INTERNET SITES FOR CAREER PLANNING

These links include many resources, services, and tools which assist users in exploring careers, planning for the future, searching for employment, and finding the additional training necessary to pursue a dream. Most of these resources are free, and several were developed in countries other than the United States. This is a mere sample of what is available online, but it can serve as a starting point for career counselors or for career-seekers.

Unless otherwise noted, the following links are from the book, The Internet: A Tool for Career Planning, (Third Edition, 2011) by Debra S. Osborn, Margaret Riley Dikel, James P. Sampson, Jr., and JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey. The authors granted permission for use by NCDA. [Note: These links were updated in March 2012].

Before using the links, please review the NCDA Legal Notice and Disclaimer. At this time, NCDA is not accepting applications or reviewing requests to link to additional websites.

Directory of Online Employment Information

NOTE TO READERS:

These guides offer listings of employment resources, career exploration guides, salary guides, and much more. These are useful for searching for resources not included here and for additional services to fit the needs of specific clients.

Job-Hunt.org

One of the earliest guides to the Internet job search, Job-Hunt.org offers numerous well-selected links to job search resources for the world. Users can search for job sites by location, profession, industry or job type. Site owner, Susan Joyce, has included several other useful articles and information resources, including articles on protecting privacy online and choosing a job site.

JobHuntersBible.com

This online guide to the job search is developed and maintained by Richard Bolles. It was developed to supplement his print publications and is spiced with his comments and observations on the job search and the decision-making process. Included on this site is his Net Guide to the best job search and career information sites online.

The Riley Guide

This site has the distinction of being the first guide to the Internet as a tool for finding new employment. Margaret Riley Dikel started this site in January 1994, and continues to maintain it as a free resource. The Riley Guide links to hundreds of sources of information for job leads, career exploration, and potential employers. It has information to help users find the best ways to use the Internet in their job search, explore new careers, research new places to live, and consider new education and training options.

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Self-Assessment

NOTE TO READERS:

Many well-known, validated inventories are currently available online from their publishers. We have not included those tools here and invite readers to see A Counselor’s Guide to Career Assessment Instruments, Fifth Edition (Whitfield, Feller, & Wood, 2009) for information. This short list of primarily free resources includes tools suitable for youth, young adults, and older clients, but it is necessary for the practitioner to review each for suitability and usability for clientele.

Career Development eManual

The first section of the award-winning Career Development eManual from the University of Waterloo Career Services is a collection of six assessment exercises complete with information about what each is intended to accomplish, forms and/or exercises which may be printed out and completed. The assessment process finishes by integrating all that has been learned and/or discovered into a neat package which will help guide the user through the remainder of his or her career development process. These assessments cover personality and attitude, skills and achievements, knowledge and learning style, values, interests (based on Holland’s theory), and entrepreneurism. Individuals outside of the University of Waterloo community are charged a fee for access which is good for 90 days. Institutions are welcome to inquire about group discounts.

Casey Life Skills

"Casey Life Skills (CLS) is a free tool that assesses the behaviors and competencies youth need to achieve their long term goals. It aims to set youth on their way toward developing healthy, productive lives. CLS is designed to be used in a collaborative conversation between an educator, mentor, case worker, or other service provider and any youth between the ages of 14 and 21. It is appropriate for all youth regardless of whether they are in foster care, live with their biological parents, or reside in a group home." Providers need to register for a free account, and they will then establish accounts for their clients. You can preview a sample of the tool prior to registering and review their privacy policy at the same time. This free service is provided by Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest operating foundation focused entirely on foster care and improving the child welfare system.

The iSeek Skills Assessment

This skills assessment is based on data from O*NET and is a fairly simple tool that allows the user to rate him or herself on 35 different skills and then see what occupations match those skills identified as the being most important to the user. The entire tool takes 5–10 minutes to complete, and the results are presented immediately upon completion, offering the user information on each career, how his or her skills match this profile, and the level of education or training usually required to perform this particular job. The user interface is relatively simple and should not pose a problem for persons with limited computer skills. Individuals can print the results page, e-mail it to a career practitioner or other person, or save the results to a free iSeek account.

Motivational Assessment of Personal Potential (MAPP)

This is an interest survey designed by the International Assessment Network in Minneapolis, MN. A free sample MAPP Career Analysis is provided to help individuals identify their preferences for working with people or things, and other job characteristics; it also suggests some occupations that match these preferences. The assessment takes about 20 minutes to complete, but it is possible to stop the inventory and resume it at a later time. The resulting report is sent to the user via e-mail, outlining his or her “natural motivations and talent for work” and matching these to five occupational descriptions from O*NET. MAPP offers varied access points for individuals, students (including K–12), corporate users, workforce development offices, and career coaches. MAPP is available in 6 languages: English, French, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.

Queendom.com

Queendom offers a variety of personality, intelligence, and health test and quizzes. These offer a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments designed to allow users to reach their potential through feedback and custom tailored analysis. The site is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc., a high-tech psychometric company that develops a suite of products and services centered on its extensive battery of psychological assessments. Information on their development and validation is available under “About the Site.” All users can register for free and take a short form of most of these assessments and tests at no cost, but some tests as well as extended personalized result reports will cost.

Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire

The CDDQ is based on research performed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Ohio State University by a team led by Professors Itamar Gati and Samuel H. Osipow. This site includes five assessments designed to assist individuals in the process of making a career decision by helping them clarify what their specific difficulties are, by providing a framework for a systematic process for career decision making organized into a three-stage process, and by providing the career professional with information about and access to Making Better Career Decisions (MBCD), an Internet based career planning system. All of the assessments are free to use, and the supporting documentation is available for perusal.

