Published Sources
Published Sources
Published sources of job information are a good way of finding a lot of quality information quickly. These sources can include job descriptions based on research performed by government employment offices. Examples of these are the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) from the US Department of Labor. Canadians will probably want to consult these US sources in addition to the Government of Canada's National Occupational Classification.
Of course, published information doesn't only refer to books. This information may also be found on the Internet or in other electronic formats. Check out the O*NET Online website for U.S job resources, and the NOC website for Canadian job information. You can also conduct your own searches on the Internet for career-related information. We have also provided you with an extensive list of Career Exploration Web Links that you may find helpful. As well, the JVIS Extended Report lists numerous career activities for each of your top three Job Groups. Many of these have related web links.
Published sources may also be found as brochures published by industry or professional associations, education and training program information, and so on. Your JVIS Extended Report provides a list of professional and trade organizations for each of your top three Job Groups. You may want to contact these organizations for more information.
You may find further published information at local public libraries, career and guidance counseling offices, and bookstores.
Interviewing & Job Shadowing
We have prepared a guide for conducting your own Job Information Interview. During an information interview you may look into the possibility of observing your interviewee at work for a period of time (e.g., a day). This is called job shadowing. By job shadowing you can see first hand how the work first done and as well as 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 with other sources (e.g., published, other job experts). You should also note that they consume much time and effort - both your time and others'. Therefore, you will want to reserve these tools for a short-list of possible career options — the ones that are most appealing or for which information is most difficult to find.
Additional Suggestions
- Attend educational or job fairs.
- Talk to a guidance or career counselor.
- See if your school or College has a career resource center and use it. Graduates may be allowed to use these resources, too.
- Look into community programs and government agencies.
- Volunteer in a field that interests you so that you can obtain a better idea of related careers and what the work is like.
- Explore your career options by gaining experience in your areas of interest. Hobbies, clubs, part-time jobs, and volunteer work can all help you learn more.
- Explore the Internet. Check this site as we link additional Career Exploration Web Links.
- Meet with students taking programs you'd like to learn more about.
- Speak with academic advisors for educational programs you're considering.
- Attend lectures or meet with professors in several areas of interest to learn more about certain fields of study.