healthcarejobs/ Jobted

Last Updated: May, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth rate for this occupation was almost on a par with the national average, with employment growing by 3,600 persons between 2021 and 2022. Of the total employment permits issued in 2022, over half were for the ICT sector. The number of online job adverts (OVATE) declined by 5% in 2022, following strong growth the preceding year.

Although there was little evidence from employers that these roles were proving difficult-to-fill, the skills required for this occupation have shifted somewhat, with data from Spotlight on Skills indicating a strong demand for talent management/employee engagement skills, as companies increasingly focus on staff retention rather than recruitment in a tight labour market.

Demand for this occupation depends very much on hiring activity in the economy overall; slower growth and a reduced number of job-changers, particularly in sectors such as ICT, will likely dampen the demand for HR staff, and a return to the 2021 increase in employment (driven by post-pandemic re-hiring) is unlikely in the short-term.

• Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)

  • Digital Office Centre Camden, 12 Camden Row, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin 8, D08 R9CN, Ireland
  • (0)87 387 7179
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• British Psychological Society

  • St Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR
  • +44 (0)116 254 9568
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP)

  • Department of Work and Employment Studies Kemmy Business School University of Limerick
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here