Info about careers and the job market

Sources for info about occupations, career fields, job market:

• Web sites for career fields
  (compiled by Career Services)
  Choose your career field of interest to see many web sites with job listings, career info and advice.
• CareerTV.com
  View videos by topics:
  By industry (at least 38 categories)
  By company (too many to count!)
  By location (by state)
  By university
  By career advice (job search, resume, interviewing, salary, professional development, other)
• Employment Projections
  (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  Extensive information collected and compiled by the federal government.
• Informational interviews w/ people working in fields
  (Career FYI)
  Fashion, finance, high tech, human resources, insurance, legal, marketing, non-profit, project management, public service, real estate, retail, sales, software, television, travel, web/tech.
• Guides for specific careers
  (JobStar.org)
  Web sites for a wide variety of career fields.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
  (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  Thorough on-line research guide for detailed information about specific occupations; look up occupations, see nature of the work, job outlook, earnings, more.
• The Riley Guide Career and Occupational Guides
  (RileyGuide.com)
  Extensive list of career exploration resources for many career fields.
• Vault Reports: Research Industries
  (VaultReports.com)
  Research a wide variety of industries, including finance, consulting, health, government and nonprofit, real estate, energy, human resources, sales, manufacturing, leisure, construction, law, engineering, high tech, media and entertainment, marketing, consumer products and retail, education, transportation.
• Virginia View - Careers
  (VaView.org)
  View a career cluster or a specific occupations. Very thorough information, including job requirements, educational requirements, salary averages, employment projections and professional organizations / resources.
• WetFeet Careers & Industries
  (WetFeet.com)
  Career profiles, industry profiles, company profiles, real people profiles.
  For many careers, provides career overview, requirements, job outlook, career tracks, compensation, job listings.
• Books
  (in Career Services' Career Resource Center)
  Many books about career options for many fields, interests and industries.

Opportunities to talk to people after doing research:

The best decisions are made based on information from a variety of sources (think of a research paper; citing one source would be unacceptable). Seek perspective from people to enhance your research. People working in career fields can offer a reality check on things you read or assumptions you might have.

• Departmental Career Advisors for majors
  (Virginia Tech)
  Faculty and/or staff in each major academic department whom you can consult about career options associated with their majors.
• Career Services advising
  (Career Services)
  We can help you sort out the decisions you need to make, and help you find and use resources that will help you. (We cannot advise you on course requirements for majors and minors; you must consult the department offering the major or minor.)
• VT CareerLink for Alumni Networking
  (Career Services)
  Virginia Tech alumni have volunteered to provide career advice; search for alumni with your major or the work setting or occupation of interest to you; see their occupations; contact them by phone or e-mail.
• Job fairs and career fairs
  (Sponsored by VT colleges, departments & student organizations)
  Annual events. Each event is sponsored by a college or department or student organization and focuses on certain career fields. Do your homework before going: read each event web site to see who's attending and the types of jobs they offer; go to learn more first-hand from employers about internships and entry-level career options.