Which Faculty Member’s career path and research focus most resonates with you and your personal and professional interests? Explain why.

The one faculty member’s career path that caught my attention was Dr. La Civita and her forensic psychology consulting work. It caught my attention because I have been struggling to find something I can do with a forensic psychology doctoral degree that does not involve counseling or therapy. Dr. La Civita pointed out the myriad of consulting opportunities, but the one that immediately interested me was industrial organizational psychology and the assistance I could provide to organizations struggling with personnel and leadership issues.

Did anything from this week’s Learning Resources make you aware of a career opportunity you were unaware of previously? If so, what is it, and explain your interest?

Beyer et al. (n.d.) were fascinating to watch and hear about the many opportunities of becoming a forensic psychologist consultant. One thing I did not know prior to taking this class is going back to what Dr. La Civita described with industrial organizational psychology and assisting organizations with one-on-one or group dynamics to improve the organization’s collaboration among its members and the overall accomplishment of its objectives. Beyer et al. (n.d.) explained that examining the aim of the consulting process—clarity without objectives, impacts, and engagement success—is another method to analyze consulting work.

I like to see people succeed in their careers, enjoy working for their employers, and get along with their co-workers, collaborating to accomplish their agency goals. I left an employer because nothing I just described was present. The conditions were debilitating and impossible to change. Alliger and McEachern (2024) explain that since the beginning of the field, practicing I-O psychologists have walked a tightrope where supporting management must be balanced with the necessity of attending to employees' well-being.

How might this career opportunity influence your degree path and your plans/vision for your future in forensic psychology?

This career opportunity will somewhat change my path and my plans but not drastically change my overall goal of becoming a psychologist. After reading this week learning resources, I have already researched a I/O Psychology doctoral program and found one at Texas A&M. I will start contacting their advisors to ask questions and learn more about what I need to do to prepare for their doctoral degree.

References:

Alliger, G. M., & McEachern, P. J. (2024). Anti-work offers many opportunities for I-O psychologists. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 17(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2023.49Links to an external site.

Beyer, K., deVelasco, B. P., Hickey, E., Price-Sharps, J., & La Civita, L. (n.d.). So you want to be a forensic psychology consultant. [Video]. Zoom Meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/WGnrw5Fs7_Edo_RtVBMeVup87WOr9Smu9KwPz55NfpszaZbkZX7P6QxtOj-3l1nk.xCRjasYl0x_h6FA2Links to an external site.

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