Selecting a Career

Selecting a career can be challenging.  There are resources, including your counselor, to assist you in the process.  This section is divided into the following areas:

Questions to Get You Started

  • What kind of hobbies or interests do you have?
  • Do you like being outside or inside?
  • Do you want an 8-5 job or a more flexible work schedule?
  • What’s important to you? Healthcare? Environment concerns?
  • What kinds of things do you enjoy doing? Cooking? Writing?

Vocational Exploration Testing

If you really aren’t sure at all what you want to do, ask your counselor about getting tested for career interests.  There a many assessments available.  Your counselor can help you select one.

Work Experience or Volunteering

If you have some idea of what you might want to do for a living but still aren’t certain, ask you counselor to help you get a work-experience or work with you in getting a volunteer position.  The benefit of work experiences and volunteering include picking up skills you can use in a paying position and having job experience to put on your resume.

External Website Resources

Three external websites are listed that might help you in the process of selecting a career. A brief description of what you will find on the site is provided.

  • AFB Career Connect
  • Occupation Information Network
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook Online

AFB Career Connect

AFB Career Connect (http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=7&TopicID=209&SubTopicID=63&DocumentID=2179)provides tips for career exploration as well as opportunities to contact a mentor who is already working in the career you are interested in.

Occupation Information Network (O*NET)

The O*NET system (http://online.onetcenter.org/ )serves as the nation's primary source of occupational information.  The site provides comprehensive information on key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations.  There is also a link to search Jobs that are currently in demand.

Occupational Outlook Handbook On-line

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm) is now online. This handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations. If you know the occupation you want you can search by name or you can search by one of the 13 major categories.  The 13 occupational clusters in the Handbook including management, business and finance, sales, service, production, farming, Armed Services, office and administrative support and construction.