Career Research Workbook

Career Encyclopedias | Books about Specific Careers | Articles about Careers | Job Advertisements | Resumes, Interviewing & Assessment | Information for People Relocating
BCC Cooperative Education & Career Development Center

I. Career Encyclopedias (Look here for job descriptions and salary surveys.) 

Look here for job descriptions and salary surveys.
This is a list of places to start with general information about the career you are researching.  They will often supply background information in short (2-5 pages) articles about your career. 

Information to look for:
a. What is the definition of your career? 
b. What are the duties and responsibilities? 
c. What training will you need? 
d. What salary can you expect? 
e. What is the job outlook?

A. Online Career Encyclopedias

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook:  Basic descriptions of many job titles.  Includes:  work done, workplace environment, job outlook, salary surveys, and training required for position.  <http://www.bls.gov/oco> 
2. Salary.com:  Current source of detailed salary reports for wide variety of employment titles. 
<http://www.salary.com>
3. Workforce NJ Public Information Network (WNJPIN):  A general career resource for the state of New Jersey with information about education, employment opportunities, training opportunities, labor market information, job search tools, and social services.  <http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_index.html>
4.  Ferguson's Career Guidance Center:  Detailed descriptions of more than 1,000 of the most popular jobs in 50 industries, as well as more than 16,000 resources (many with Web addresses, when applicable) to help you select, plan, and advance your career.
5. O*Net:  An interactive and accessible resource for occupation and skill information. <http://online.onetcenter.org> 
 

B. Career Encyclopedias in the Sidney Silverman Library 

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook - Upper Floor Reference HF 5381.A62  
2. Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance ( 5 vols. ) -  Upper Floor Reference HF 5381 .E52 - also included in Ferguson's Career Guidance Center (see #4 above). 
3. Career Information Center ( 13 vols. )  - Upper Floor Reference HF 5382.5 .U5 C32 
4. O*net Dictionary of Occupational Titles - Upper Floor Reference HB 2595  .O16  - also online (see #5 above)

Prof. Barbara Alper and Dr. Carlo Annese
Last updated: 24 Jun 09