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Career Development Process

NOTE TO READERS:

These resources offer guidance through the entire career planning and exploration process and address the needs of different populations and age groups.

Career Development eManual

The Career Resources Page, University of South Florida

This free webpage was developed by two professors in the counselor education program at the University of South Florida to provide information about Internet resources to students and individuals interested in developing a career plan and exploring career options. The website houses many links on self-assessment, general and specific career searches, career information, and job preparation. In addition, there are lists of tools for students, career specialists, and individuals interested in career resources, such as example card sorts, a career laboratory, and an interactive career laboratory that houses the Virtual Card Sort.

iSeek, Minnesota’s Career, Education, and Job Resource

This simple guide helps users of all types answer the question of “What do you seek?” by covering career exploration, education planning, and job search in a single source. Sponsored by iSeek Solutions, a Minnesota partnership formed in 1999 to work with the state’s workforce development and education authorities to develop and inform policy and to strategize services, this site allows users to decide where to start and how to progress. The ultimate goal is the help the user create a career development plan, including instructions on how to implement it. Users can register for free accounts in order to customize their personal interests and receive updates. One nice feature appears at the bottom of the front page where information guides for specific users (e.g., recent immigrants, ex-offenders, veterans, and the disabled) are provided. The Reality Check is a great way to get young adults thinking about expenses after graduation.

The Kuder Journey

Developed by Kuder specifically for postsecondary schools and adult career changers, Kuder Journey is a career guidance product designed to guide these older and often more experienced users through the process of planning for a career, making a career change, or merely making sure a career is still on track. The goal is to not only lead someone to a career but also consider the management of the personal process we call a career. As users complete their initial registration, the system asks about needs, personal situation, and potential barriers to career and employment, and also asks for the user to identify his or her user type, including career changer, veteran or active-duty military, disabled adult, ex-offender, or retiree. The inclusion of these specific user types makes this a valuable product for many career counseling or support situations and service providers. Site licensing is available to practitioners, or users can purchase individual access.

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Occupational Information

NOTE TO READERS:

These various occupational guides offer career profiles in different formats and for different audiences. Many are government publications, not just the U.S Government, but each offers interesting information and all are free.

America's Career InfoNet

Part of CareerOneStop, this offers visitors a variety of tools and resources for career exploration, education information, and even job search instruction. Its purpose is to help users explore career opportunities and make informed employment and education choices. The site features user-friendly occupation and industry information, salary data, career videos, education resources, self-assessment tools, career exploration assistance, and other resources that support career exploration and development in today’s marketplace. Specific sections offer information and resources targeted to transitioning military personnel and auto workers downsized in the current economic market, as well as additional resources for out-of-work individuals.

Career Guide to Industries

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics is considering a redesign of the Career Guide to Industries (CGI) to integrate it better with the new Occupational Outlook Handbook and to make it easier for customers to find career information from an industry perspective. We will post more information about the status of the CGI on our website later in 2012.” (April 17, 2012)

Myfuture

This product of Australian federal, state, and territory governments is a wonderful career and occupational guide. Individual users can register for a free account which allows them to customize the site and save information while exploring occupations and planning careers, but users can also review the facts of this site, browsing information on careers, work and employment, education and training, funding, and support services. Under the heading of “Assist Others” are resources to help groups like parents or teachers help children and adolescents with career planning. Some of the resources used to develop this site are based on similar products in O*Net, but the occupation and industry data is specific to Australia and New Zealand.

O*NET Online

This site was created to provide broad access to the O*NET (Occupational Information Network) database of occupational information, which includes information on skills, abilities, work activities, and interests associated with over 950 occupations. This user-friendly resource allows visitors to browse occupations by career cluster, industry, job family, job zone (level of education usually required), or other current interests such as green economy or STEM (science / technology / engineering / math) discipline. Users can also search for possible careers by skills or tools and technology needed. Some users will also appreciate the crosswalks, allowing them to match careers and jobs to Military Occupational Classifications (MOC), apprenticeship codes, or titles from the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS) or other systems. Occupational information is gathered primarily from related BLS sources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, but a particularly nice feature within these reports is the inclusion of data such as the three-part Holland code, national employment and wage data which can be narrowed down to a specific state, and related occupations which are flagged for green jobs and those with particularly “Bright Outlooks” for growth. These make for extremely detailed occupational reports, but their accessibility and readability makes the entire system a pleasure for users as well as practitioners and educators.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)

The OOH is one of the most quoted and cited career information guides available. It is a career reference that describes the job duties, working conditions, education and training requirements, earnings levels, current employment levels, projected employment change, and employment prospects for hundreds of occupations. It presents the results of research and analysis conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections to help students and job seekers identify and learn about careers. Users can search the handbook using keywords, browse occupational families using the links and menus on the left, or scan the A–Z index for ideas. Each profile also includes a list of related occupations and sources for additional information, usually professional or trade associations and other quality related organizations. Each profile can be easily printed in PDF format by clicking on the link at the top of each page. The guide is updated every two years, and a Spanish version with a slightly smaller occupation list is available. This version of the OOH is intended for upper-level students and adults (educators and school counselors will want to look at the Teacher’s Guide, found in the left menu). Those who work with grades 4–8 will appreciate the simpler version of the OOH, the BLS kids’ page (bls.gov/k12/), accompanied by a second teacher’s guide. All of the various online versions of this product are free.

