Published Sources

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:

• U.S:
  • O*NET Online
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
  • Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)
• Canada:
  • National Occupational Classification

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.

Additional Suggestions

• Attend educational or job fair.
• Talk to a guidance or career counselor.
• Visit your school's career resource center and use it.
• Look into community programs and government agencies.
• 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.
• 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.