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?
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 and view a wealth of information including average salaries.
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.
Glassdoor.com
Review salaries and written reviews for over 14,000 organizations.
Current students (with .edu email addresses) can access the info
without having to provide any salary info.
JobWeb.com: Job Outlooks and Salary Info
Several articles including choosing job offers, average beginning
salary ranges for selected disciplines, and evaluating benefits.