Occupational Outlook Quarterly (OOQ)

The OOQ is published quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This print and online magazine features articles with practical information on jobs and careers. It covers a wide variety of career and work-related topics, such as new and emerging occupations, training opportunities, salary trends, and results of new studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Articles are usually presented in PDF format and require the appropriate software for viewing and printing (the free Adobe Reader is one example). Some articles are also published in HTML format as well as PDF, and can be read quickly online or printed for future reading. Past articles are also accessible by selecting either the topic-oriented index or the individual issue archive from the left menu. Two columns of particular note are “You’re a what?,” profiling a different unusual occupation in each issue, and “The Grab Bag,” featuring news tips for practitioners as well as clients. This publication is free online with a paper subscription available for a nominal fee.

Virginia Career VIEW (Vital Information for Education and Work)

This is a source for career and education information in the Commonwealth of Virginia with sections focused on students (divided by grade/age), parents, and professionals. Career explorers can quickly find information on various careers either by Career Cluster or by selecting a specific career that interests them. Students in younger grades will find numerous age-appropriate tools and resources for them. Parents will find helpful guides and tools to work with their children in examining career options. Professionals will find guides, links to associations and training, and even more resources to help them guide their clients and students in their efforts. While the occupational data and primary education information is linked to Virginia, most users will find this to be a terrific source of information and guidance.

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Employment Trends

NOTE TO READERS:

Employment data encompasses not only what occupations are growing but also where the jobs are, meaning the city, county, or state. Labor market information compiled by the states is the best source of these data, but it can be difficult to understand. Practitioners should review the data from these resources before referring clients to sites in order to guide them to the data needed to make an informed decision. The resources listed under Occupational Information, above, will have some information on employment trends.

Labor Market Information State by State

This section of The Riley Guide includes state-level labor market information on employment, wages, industries, and other factors affecting the world of work. The problem with most of the data reported in the news is its aggregated at a national level (the Bureau of Labor Statistics) and may not apply to your specific state or city. This collection of links from The Riley Guide takes users to labor market information for the individual states to locate much more relevant data.

Occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

This site presents a specific page of tables, analyses, articles, and more will give users their most accessible and understandable view of occupational employment projections from 2008 to 2018 as well as the ability to review current and projected earnings for the same period. At the very top of the page is a short selection of the most popular data charts showing the fastest growing occupations along with those expected to experience the largest employment growth. Scroll down the page to view projected earnings data at a national, state, or metropolitan level and then use their guided search tool to compare employment, training, and earnings data for a variety of occupations based on either the education and training level necessary or the occupation selected. BLS has an overwhelming amount of data which can be confusing to most users who attempt to view it on their own. This particular selection of tables and tools can provide a significant snapshot of possible growth areas in a relatively easy-to-understand form and formula.

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Salary Information

NOTE TO READERS:

Salary data can help users determine possible future earnings from a potential career or establish a beginning point for compensation negotiations with a potential employer. These large sites offer job and industry-specific data along with some specific location variation. In addition, many sites listed within the Resources for Specific Industries and Occupations (below) will have salary data for the careers represented.

CareerOneStop.org: Salaries and Benefits Information

All users will appreciate the easy-to-find and easy-to-understand wage and salary information found here. Try the “For Occupations” search to quickly find national-level wage data for hundreds of occupations, data which can then be focused on a specific state or metropolitan region. It is possible to search for these same data starting with a specific location by selecting either By Location or Compare Metro Wages. All of the wage data is provided by the Occupational Employment Statistics program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but most users will find this a much more friendly form. Other sections included in this part of CareerOneStop include discussions of Relocation, Unemployment Insurance, Pay for Education & Training (with a very nice article on how earnings improves with education), and Benefits.

JobStar Salary Guides

JobStar has put together what many consider to be the most comprehensive collection of salary surveys online. Combined with lists of books to request from local libraries and articles from experts such as Jack Chapman, this site provides users with excellent guidance for salary research.

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

This BLS program produces employment and wage estimates for more than 800 occupations. These are estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them. Self-employed persons are not included in the estimates. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available. As with much of the data produced by BLS, the various reports and datasets can be overwhelming for many users. Practitioners can start with the OES Tables as these will present the most relevant data in the most readable fashion. Then if more detail is preferred, users can go to the full database to create a customized report. The article “How Jobseekers and Employers Can Use Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Data during Wage and Salary Discussions” (www.bls.gov/oes/highlight_wage_discussions.htm) offers an excellent discussion of how location and even industry affects earnings and relevant discussions with employers.

Salary.com

This site offers users free access to more than just salary data. Salary.com gives users information on total compensation, not only what is in the paycheck but also the benefits and perquisites received on the job. The Salary Wizard allows users to search for base, median, and top-level earnings in hundreds of jobs in many occupational areas; many of these projections are local as well as national. Users will have to register for a free account in order to complete and view the survey, but it is still a much less complicated and involved process than some of the other free salary reports. Salary.com uses a team of compensation specialists to add value to salary surveys done by others, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Users will find helpful articles and exercises on figuring things like benefits, stock options, bonuses (and how to get them), and salary negotiations. For a very reasonable fee, users can buy a Personal Salary Report, a very detailed examination of their earning power based on their personal work history and geographic location. Other good free tools for users include the two Cost of Living tools found in the “Personal” area of the site. The first is the Cost of Living Wizard included in the Statistics Center. This allows someone to easily find relevant cost of living data for his or her current location and compare this to other parts of the country. The second is the Cost of Living Calculator found at the bottom of the page. A user can quickly enter a base salary, current living and working locations, and targeted locations to see what salary adjustments may be necessary in order to maintain a certain standard of living. These do not require registration to view.

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Educational Information

NOTE TO READERS:

These free directories and databases include listings for colleges, distance education programs, vocational training, and short-term training programs that range from one day to two years. Many also include information on funding for education and training programs.

