CAREER
EXPLORATION
 |
"As a
general rule,
the most successful
people in life
are
those who have
the best
information."
-BENJAMIN DISRAELI
|
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
Click Here for Grad School Fair Info
GATHERING INFORMATION
Once you have established
your career goal, it is imperative that you begin exploring your options
by gathering valuable career information and conducting extensive job
market research.
It is very important that you thoroughly investigate your
career options. Effectively investigating or researching a particular
career involves gathering as much relevant data as possible. The best
sources of viable information related to careers are printed material,
people in the field, your own firsthand personal experience, and the
internet.
By
using the resources you have available to you to research and explore
your career options, you can enter the job market well prepared.
Moreover, you will develop a great sense of confidence and focus that
will empower you as you venture forward in pursuit of your career.
To be
successful in your serious career exploration activities, become
proficient in the use of all of the most comprehensive research tools
available to you... the library... the internet... information
interviews... job shadowing. Be a tireless investigator. Gather as
much information and data as you can.
 |
GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Career
Information
What Can I Do With This Degree?
Careers in Business
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career Overview
Business Week: Careers
Google: Careers
Self Growth: Career Development
Internet Public Library
Career Book List
CAREER RESEARCH
"To
assist in the career decision-making
process, candidates should be alert
to the most relevant labor market
information available. The
availability of resources has grown
tremendously in the last twenty
years."
-VERNON ZUNKER
"Too many people try to make a
career decision without first having
the information they need."
-HECKLINGER & BLACK
"Information is power. If you know
the facts, you can prevent
catastrophes or save time and money.
If you have the right information,
you can be in the right place doing
the right thing at the right time.
If you have good contacts, you can
help others who are in positions to
help you."
-ANNE BOE & BETTIE
YOUNGS
"The more research you do, the more
you will be convinced that you have
many more options than you
previously thought. Sitting at home
mailing out letters won't get it.
Sitting in your current job wishing
someone would rescue you by telling
you about a great job just right for
you may happen. And it may not.
Thousands of people have
successfully discovered career
direction and have found jobs
through the process of research and
information interviewing."
-MARTHA STOODLEY
"You need to find out as much as
possible about a career before you
prepare to enter it."
-HECKLINGER & BLACK
"Information is power. Without
factual information about careers
and the job market, you are without
power, flying in a sandstorm."
-JOYCE LAIN KENNEDY
PRINTED MATERIAL
A
wide range of books and other
printed material are available
addressing such topics as career
choice, the job market, and
information on specific careers.
This kind of published information
is generally accessible through
school and public libraries, career
resource centers, company reports,
corporate literature, industrial
directories, chambers of commerce,
employee handbooks, professional
organizations, and government
agencies. Be sure the information
you are gathering through printed
sources is accurate, up-to-date and
comprehensive.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Whether one is researching a company
or gathering topical data, an
increasing amount of information is
available electronically through the
use of an on-line computer. Many
researchers find it very convenient
to "surf" the Internet or the World
Wide Web for needed information.
Many companies maintain websites
which offer a wealth of detailed
information about their
organizations. Similarly, schools,
colleges, agencies, and non-profit
organizations provide extensive
information to researchers who visit
their websites. Through various
"search engines," a computer user
can access specific information very
quickly by entering key words,
titles, or topics.
PEOPLE IN THE FIELD
Identify key players or prominent
figures in your particular field of
interest. You may meet these people
through career fairs, conventions,
conferences, professional meetings,
or your teachers, counselors and
advisors. One of the best ways to
find out about a career is to talk
with people who are actually working
in that career. This can be
accomplished through any number of
methods by which you can meet and
interact with professionals in your
field, including information
interviewing, job shadowing, or
mentorships.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Perhaps the best way to learn what a
career is actually like is to
personally experience it firsthand.
You can obtain this experience or
exposure to a particular career
through a variety of relatively
risk-free arrangements... Get a
part-time job in your field of
interest. Do volunteer work in your
field of interest. Explore the
possibility of a cooperative
education program or an internship
in your field of interest. Take a
course related to your field of
interest. Or consider "job
shadowing," an arrangement whereby
you ask to spend a day or two on the
job with someone in your field of
interest.
CHECKLIST
Whether you are gathering
information through an information
interview, through observation from
job shadowing, from a book or other
publication, or by means of a
computer, there are certain
questions you'll likely need to have
answered....
Definition of the occupation?
Description of work activities?
Typical work day? Duties,
responsibilities, skills?
Typical job titles and specialties?
Work settings? Working conditions?
Training and educational
requirements? Preparations?
Experience?
Personal qualifications?
