Whether you’ve just completed your degree or are starting to think about how your education can translate into a career, it’s critical to understand that a major component of a job search is research.
This involves much more than just surfing the Internet or trying to schedule informational interviews with people in your desired field. Researching your future career requires a more comprehensive approach. Understanding the job market in your geographic region, the culture and overall mission of the industry of interest, the salary implications, and the job requirements and duties are key. How do you begin?
When researching an industry (for example, the health care industry), pay attention to the following:
- Industry growth or decline.
- Industry culture.
- Main employers.
- Location of employers (Are they concentrated in a specific region? Is that a region you’d be willing to move to?).
- Recent technology/innovations.
- Buzzwords.
- Required skills, education, or licensure for the career field.
- Market outlook for occupation (can vary by location).
- Average salary for occupation (can vary by location).
Industry Research Strategies and Tools
Finding this information can be accomplished in many ways. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
- Search for information about industries and occupations including work tasks, employment trends, job titles, and salary information using O*NET, My Next Move, Wetfeet, America’s Career OneStop, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. These are reputable websites that contain the most up-to-date industry news and information.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals working in the field to learn about typical work responsibilities, common career paths, and how to break into the field.
- One of the best ways to find out if a specific career or industry is going to be a good fit for you is to try it in some way. Some suggestions include:
- Volunteer. Explore volunteering in a related role to determine if you enjoy the tasks and responsibilities of the occupation. You will gain relevant experience and meet new contacts. It could even help you get a job—a 2013 study by the Corporation for National and Community Service found people who volunteer are 27% more likely to find a job than those who don’t.
- Part-Time Job or Internship. Take on a part-time job or participate in an internship in your industry to gain exposure and experience.
- Job Shadow. Observe professionals in their work setting as they perform their duties to gain an up-close and realistic appraisal of that occupation.
- Review postings on websites like Indeed to determine common skills, qualifications, and keywords.
- Join an industry or professional association to learn about current events and best practices. Explore association websites and subscribe to listservs or newsletters to stay current in the field. If you use social media such as Facebook and Twitter, follow those organizations and interact with them.
- Use the American City Business Journal’s “Book of Lists” to identify and read up on local employers by industry.
- Utilize ReferenceUSA, a database that lists companies by industry, location and size, and is available through most local libraries.
- Use an industry directory, such as GuideStar Nonprofit Directory, to search for information by organization name, city, and state.
Next Steps: Taking Action
Once you’ve identified the industry you’d like to work in, it’s time to begin researching specific organizations or companies within that industry.
This is the first post in a three-part series on how to use research to find a job.
The Capella Career Center’s mission is to empower students and alumni to proactively manage their careers and make meaningful, and effective, career decisions.