CareerOneStop: Short-Term Training Finder

This is a free searchable directory that lists training programs ranging from less than a year up to two years in length. These can be either preparation courses for certification exams or instruction programs leading to issuance of a certification upon completion. The directory can be searched by occupation, school, program, or keywords describing the program or certification desired. It can then be customized by length of program (more or less than one year), and location (state or a specific distance from a particular zip code). The search results will list institutions matching the search specifications, and each listing will provide the user with brief information on institution, including contact information and a website (if available). It will also link the user to related certifications and other relevant career information for the particular program sought. Each listing’s report can be saved as a Word document for printing and later referral.

CareerOneStop: Training and Education Center

This is a free resource for information on degree programs, specialty training opportunities, financial aid, certification and accreditation, and licensing for the various states. It also includes career information and links it to education and training plans. There are links to additional training and education information and articles on how to ensure the quality of the training before signing up for a program. The Training and Education Center is part of America’s Career Infonet, a subsection of CareerOneStop. To find it from the front page, select America’s Career Infonet from the More Resources tab in the upper-right part of the front page.

College Navigator

This research tool allows access to information on more than 9,000 colleges, universities, and postsecondary vocational and technical schools in the U.S. Users may search the database by location, type of institution, program and majors offered, availability of housing, and many more options. Users have the option of selecting several school profiles for side-by-side comparisons, and all search results can be sent to a valid e-mail address, printed, or exported as an Excel spreadsheet. The site and all of its information is also available in Spanish. This is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.

Distance Education and Training Council

DETC is a nonprofit educational association that sponsors a nationally recognized accrediting agency for distance education programs. Users visiting the website can find a searchable directory of accredited high school and college degree programs, including some offered by federal and military schools. There is also a list of general areas of study offered through the accredited programs, with specific course and institutional information under each. Practitioners and educators will also want to make their clients and students aware of some of the free publications available from DETC, including their pamphlets titled “Is Distance Education for You?” and “Don’t Take No For An Answer,” which will guide a student working to transfer distance credits to a new program. Most documents are in PDF format and will require the free Adobe reader or other similar software for viewing and printing.

GoCollege

This free searchable guide includes information on how to finance and succeed in college. Visitors can review information on admissions (selecting schools, test preparation, application essays, and more), financial aid (loans, scholarships, and grants), education options (types of schools and varieties of programs), and college survival (money maintenance, study tips, and dealing with dorm life). GoCollege has searchable databases for financial aid as well as information on and links to loan providers. There is a lot of information here to guide potential students, including older students who are considering a return to school or the pursuit of additional degrees or certifications.

Peterson's

This well-known publisher of guides to colleges provides this free searchable resource for information on a variety of training and education programs, including undergraduate and graduate programs, professional schools, and distance education programs. Among the many descriptions of institutions and degree possibilities are articles on applying for college (both undergraduate and graduate), selecting a school and a program, and much more. Within the Undergraduate section is a financial-aid search system which requires registration along with numerous practice programs for the many standardized tests an individual may encounter (fee). Persons interested in graduate school will find helpful articles. All users can scroll to the bottom of almost every page to find quick-links to popular topics of interest, such as Late Deadline Schools, Study Abroad, and Historically Black Colleges.

RWM Vocational School Database

This directory includes private postsecondary vocational-technical schools in all 50 states, organized by state and the training programs offered. This list includes private schools that offer certificates, diplomas, associate (junior college) degrees, and bachelor (college) degrees in various business, trade, and technical disciplines as well as online programs. All the schools listed are state approved or accredited, but the information is limited to the institution’s name, address, and phone number. At the top of each state is a link to resources for that state from the U.S. Department of Education. Visually impaired users who would like to review the directory by state will need to use the first link on the word “state” in the introductory description or gain access through the Site Map at the bottom of the page. Under each heading there is a list of programs. Some offer links to their webpage and complete address information or even forms users may complete to request information from the school. Nonlinked listings indicate nonsubscriber schools, and the contact information for these may not be up-to-date. This directory is currently owned and operated by QuinStreet Inc., a vertical marketing and online media company.

SeminarInformation.com

Originally founded in 1981 and turned into an online resource in 1999, SeminarInformation.com lists over 360,000 seminars and conferences hosted by associations, private organizations, and universities. Users of this free site can use the Quick Search to find upcoming programs by keywords from the title or description, browse the category lists to see what is offered in any given area, or target upcoming programs by location. Each listing includes a full description of the training program offered, the host, the location, and the cost. Users can register immediately through the page or print the training brochure for later referral.

USNews.com: Education

The publisher of U.S. News and World Report has consistently produced one of the most outstanding guides to education information on the web. Dedicated sections of this area of the website focus on college, community college, graduate school, e-learning, and financial aid, and each is filled with quality news, information, and resources. USNews.com also lists the annual rankings of colleges and graduate schools.

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Financial Aid Information

NOTE TO READERS:

While many of the education and training guides listed above include information on financial aid, the following free sites focus on this information and may include searchable directories of scholarships and other funding programs.

Before College: Plan and Preparing for School from SallieMae

Sallie Mae has helped thousands achieve their dreams of higher education by providing funds for educational loans, primarily federally guaranteed student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). This free site allows students and parents to learn about many ways to pay for college, guides them through loan applications, and aids in managing their debt afterwards. From here you can also find information on 529 savings plans along with other savings and loan programs offered by this particular lender.

