Researching organizations and occupations is crucial to finding a good fit for your skills, values, and strengths. This will assist you in
narrowing your options and may even bring to your attention occupations
you had previously overlooked. You can find information from occupation-related web sites, by conducting informational interviews, or by talking with professors.
Why does the occupation exist? What needs does it serve?
What are the major duties and responsibilities?
Are there specializations within the occupation?
Education, experience, and skill required
What college courses are required or helpful for preparation?
Are there licensure, certification, or other legal requirements
for employment?
What abilities, skills or aptitudes should a person have
to enter the occupation?
What previous work experience is needed to enter the occupation?
What special requirements are necessary or helpful (knowledge
of foreign language, computer skills, etc.)?
Earnings, benefits, and working conditions
What is the average salary range--beginning, middle, and top earnings?
What benefits are typically offered?
What are the physical working conditions (office, factory, inside/outside,
noise level)?
What is the average work schedule (hours, time of day or night, overtime)?
Are there any physical hazards associated with the type of work?
Employment and advancement outlook
What advancement or promotion opportunities exist?
How stable is this employment?
Your perception of this occupation
What do you like about it? (ex. uses skills
that you possess, expresses values
that are important to you, offers creativity, provides immediate steady income, etc.)
What do you dislike
about it? What does the occupation have in it that you
would rather avoid?
One of the most effective ways to research occupations is through
informational interviews. These are face-to-face, telephone, or email
conversations with an individual working in a field that you want to
explore.
Benefits of conducting informational interviews:
Explore the realities of careers that interest you
Clarify your own career goals
Gain confidence by developing professional communication skills
Expand your network of professional contacts
Learn additional ways to prepare for your future career
Why would a professional help me?
They have the opportunity to advance their career field by encouraging others to enter it
They may have been in your situation at one time
People often like to talk about themselves and their careers and have a desire to help others
Finding professionals to interview
Choose one or two specific occupations or fields that interest you.
This will provide some direction as you choose individuals to
interview. How can you find these professionals? Start by talking to
everyone you know: professors, relatives, friends, friend’s parents,
neighbors, GC alumni, past and present co-workers or supervisors, etc.
It’s possible that none of these people work in the field that
interests you, but they might know someone who does.
Additional resources include professional associations, organizational directories, and the Career Services office.
How to schedule an informational interview
The easiest, and often most effective, way to arrange an informational
interview is through a mutual friend or acquaintance. This person can
make the first request, and you follow up with a phone call. People are
often more likely to talk with others whom they have a connection with.
You may also send a letter requesting an interview or call the
individual directly. Schedule 20-30 minutes for each interview.
Whichever method you choose, it’s important to emphasize that you are
looking for information, not for a job.
Face-to-face interviews ideally take place at the professional’s place
of employment. This provides you the opportunity to see the physical
work environment. Phone and email interviews are also options if the
professional has a tight schedule.
Preparing for an informational interview
Learn everything you can about the career field and the organization
the professional works for. Reading company literature and reviewing
web sites will help you as you choose which questions to ask during the
interview. Click here for a list of sample questions. Select 10-15 which interest you the most.
At the informational interview
Dress professionally and arrive 5-10 minutes early. Bring your list of
questions, along with a notebook and pen. You are leading the
interview, so you should initiate the conversation and keep track of
the time. At the end of the interview, thank the professional and ask
for suggestions of additional people you could talk to.
Remember, informational interviews should never be confused with job
interviews. The purpose is solely for you to gather information and
possibly additional contacts. It is considered very inappropriate to
ask for a job during a career informational interview.
MyPlan.com
Helps students plan more fulfilling lives
by making well-informed decisions about their education and careers. CareerOverview.com
A non-commercial website dedicated to providing aspiring
career professionals and students with relevant, reliable
and up-to-date career and job information.
US Department of Labor
The Occupational Outlook Handbook allows you to research occupations of interest.
Career One Stop
Watch short, informative videos about 500+ careers.
Good Library
This page provides a list of career-related books in the library and additional online career exploration sources.
