Business Psychologist

Business psychologists transfer psychological knowledge to economic issues. In business psychological counseling, they systematically describe economically relevant variables, such as the actual or potential behavior and experience of employees or target groups. Then they assess what changes can bring about, advise their customers in a target-oriented manner and work on behalf of the company management to positively position planned changes and thus establish employee or customer acceptance. You will develop market research projects, examine the consumer behavior of target groups and adapt marketing and sales measures. They also examine processes and structures in human resources and business organizations and develop suggestions for optimization and change processes, for example for needs-based personnel selection and recruiting systems or for training and further education measures. They also use their knowledge in adult education and in social counseling, for example to explain the mechanisms of action to consumers and to encourage them to critically question the psychology of consumption, advertising and sales.

In scientific research, business psychologists research the behavior of people in the economic environment and publish research results. At universities, they teach students, prepare lectures and seminars, correct written work and hold exams. Independent scientific activities usually only open up after a master’s degree and a doctorate.

Business psychologists find employment e.g.

• in business consulting, market and opinion research
• in communication, advertising and PR agencies
• in communication psychology research and teaching

The salary level for Business Psychologist in Germany is: from 3866 up to 4854 EUR per month

Why is Business psychologists?

Business psychologists examine behavioral patterns of economically active groups, such as households, consumers, companies or managers, suggest measures and create concepts.

Analyze company processes

The fields of work in business psychology are diverse: Business organization, human resources, marketing, management and consulting are among them. If the efficiency and acceptance of corporate communication are to be increased, management behavior is optimized, employees are to be trained in a requirement-oriented manner, or if they are to be prepared for an imminent change or a structural change, business psychologists develop the necessary measures. Regardless of whether you are employed by a company or coaching consulting clients on a freelance basis, it is always essential to carefully analyze a given situation and a certain action with its effects on the work results.

Acquire staff or analyze needs

Since knowledge management is becoming more and more important, business psychologists try to use and expand the employee potential optimally, e.g. through suitable personnel measures. To do this, they have to find out, on the one hand, which types of requirements are made at the respective workplace, and, on the other hand, what knowledge the employees currently have and what development potential is available. Therefore, they collect requirements and potential analyzes. Building on this, they propose personnel development measures, such as training and further education, and organize these themselves if necessary. They may also advise company restructuring, improved work processes or personnel changes. When looking for new employees, the so-called recruiting, they make sure to assess the suitability of applicants for the respective area of ​​activity.

Why is the new men's deodorant only bought by women? Will the TV commercial for the new sports car affect the planned target group? How can sales of the decaffeinated coffee variety be increased by at least 5 percent among the target group of under 20s? Business psychologists in market research and marketing deal with such questions. They design questionnaires, conduct consumer monitoring or recommend marketing measures.

Psychological research and teaching

Business psychologists can also work in psychological research and teaching, for example at university hospitals. There they carry out studies, analyze and interpret the subjective experience and behavior of people in the economic environment and in social contexts, write research reports, hold lectures and seminars and are responsible for taking exams. For scientific activities, they may need a doctorate or a habilitation.