FinAid

Established in 1994, FinAid is possibly the finest single source for information and resources for all types of educational financial aid including military aid programs and prepaid tuition/529 savings plans. Under each category visitors will find comprehensive information on various programs, advice on how to approach each, important legislative information, warnings about potential problems or even scams, and much more. There are numerous calculators to help students and parents figure out how much is needed, the true cost of a loan, and almost anything else a user could dare to ask. Educators are also included with guides to help them work with students and parents. This continues to be the premiere site for financial aid information online, and it continues to be free.

Student Aid on the Web

This is a one-stop center for all of the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs. Available in English and Spanish, this site will guide the user through the process of preparing for college, selecting and applying to schools, securing funding from a variety of sources, attending college, and repaying loans. Information is available for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as parents, international students, and other targeted student populations. The site links to FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov) for easy access and application processing. A few portions of the site require the user to create a login and password, but this is to allow the users to save profile information, store applications, and customize areas for specific needs. Users can review their extensive privacy policy from the link at the bottom of each page for information on how this data is used and protected. Under Tools and Resources are links to additional funding resources, including StudentLoans.gov, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and more.

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Apprenticeships and Other Alternative Training Opportunities

NOTE TO READERS:

These programs offer the opportunity to learn a new trade or gain experience in a particular filed outside of a traditional college-level education program. Some are volunteer positions requiring a minimum commitment and offering other benefits in return. All are worth exploring and are not limited to young adults.

How to Find Registered Apprenticeship Programs:

Registered Apprenticeship programs have trained millions of qualified individuals for lifelong careers since 1937. These programs provide structured, on-the-job learning for more than 1,000 career areas in traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing, as well as new emerging industries such as health care, information technology, energy, telecommunications, and more.

About Trades, ApprenticeSearch.com

This Canadian site for employers and apprentices includes a list of trades that have apprenticeships. In addition to information on wages, prospects, and working conditions, each trade includes a small self-assessment to determine if the trade would be a good fit. It’s a great way for job seekers to begin researching skilled trades. Non-Canadian users will find valuable information here, but should then switch to a relevant local site for wage and specific training requirements like the Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) for the United States.

Bing

Search engines can also be used to find programs by searching on the words “apprentice,” “apprenticeship,” or “registered apprenticeship” plus additional terms describing the program that interests the user, such as “sheet metal” or “metalworker,” or the state of residence.

CareerOneStop: Certification

Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience, or skills in an occupation or profession. This directory from CareerOneStop allows users to search for certifications by keyword, industry, or occupation. Certifications are generally voluntary but may be required by some employers in some occupations. In some cases, there are additional certifications that licensed individuals may want to pursue in order to advance into a new specialty, but in other cases these are more useful for demonstrating a specific skill or a continued improvement in skills which are applicable to your current employment situation.

The Corporation for National and Community Service

Established in 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service oversees programs engaging more than a million Americans each year in service to their communities. The Corporation’s three major service initiatives are AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the Senior Corps, but it also supports other initiatives such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The AmeriCorps program provides credits and/or awards to assist with the payment of education costs or loans.

The Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR)

This international organization serves those entities or individuals involved in the licensure, nonvoluntary certification, or registration of the hundreds of regulated occupations and professions. Individuals will appreciate the extensive links to these many organizations under the Regulatory Directory link in the left margin. These are divided by geographic region (North America, Europe, and Australasia), and the North American Directory of Regulatory Boards and Colleges can be browsed by profession or jurisdiction.

Google

The Job Corps

Job Corps is the nation’s largest residential education and training program for disadvantaged youth between the ages of 16 and 24. The Job Corps operates more than 100 centers around the country and in Puerto Rico, with a focus on training the whole person. General information on the program is available here, but more specific information along with a parents’ guide is available on their recruiting website (recruiting.jobcorps.gov). Please note that U.S. citizenship is required to apply for this program.

My Next Move: Careers with Registered Apprenticeships

Created by the National Center for O*Net Development for the USDOL Employment and Training Administration, This section of My Next Move lists career fields with Registered Apprenticeship programs and links to information on those programs. This is probably the easiest way to find the data you need. If you are unsure of what program interests you, click on the "Interests" button at the top right of the screen to use their Interest Profiler to help you make some decisions.

Office of Apprenticeship Sponsors

It is possible to search the Office of Apprenticeship Sponsors website for a list of apprenticeship program sponsors recognized and registered by the Office of Apprenticeship or a State Registration Agency (oa.doleta.gov/eta_default.cfm). A search result will display the official name of the program sponsor along with street address, city, and state. The database does not indicate if the program is currently accepting applicants, but is a good way for individuals to begin a search.

Peace Corps

Founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps was established to promote world peace and friendship. This site contains background information on the organization, recruiting, diversity, and reach of this volunteer service program. It is developed for audiences of various ages, including information for teens who might consider this program in the future.

Regional Offices of Apprenticeship, US Employment and Training Administration

The Federal Office of Apprenticeship within the United States Employment and Training Administration has a presence in almost all 50 states plus many territories, and interested persons can contact the relevant state or responsible regional office for information on programs available in his or her state of residence.

State Apprenticeship Agencies

These lists will connect you with the many states registered apprenticeship programs, with much more specific information and documents for interested individuals.
Contact information for the State Apprenticeship Agencies: http://www.doleta.gov/oa/stateagencies.cfm

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Job Search Instruction and Advice

NOTE TO READERS:

Practically everyone online is a master at job search and is more than willing to offer his or her advice on how to find work. This particular list of resources is limited to persons or groups who are acknowledged experts in their fields. This list also includes resources for those who are unfamiliar with computer and the Internet, for those searching for employment outside of the United States (or persons from outside the United States hoping to work here). In addition to these resources, the Directories of Online Employment and Career Guides, above, provide numerous articles and resources in this category.

