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Published
sources of job information are a good way of finding a lot
of quality information quickly. Collecting information from
a variety of sources can help you make a wise, informed decision
about your future career plans. Begin with examining broad
sources of information, such as government publications to
get a general understanding of the jobs that interest you.
First get a broad understanding of what the job entails, then
search out more information to flush out the important details.
For example, what are the job qualifications? What types of
better jobs will this one lead to (if there are any)? Examine
several of the following sources:
Government Publications:
The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)
and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
are published by the US Department of Labor and provide
detailed descriptions of jobs. Canadians will want to consult
both US sources and the Government of Canada's National
Occupational Classification or NOC.
Books
The books listed as "suggested readings" under
each of your top three Job Groups are useful. The on-line
JVIS Extended Report presents these titles and links them
directly to amazon.com.
You can also find these titles in a bookstore or library.
Internet
We have also provided you with an extensive list of Career
Exploration Web Links. Explore these sites to gather more
job information.
Brochures
Brochures published by industry or professional associations
can provide specific job and education information. The brochures
can be obtained by contacting the professional and trade organizations
listed in the JVIS Extended Report for each of your top three
Job Groups.
Further published information can be found at the local public
libraries, career and guidance counseling offices, and bookstores.
Interviewing
& Job Shadowing
Why not conduct your own job information interview? We can
help with our guide that explains how. Ask to observe a person
in a particular field of work. This is called "job shadowing."
By job shadowing you can see first hand how the work is done,
in addition to obtaining a feel for the work environment.
For example, someone interested in police work may arrange
for a "ride along" with on-duty police officers.
Make
sure to verify the information you get from interviews and
job shadowing with other sources (e.g., published sources,
other job experts). These two tools, however, consume a lot
of time and effort - both your time and others. Therefore,
you will want to use these strategies for a short-list of
possible career options - the ones that are most appealing
or for which information is most difficult to find.
Martin interviews several people in search of career information.]
| Additional
Suggestions |
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Attend
educational or job fair. |
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Talk
to a guidance or career counselor. |
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Visit
your school's career resource center and use it. |
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Look
into community programs and government agencies. |
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Explore
your career options by gaining experience in other areas
of interest. Hobbies, clubs, part-time jobs, and volunteer
work can all help you learn more. |
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Meet
with students taking programs you'd like to learn more
about. |
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Speak
with academic advisors for educational programs you're
considering. |
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Attend
lectures or meet with professors in several areas of interest
to learn more about certain fields of study. |
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