Okay, so I wanted to dive into the world of industrial psychology consulting, but I wasn’t really sure where to start. It’s a pretty niche field, and finding the right firm felt a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.
My Search Begins
First, I did what anyone would do – I hit up Google. I just typed in “industrial psychology consulting firms” and, well, a whole bunch of stuff came up. It was pretty overwhelming, to be honest. Lots of websites, lots of jargon, and I wasn’t even 100% sure what I was looking for specifically.
Then I started to refine my search. I thought about what areas of industrial psychology I was most interested in. Things like employee selection, training and development, and organizational change came to mind. So, I added those terms to my searches, trying to narrow things down.
Digging Deeper
I started clicking through the search results, visiting different firms’ websites. I tried to get a feel for their vibe. Did they seem buttoned-up and corporate? Did they focus on specific industries? Did their website look like it was made in 1998? (Seriously, some of them did!).
I looked for things like:
- Case studies: Did they have examples of real work they’d done?
- Client lists: Were they working with companies I recognized?
- Team bios: Who were the actual consultants? Did they have the right kind of experience?
- Services offered: Were you able to see the services provided?
I made a simple spreadsheet. Nothing fancy, just company names, websites, and some notes about what I liked or didn’t like. This helped me keep track of everything. It sounds basic, but it really helped!
Narrowing Down the List
After a few days of this (yeah, it took a while!), I had a shorter list of firms that seemed promising. I started reaching out to a few of them. I just sent a simple email, introducing myself, explaining what I was looking for, and asking if they had time for a quick chat.
Some firms never got back to me, which was a bit frustrating. But a few did, and I had some really helpful conversations. I asked them about their approach, their experience, and the kinds of projects they typically work on.
The Outcome (So Far!)
I’m still in the process of figuring things out. I haven’t chosen a firm yet, but I feel like I’m a lot closer. I’ve learned a ton just by doing this research and talking to people. It’s definitely a process, but it’s been worth it so far. Next time I share an update, I’m sure I’ll have much more to share.