GoinGlobal

GoinGlobal is a provider of both country-specific and USA city-specific career and employment information. Their e-books are researched by in-country career experts and updated annually to include information such as application and interviewing customs, employment trends, work permit and visa regulations, major employers, and much more. The individual guides are available to all for a moderate fee, and anyone working with international candidates, trailing spouses, or clients interested in exploring international possibilities will find these to be extremely useful.

JobWeb

This site from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) features information and articles to help college students with all aspects of the job search. Most of the articles and resources are targeted to the new college graduate, but many apply to users at other experience levels. Information for parents who are assisting recent or soon-to-graduate children in their search is also included.

Susan Ireland’s Resume Site

This is much more than the title indicates. It includes extensive information on resume preparation, job search correspondence (it’s more than just cover letters), and even interviewing. There are also terrific samples for users to review and use as templates for their own documents. Susan apprenticed under the late resume writer Yana Parker, and then trained others who are now members of her resume team. Susan has authored resume and cover letter writing software and four books on resume writing, cover letter writing, and job searching, and has appeared on radio, TV, and the Internet to discuss effective job search tools. The site is also available in Spanish. Users and counselors or coaches will appreciate Susan’s blog, The Job Lounge (joblounge.blogspot.com).

Using Employment Kiosks and Online Job Applications

This page of the Riley Guide links to several free resources and services practitioners that clients can use to develop a familiarity with application kiosks and online job applications and even develop a printed application to be carried along to assist in submitting applications through in-house electronic stations. This is part of The Riley Guide’s collection of articles on How to Job Search (rileyguide.com/execute.html).

Wall Street Journal: Careers

This portion of the WSJ website continues to offer articles and information covering all aspects of the job search and career management. In this new format, content is being updated daily but the archiving of articles is not as extensive. Various new subsections cover new topics including Reinvent (career changes, etc.), Career Strategies, The Juggle (work/life balance), and numerous How-To Guides.

Wendy Enelow

This Master Resume Writer (MRW), Credentialed Career Manager (CCM), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC), who has combined all of that plus a career of more than 20 years into this source for both job seekers and career professionals. Two different libraries of articles are shown under “Articles,” and the collection for the Executive Job Seeker is actually useful for job seekers at all levels of experience and even includes some guidance for separating military personnel. The articles for Career Practitioners offer advice in preparing resumes for clients as well as business advice for practitioners.

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Job Banks

NOTE TO READERS:

Large, general job banks are where most job seekers focus their time and effort in an online search. While there is some value to these services, these sites get far too much attention for the minimal return offered most job seekers. This particular list includes sites for college students and part-time or hourly positions.

CareerBuilder

One of the larger and more dynamic sites for job and career information. Registration is free of charge and allows a job seeker to store a resume online without posting it in the database. Registered users can create up to five personal search profiles to track new jobs added to the database, and an e-mail message can be generated to a user when a match is discovered. In addition, CareerBuilder has a professional community called BrightFuse, which is aimed at those in early career who are in the process of developing a professional network.

College Grad Job Hunter

This website is a cornucopia of resources and information to guide college students and others through a complete job search. It has job databases for those seeking internships, entry-level job seekers, and experienced job seekers as well as a searchable database of more than 8,000 employers. It also offers advice on careers, the job search, resume preparation, and more.

GrooveJob

GrooveJob specializes in seasonal, part-time, and hourly jobs along with jobs for teens and students. Users can easily target jobs in their location by city/state or zip code to find possibilities with specific employers within 15 miles. Users must complete the free registration which includes a resume in order to apply for any listings found here.

JobCentral

JobCentral is operated by the Direct Employers Association, a nonprofit consortium of leading U.S. corporations, in alliance with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. This association was established in 2001 by a consortium of employers who wanted to increase recruiting efficiency while reducing costs. Users will find numerous postings placed here by employers, with links leading back to employer websites for application purposes. JobCentral operates several targeted sites for diversity candidates, the disabled, veterans, and many more, and partners with several groups to provide effective recruiting and access to extensive opportunities. monster.com. Monster.com is one of the most recognized names in the online job search industry. It offers an impressive variety of job and career resources for everyone from college students to contractors to chief executives; most are served with their own communities that include job listings and career advice. It also offers several industry/job field communities, including healthcare, human resources, and finance.

NationJob

Perhaps not as well known as some other sites, NationJob features an impressive collection of job openings, company information, and a variety of ways to search the database. It divides into many sources of occupation-and/or industry-related resources, creating an excellent source of information for all. Users can easily search for jobs by keyword and location or browse by Communities, Industries, or Employers.

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Career Search Engines

NOTE TO READERS:

These are services that search sources of employment listings, either job banks like Monster.com or employer websites, and then compile the results of their searching into a single list with links back to the original sources. Users search these sites by keyword and location, and even browse by location and industry or job family, but in all cases selecting a specific listing to review takes the user back to the original source for review and application. These services can save users a tremendous amount of time that might be spent searching several job sites to find possibilities, but users might also encounter a number of false hits and/or missing listings as the original sites update and delete listings. Despite this, these search engines permit individuals to do these searches in create alerts. All of these sites cover countries beyond the United States.

CareerJet

Indeed

Simply Hired

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Resources for Diverse Audiences

NOTE TO READERS:

There are numerous good career websites focused on specific audiences based on their gender, ethnicity, or faith, offering advice, resources, and even jobs targeted to these people. This list is a very minimal representation of the available resources for consideration.

