Summary of Responses to New Generation Request for Ideas and Contributions

Paul W. Thayer

Last fall, the SIOP Foundation designed a special campaign to involve recent graduates in the Foundation, solicit funding ideas that would be useful to new graduates, and request contributions from them.  The campaign generated a number of good ideas and contributions from 33 SIOP members who have finished their degrees in the last 10 years. 
Many ideas focused on activities at the annual SIOP conference, suggesting several different kinds of forums for exchange of ideas, mentoring by senior I-Os, and opportunities to share experiences and problems.  Proposals ranged from special consortia, either for all new graduates, or separate ones for terminal master’s and doctorates; breakfasts; or workshops.¹  One suggestion for a conference topic focused on students who were trying to finish while working full time, or almost full time.

¹ Two of these suggestions anticipated the new consortia being held for the first time in New York:  the Master’s and Junior Faculty Consortia.

The contents of such sessions might include presentations by those who have 5 to 10 years of experience sharing transition experiences from graduate school to the job (realities of applying I-O principles and research in the “real world,” tips for working within the constraints of business or academe), establishing mentoring relationships (plus sharing tips on effective mentoring techniques), and developing networks of new I-Os or networks of new and senior I-Os.  One suggestion stressed having an experienced internal consultant, an external consultant, and a member of academe—perhaps one each from a psychology department and a business school. Another suggestion for the conference included a special track for presentations on career and job development.

TIP was also mentioned as a possible mechanism for helping I-Os in the early years of their careers by providing a special section for the exchange of ideas of recent graduates.  Related to that idea was a proposal to develop a short book of career advice covering the several career paths our colleagues take.

One suggestion was controversial and met with strong dissent from other recent graduates:  requiring work experience before entering graduate school as is sometimes required by business schools.

Possible financial support was also requested for student travel to and from internships, and research funding for new faculty.

Another proposal suggested a shared Web site and Web toolkit providing resources for people following different paths:  for example, information for the new academic on grant solicitation, making your skills known as an internal or external consultant, and so forth.

Finally, there were many suggestions involving state and local I-O groups, from special programs such as those mentioned for the SIOP conference, to the development of mentoring relationships between senior and new I-Os. 

All in all, the yield from our request was a good one.  We engaged new I-O psychologists in supporting the Foundation both financially and with their ideas.  Obviously, many of these suggestions can best be handled by SIOP itself, and they have all been forwarded to the Executive Committee.  Others will be studied by the Foundation for possible implementation. 

We thank all SIOP members who support the Foundation and ask for your continued support.  Please continue to send your ideas on ways the Foundation can help sustain the profession of I-O psychology as well as your generous contributions.