It’s a little overwhelming trying to choose a career if you don’t know a whole lot about the career itself or the job market in the field. It’s important to do some research in different careers so you can properly plan your course of action to break into it. The more information and sources you read about a specific career, the more you’ll be able to make an informed decision about the right career path to follow. Following are some helpful tips for where to look to find useful information about a career or industry.
Government Websites:
Most governments provide an Occupational Outlook Handbook or website providing labor statistics, expected job growth, working conditions, average salary information and required training and educational levels for certain career fields. These types of sites can be very helpful in providing current information on specific career fields and give an overview of the industry in your area. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has such a handbook to start with.
Job Websites:
Search for job websites, especially those that are specific to the industry and look at the types of job titles advertised that are related to the career. Look at the duties and responsibilities, experience and requirements requested and types of companies hiring. This can give you some insight into the types of job postings available in the industry and you’ll gain a better understanding of the type of experience employers are looking for.
Professional associations and networks:
Look at professional associations and networks related to the industry and see what they say about careers in the field. Many of them will provide information about the industry as well as emerging trends, related news articles and latest developments in the field. It’s helpful to get information like this to stay updated on important issues and topics going on in the industry.
Search the web for careers in the field:
For some careers there are entire websites dedicated to information about careers in the field, while others might bring up career development sites and industry specific articles. You can find an abundance of basic to comprehensive information resources this way.
Search college or university websites.
Many colleges list information on departmental web pages as well as on career service links about careers related to majors and specific studies that can help show which majors lead to certain types of careers. Many colleges/ universities will provide information and links to resources to help students learn about careers and opportunities post-graduation.