Black Collegian Online

This career and job site for African-American college students is a companion to the print publication distributed to campuses all over the United States. Like the free magazine, this free website offers African-American and other students of color information on careers, job opportunities, graduate and professional schools, internships, study abroad programs, and much more. This site and the magazine are published by IMDiversity, Inc., who also operates the IMDiversity.com website, below.

Feminist Jobs and Internships, the Feminist Majority Foundation

Founded in 1987, the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is dedicated to women’s equality, reproductive health, and nonviolence. The jobs and internships posted here include opportunities with academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other associations that also support the FMF mission. In addition, there are some opportunities in nontraditional career fields such as law enforcement and construction. This free site is open to all visitors.

IMDiversity

This one-stop career and self-development site is devoted to serving the cultural and career-related needs of all minorities. This is an excellent resource for all minority and diversity candidates. The many “villages” include resources and information specific for each group, and those without a separate village can find information in the global village. Their job board offers the ability to simultaneously search among featured job opportunities with diversity-committed employers and conduct a second search on a greatly expanded selection of “Network Jobs.” Users who create a free account can store a resume here along with preferred searches and more. IMDiversity, Inc. also publishes The Black Collegian, above

Job Openings, Islamic Society of North America

This free listing includes jobs with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) as well as jobs posted by other organizations, not all of which are connected with the Muslim faith. Applicants are free to review the announcements and apply directly to the hiring organization according to the instructions given.

LatPro

Established in 1997, LatPro is dedicated to Hispanic and bilingual professionals (Spanish/English and Portuguese/English). LatPro.com offers a searchable resume database and job postings including e-mail alerts. The site is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

LGBT CareerLink

Operated by Out and Equal Workplace Advocates in San Francisco, LGBT CareerLink offers visitors and users the opportunity to view job opportunities from a broad variety of diversity-friendly employers, review career resources, and learn about upcoming events for the LGBT community. Most areas of the site are available to all, but individuals are encouraged to register for free and, if desired, create a full profile, upload a resume, and connect with other registered users and employers. This is a very active career and job site filled with good opportunities.

The OU Job Board, The Orthodox Union

This is a free source of job listings for the U.S., Canada, and Israel, some of which are in Jewish faith-based organizations. Job seekers are also welcome to create a free account and upload a resume, but it is not necessary. This site is operated by The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more popularly known as the Orthodox Union (OU), one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. The main website connects with additional social services offered by this organization.

The Tribal Employment Newsletter

Founded in 1996, The Tribal Employment Newsletter is a nationwide job bank for Native Americans seeking professional and technical opportunities. There are numerous job listings at any time, and the listings are constantly updated. There is no registration for the site; everything is free and easily accessible.

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Resources and Services for Ex-Offenders

NOTE TO READERS:

Many offenders have great difficulty finding permanent employment after release due to a lack of job-seeking experience, a work history, and occupational skills. These individuals also face the reality that many employers refuse to hire individuals with criminal records. There are organizations and services dedicated to this group, but they can be difficult to find once an individual is released from incarceration. These resources will help users find those organizations and also provide some tools to aid possible clients.

Career Resource Centers: An Emerging Strategy for Improving Offender Employment Outcomes

This bulletin from the National Institute of Corrections, provides a step-by-step guide for setting up a Career Resource Center in a correctional facility, a parole or probation office, or a community-based organization. It includes a companion multimedia DVD that contains many of the resources needed to operate an effective center, including assessment software and documents related to career exploration, offender re-entry, collaboration building and more.

Family and Corrections Network

Founded in 1983, The Family and Corrections Network is the first national organization in the United States focused on families of the incarcerated. The website includes links to numerous local groups offering services and support to the incarcerated and their families during and after their separation.

National HIRE Network

Established by the Legal Action Center, the National HIRE Network is a national clearinghouse for information as well as an advocate for policy change. The goal of this organization is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices, and public opinion. The Network also provides training and technical assistance to agencies working to improve the employment prospects for people with criminal records. Practitioners can use the Resources list to find state agencies and local organizations to assist clients and practitioners.

The National Institute of Corrections

This agency of the U. S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons provides training, technical assistance, information services, and policy/program development assistance to federal, state, and local corrections agencies. NIC also provides leadership to influence correctional policies, practices, and operations nationwide in areas of emerging interest and concern to correctional executives and practitioners as well as public policymakers. For counselors and other career practitioners working with this group, there are numerous free documents and products available to assist clients as well as practitioners.

Simulated Online/Kiosk Job Application

This free product produced by the National Institute of Corrections can be used by any individual to practice completing employment applications on a computer that does not have access to the Internet. This simulation training program provides basic information about computerized employment applications on kiosks, tips for completing online job applications, a printable worksheet that can be used to prepare offenders for using these systems, and a full-length interactive application with context sensitive help. You can download the installation package from the website or order a free CD-ROM to be sent to you.

Using Employment Kiosks and Online Job Applications, The Riley Guide

Many ex-offenders are not familiar with the online applications and electronic application kiosks in use today, limiting their ability to apply for jobs. This use to develop a familiarity with application kiosks and online job applications and even develop a printed application an individual can carry along as a guide when submitting applications through in-house application kiosks. This is part of The Riley Guide’s collection of articles on How to Job Search (rileyguide.com/execute.html).

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Resources and Services for Youth, Teen and Young Adults

NOTE TO READERS:

Learning about careers can begin at a very early age, and there are many good free resources designed for different age groups. Some of the best career exploration resources online have been developed by various state education and employment agencies and offer targeted information for their locations. In addition to this short list, some of the resources listed under Occupational Information, above, also offer materials for these groups.

