PC Research
Searching the Net with Your Trusty Computer
What You'll Find on this Page . . .
- Instructions on How to do PC Research
- Link to Job Banks
- Link to Video Career Clips
- Link to Occupational Profiles
Tips on How to Do Online Research
With online research, you operate within the comfort zone of your own private space. One of the advantages of this kind of research is that you can have access to the most up-to-date information
by searching the web. One caution however. Not everything online is 'current'. Always check the dates on all information. A good Rule of Thumb is 5 years old max. But, use your common sense about this. You can find valuable info that's older. Select your information sources wisely.
- Combing Job Banks - will give you info on what employers are looking for in employees today, plus job descriptions.
- Watching Video Career Clips will give you a feel for the work being done in a job.
- Reading Occupational Profiles - will give you the nitty-gritty details: duties, working conditions, personal characteristics, educational requirements, salary, etc.
- While doing your PC Research, be sure and check the websites sponsored by colleges, universities, technical schools and other post-secondary institutions that you are interested in attending.
JOB BANKS
A Job Bank is a website that lists current job openings that job searchers can apply for. Job Banks can be used as Occupational Research Tools. Short of talking directly to the employer, they will tell you what employers are looking for, right now, in any particular field or occupation.
Just type "Job Banks" into your browser. Sites like Monster.com will allow you to search internationally for jobs in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, Central America, the Middle East, South America and so on.
There is even a government website called JOB BANK at http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/
For a great list of Job Search Websites that will make your Job Search much easier, check out: TOP JOB SEARCH LINKS
You'll find them listed by category: Jobs in Accounting, homeworkers, airlines industry, banking, biotech, broadcasting, call center work, child care,
computer & systems, construction. engineering, environmental eco jobs, executive, fitness & wellness, food service, government, healthcare & medical, hospitality & hotel, hourly, human resources, journalism, law enforcement, marketing, modeling, nursing,
management & corporate, non-profit, pharmacy, publishing, sales, security, working after retirement, therapy, transportation, warehouse, voluntary jobs.
If the links are not active yet, just copy them into your browser.
Cruise the job ads. Do you think you'd want to work in any of these jobs? Note down the titles of any jobs that appeal to you. You can use other tools to flesh out and confirm what you are finding there.
When you are finished doing your Job Bank Research, return here for your free Video Career Research Links.
FREE VIDEO CAREER CLIPS
Want to know what it's like to work in a specific job in your Chosen Occupation? Another aspect of your PC Research is to check out these Video Career Clips to see real people in real work situations.
It's the next best thing to talking to them yourself. You only need one or two good video resources for this kind of research. Below are two excellent sources to check out.
This Learning Information Service
has some of the best Free Online Career Videos available. They show people in action on the job. Watching these people in videos gives you a good feel for that type of work.
Clips run six minutes. (Best in a Windows Environment).
They may only be accessible in a Windows Environment. It takes time for these to load. If you only get a grey bar, click on the arrow and the video window should appear. It plays in Safari.
If you have problems with Firefox, Windows Explorer etc., there is a friendly technical support line at 1-800-661-3753.
CAREER CRUISING
An excellent Interactive Career Video Resource showing multimedia interviews with real workers, in over 450 careers, talking about their likes and dislikes about their careers. Usually two interviews are offered in each job.
You can have free access to this multimedia job exploration system, through University and College Career Centers, Labor Market Information Centers, Employment Centers, and some libraries in major cities across the US and Canada.
If you can't find it in your local area, there is a website you can go to for more information. See Career Cruising.
Now that you know about this great resource for doing your PC Research, call around and find out where "Career Cruising" is available to the public. It's well worth the effort to find it. It can save you a lot of digging for information in libraries and online.
SEARCHING OCCUPATIONAL PROFILES
No PC Research is complete without checking out the Occupational Profiles of Jobs you are interested in. These are quick summaries of the essential requirements for each job. They include a listing of common duties performed, expected working conditions, personal attributes that are useful in the job, educational requirements, salary range, related occupations, and high school subjects related to this kind of job. You will also find these occupational profiles in 'Career Cruising' (described above).
This Learning Information Service provides detailed and up-to-date information on more than 500 occupations (types of work) in a format called occupational profiles. Includes duties, working conditions, personal characteristics, educational requirements, salary. Search by: Title, Interest, School and College Subject Areas, Industry, Occupational Code.
The College Board Online's College Majors and Career Profiles provides detailed information on hundreds of careers in major occupational groups if you're thinking of getting a college degree or you already have one.
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