5.1: Online Resources

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Researching the internet for career information can be fascinating. You have so much information at the touch of your fingertips which can be exciting, yet overwhelming at the same time. In this section, we will explore common online tools used in career counseling and exploration. Keep a notepad nearby as you explore different online career resources. Take notes of your findings and record information that stands out to you. At the end of this unit, you should be able to start putting the pieces together and getting closer to making some career decisions.

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH): The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a nationally-recognized source of career information designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations and links to professional associations. (link: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook [www.bls.gov])

O*NET Online: O*NET Online has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and human resources professionals, students and more. O*NET makes occupational information interactive and accessible to everyone. This site contains both summary and detailed information on occupations in the U.S. economy as well as the ability to search for information by various criteria such as job family, industry, skills, knowledge, interests, green jobs, bright outlook occupations and several others. O*NET also is produced and updated frequently by the federal government and contains state and national wage information, occupational projections, related occupations and opportunities for more information from professional and trade associations. (link: O*NET Online [www.onetonline.org])

CareerOneStop: Sponsored by the U.S Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, this site provides tools to help job seekers, students, business and career professionals. CareerOneStop is a comprehensive site to explore careers, find training, search for jobs, connect with community resources, and additional resources for special populations including career changers, military and veterans, laid-off workers, workers with a criminal background, workers with disabilities, entry-level workers, older workers, young adults, self-employed and credential seekers. (link: Career OneStop [www.careeronestop.org])

Career Coach: This career research and employment software has been customized for HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. Career Coach allows students to take an interest assessment, research careers and find educational programs at HACC. The site also contains career information and live job openings. (link: HACC Career Coach [hacc.emsicc.com])

My Next Move: This site is an interactive tool for job seekers and students to learn more about their career options. My Next Move has tasks, skills, salary information, and more for over 900 different careers. Users can find careers through keyword search; by browsing industries that employ different types of workers; or through the O*NET Interest Profiler, a tool that offers personalized career suggestions based on a person's interests and level of work experience. (link: My Next Move [www.mynextmove.org])

The more you learn about the world of work, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions about the career path that best fits you and your needs!

Activity 5.1

My Career Research Log

Take some time to explore each of the online resources introduced in this chapter to gather career information. What are your top three to four careers that seem to be the most interesting to you at this time?

Take notes as you conduct your research and consider researching the following questions:

How do these careers match with your assessment results (values, personality, interests, strengths)?
What part of these careers do you like?
What part of these careers do you have concerns about?
What educational training and/or certifications do you need for these careers?
Where can you receive the training required for these careers?

Keep your notes to assist you in completing the Rest Stops for Part 2 & 3.