Okay, so I was browsing the job boards the other day, you know, just seeing what’s out there, and I stumbled upon this whole world of “engineering psychology.” It kinda blew my mind, to be honest. I mean, I’ve always been interested in both engineering and psychology, but I never really thought about how they could come together. Turns out, there’s this whole field dedicated to it!
So, naturally, I did what any curious person would do: I went down a rabbit hole. I started looking up what engineering psychologists actually do. From what I gathered, they are all about making technology and systems more user-friendly. I began to search for how to become an engineering psychologist.
Getting Started
- Figuring Out What It Is: I read a bunch of articles and watched some videos about human factors and ergonomics, which are apparently big parts of engineering psychology.
- Educational Background: It seems like most people in this field have at least a master’s degree, and many have a Ph.D. The degrees are usually in something like human factors, experimental psychology, or cognitive psychology, with a focus on applying these principles to engineering problems. So there is the way to get a formal education.
Digging Deeper
- Finding Real-Life Examples: I searched for examples of engineering psychology in action. It’s pretty cool. It’s things like designing cockpits that are easier for pilots to use, creating medical devices that are less prone to errors, and making websites that are super intuitive. I even found some stuff about designing better gaming experiences, which, as a gamer, definitely caught my attention.
- Exploring Job Options: This is where it got really interesting. I found job listings for engineering psychologists at all sorts of companies – tech companies, government agencies, even the military. They work on everything from user experience design to product development to safety testing.
Making a Plan
- Networking: I found a few people on professional networks who work in this field and sent them messages. I had some great chats and got some solid advice about breaking into the industry.
- Skill Development: I started looking at online courses and resources to build some of the skills that seem to be in demand, like user research, usability testing, and data analysis. Also I did some researches about what kind of software and tools are commonly used in the field. Knowing these tools could make me a more competitive candidate.
- Considering Further Education: I’m seriously thinking about going back to school to get a master’s degree in human factors or a related field. I know it’s a big commitment, but it seems like it would really open up a lot more opportunities.
Honestly, I’m pretty pumped about this. It feels like I’ve found a career path that really aligns with my interests and skills. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. I’ll keep you guys updated on my progress! Maybe I will share what I learned from talking with those engineering psychologists in my next post!
