Career exploration and job market info

Steps | sources:  

1. Read, research

2. Talk to people, network

Step 1: read | research occupations, career fields, job market:

Many sources for you from which to choose:

• Books in our Career Resource Center
  [in Career Services' Career Resource Center]
  Many books about career options for many fields, interests and industries.
• Career-field-focused websites
  [compiled by Career Services]
  Choose your career field(s) of interest to see many websites with job and internship listings, career information, and advice.
• Career Search Database > Explore careers and occupations
  Information about careers, and salaries by career field.
  Sources, by industry, for finding jobs.
• CareerTV.com
  Videos by specific employers telling about types of jobs and internships and company culture.
• Employment Projections
  [U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics]
  Extensive information collected and compiled by the federal government.
• Future Jobs and Careers Forecast on FindTheData.org
  [Find The Data.org gathers data from public sources including governmental organizations and universities.]
  Over 1000 jobs: number of jobs in 2008 and projected for 2018, median annual wages, percent self employed, typical source of education and training.
• Informational interviews w/ people working in specific careers
  [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.
• Job Shadow.com
  [Established 2012]
  Explore career options by reading interviews with people in many occupations
• 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.
• O*Net Find Occupations
  [U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration]
  Find and learn about occupations.
  View by career cluster, industry, outlook and more.
  Browse occupations by abilities, skills, interests, knowledge, values, more.
  Browse interests by Holland Codes: RIASEC.
  Search occupations by skills, technology knowledge.
• 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]
  Profiles of a wide variety of industries.
• 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.

Step 2: talk to people | network 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 [DCAs] for undergraduate 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.
  Please note that we cannot advise you on course requirements for majors and minors! You must consult the department offering the major or minor.
• Hokie Nation Network
  [Virginia Tech Alumni Association]
  Professional and social networking for the Virginia Tech community.
• Job fairs and career fairs
  [Each VT-affiliated event is sponsored by a VT college, department, student organization, or alumni chapter. Other events may be focused on an urban area or a career field and sponsored by others. ]
  Note purpose and sponsor of each event. Some focus on certain career fields.
  Note that the employment world is not organized by major!
  Do your homework before going: read each event web site to see who's attending and the types of jobs they offer; employers are impressed by students who show up prepared. Then go to learn more first-hand from employers about internships and entry-level career options.