Salary and benefits? Earning
potential? Other rewards?
Satisfactions? Values?
Career mobility and advancement?
Security?
People factors? Supervisors?
Co-Workers? Customers?
Liabilities and limitations?
Projections? Employment outlook?
Trends?
Special problems? Where employed?
MAGAZINES & PERIODICALS
Magazines and periodicals provide
relevant information. Listed below
are titles of a few magazines and
periodicals related to the career
development field.
Job Choices Magazine,
published by the National
Association of Colleges & Employers
National Business Employment Weekly,
published by the Wall Street Journal
Managing Your Career,
published by the Wall Street Journal
Black Collegian Magazine,
published by Black Colligate
Services
CAREER BOOKS
What Color Is Your Parachute?: A
Practical Manual for Job-Hunters &
Career-Changers
by Richard Bolles
The Three Boxes of Life: An
Introduction to Life/Work Planning
by Richard Bolles
How to Find the Work You Love
by
Laurence Boldt
Zen and the Art of Making a Living
by Laurence Boldt
Do What You Love, The Money Will
Follow
by Marsha Sinetar
Getting the Job You Really Want
by J. Michael Farr
The
Very Quick Job Search by J. Michael
Farr
The Fool Proof Job Search
by Donald Asher
Resumes Don’t Get Jobs: The
Realities & Myths of Job Hunting
by Bob Weinstein
Jobs with a Future
by Martin Yate
Knock ‘Em Dead: The Ultimate Job
Seeker’s Handbook
by Martin Yate
Guerrilla Tactics in the Job Market
by Tom Jackson
Welcome to the Real World
by Stacy Kravetz
Jobsmarts for Twenty-Somethings
by Bradley Richardson
The Hunt: Complete Book to Effective
Job Finding
by Tom Washington
Interview Power: Selling Yourself
Face to Face
by Tom Washington
The New Perfect Resume
by Tom Jackson & Ellen Jackson
High Impact Resumes & Letters
by Ronald Krannich & Caryl Krannich
Manassas
Liberal Arts Power: What It Is and
How to Sell It on Your Resume
by Burton Jay Nadler
Interview for Success: Practical
Guide to Increasing Interviews,
Offers, & Salaries
by Krannich & Krannich
Change Your Job, Change Your Life:
High Impact Strategies for Finding
Great Jobs
by Ronald Krannich
The Complete Job Interview Handbook
by John Marcus
Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of
Being Interviewed
by Anthony Medley
How You Really Get Hired: The Inside
Story from a College Recruiter
by John LeFevre
Information Interviewing: How to Tap
Your Hidden Job Market
by Martha Stoodley
LIBRARIES
Public and school libraries are a
valuable source of up-to-date
information. Virtually every
community has a library in close
proximity. A well maintained library
provides access to numerous
collections of books, periodicals,
and files that are helpful to the
career researcher.
"Be
a library regular. Become
comfortable in libraries and career
centers. The information you need is
there, mountains of it. Even if the
data you're hunting aren't
immediately available, you probably
can uncover the organizations or
individuals to contact for
publications or answers."
-JOYCE LAIN KENNEDY /
Career Book
CAREER CENTER
"Your career center can be a
valuable—and sometimes fun—place to
visit. So what can a trip to a
career center do for you? How can a
career counselor or adviser help
you? There’s more than you might
think. Are you uncertain about what
major to pursue or have you already
chosen a major but aren’t sure where
it can take you? Career counselors
are trained to administer a variety
of standardized tests that can help
you pinpoint careers that suit your
interests, values, and personality
type. Career counselors and advisers
can meet with you one-on-one to
discuss your plans and help you find
a focus. They can also introduce you
to a wealth of resources at the
career services office. Are you
hoping to meet lots of employers at
once? Most career services offices
sponsor at least one career fair a
year. Staff members can also point
you to other career fairs and
employment conferences nearby. Most
career centers keep plenty of
information about employers handy
for students to peruse. This can
include company brochures, annual
reports, news articles, and listings
in guides. Many also maintain
collections of reference books
periodicals, newspapers, and
employment newsletters that contain
information on occupational
exploration, emerging occupations,
salaries, undergraduate and graduate
schools, resume writing,
interviewing, and more. Career
centers often sponsor sessions in
which students can meet
representatives of one or more
companies and learn what they have
to offer. Sometimes these
representatives are alumni, and can
relate how their experiences at a
college or university translate into
their current career. Recruiters
from a variety of companies,
agencies, and even the federal
government often spend a day or
several days on campus interviewing
students."
-CAREER PLANIT / From
a Resource Mining Article
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
ALABAMA CONNECTION
n
Virtual Career Center