BLS Kids

Those who work with students in grades 4–8 will appreciate BLS Kids and the introductory career information offered in this simplified version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), “wording and labor market concepts have been simplified and some statistical detail has been eliminated. In addition, the occupations on the site are categorized according to interests and hobbies common among students.” The Teacher’s Guide offers more information on this site, how it differs from the full OOH, and additional resources available from BLS.

California CareerZone

This is a terrific career exploration and planning system designed especially for students in California, but it can be used by others to begin discusses and exploration. The option of selecting text, graphic, or Flash versions makes it easily accessible by users on any kind of online connection. Users are encouraged to work through the Interest Profiler, Work Importance Profiler, and Assess Yourself assessment based on the Holland Codes for self-exploration. Comprehensive information on 900 occupations includes state specific wages, worker attributes, job characteristics, and much more. The Reality Check is a great introduction to the concept of how much money is needed for life after high school and will really open some eyes. Users do not need to register, but it is free and will allow them to save their data to a profile.

Federal Internships, The Washington DC Job Source

From this page users can link to internship opportunities available in each agency or department of the Federal Government. The page also includes links to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate who offer internships in their DC or home offices.

Free Resources for School Counselors, National Career Development Association and Junior Achievement Inc.

NCDA Junior Achievement worked together to developed resources to teach students about the world of work and encourage them to engage in the career planning process. These resources are available to practitioners at no charge and are organized by education level and setting. The documents are in PDF format and are freely accessible to all.

Urban Elementary
(http://www.ncda.org/pdf/ElementaryUrbanv2.pdf)
Elementary
(http://www.ncda.org/pdf/Elementaryv2.pdf)
Middle School
(http://www.ncda.org/pdf/MiddleGradesv2.pdf)
High School
(http://www.ncda.org/pdf/HighSchoolv2.pdf)

March 2 Success

A public service of the United States Army, March 2 Success is a web-based program designed to assist high school students in the ninth grade and above improve their performance on tests of math, science, and English, ACT and SAT preparation, state standardized tests, and their overall test-taking skills. There is no set number of tests each user can access, and tests can be retaken until the user is comfortable with the results. The program is free and completely confidential. Users will not be contacted by Army recruiters unless that contact is specifically requested. Content for the various tools was provided by Peterson’s, Educational Options, and the College Options Foundation.

One Day, One Job

This is a blog about entry-level jobs. Every day, author Willy Franzen and his collaborators look at one employer and the jobs offered for recent college graduates, examining both online and offline media for information on jobs that may be overlooked because the employers are not part of the top companies that hire at the entry level. Visitors to this free site will also find job search advice and a similar examination of internships (One Day, One Internship—onedayoneinternship.com).

Urban Employ Network

This is a source for internships and jobs in major cities across the United States. Visitors can view basic data on the actual job postings without registering, but to see full data and apply for the opportunities users must register and upload a resume (free). This will only be necessary on one site as it will copy to the others in the network, but users must search each city’s site separately. This site partners with IdeaList.org to stream relevant listings, but it also offers many direct postings from employers. The site offers some premium resources for a fee, but it is not really necessary to use these.

Youth Canada (English)

http://www.jeunesse.gc.ca

Jeunesse Canada (French)

Created to help prepare young people for the workplace and the job hunt, Youth Canada/Jeunesse Canada is a partnership among several agencies of the Canadian government and the private sector. Visitors to this website will find self-assessment tools and career resources, along with job opportunities and resources for starting a business. This site is available in both English and French. Users from other countries will need to refer back to relevant local resources for specific information on occupations and laws, but this is an excellent introduction to life after school and all of its possibilities.

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Resources and Services the Older Client

NOTE TO READERS:

Older clients might not be looking for new employment as much as a new purpose in life. While this list offers some job resources and job search advice, it also includes resources for those who are more interested in finding a new opportunity to engage in life and career.

AARP: Work & Retirement

This is a collection of articles and resources covering various topics in work and employment for older people. Issues discussed include discrimination, career changes, retirement, and starting your own business. While looking at these resources, take some time to look at AARP’s National Employer Team, a list of member organizations who recognize the value of the more experienced worker and actively recruit and hire older workers.

Encore Careers

This site encourages older persons to pursue second careers to provide personal fulfillment doing paid work and producing a windfall of human talent to solve society’s problems. There are no jobs listed but there are examples, suggestions, fellowships, and an extensive network of like-minded individuals who have been there and done that and are now interested in making a change in a way that serves society and others. This site is operated by Civic Ventures, a group working to engage the baby boomer generation as a vital workforce for change.

iLostMyJob.com

This site is designed to support persons in transition, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The site is filled with good articles on surviving the transition and executing a job search, and also provides links to resources such as state job banks and unemployment claims offices. Registered members get early notifications of new videos and articles posted on the site as well as email newsletters. Robert Shindell is general manager and the iLostMyJob.com Career Doctor.

Networking and Job Search Support by State, Job-Hunt.org

This collection of listings for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia will help users find and connect with local networking and support groups while searching for new or better opportunities. From this page, users can also access lists of company/corporate, military, and government “alumni” groups as well as a list of more than 1,500 professional associations and societies by industry.

What’s Next

This organization provides information, inspiration and resources for men and women interested in changing careers, finding more fulfilling work, or improving their work-life balance. While all are welcome, there is an emphasis on those who are in midcareer or approaching retirement. This site includes advice on second careers (Career 2.0), financial planning, and a searchable directory of advisors who can assist with your career change or life plans. Under “Tools” is a collection of free and fee-based assessment tools and financial planning calculators along with links to some very good jobs for experienced professionals. Not everything is free, but there is a lot of good advice and resources available here.

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Resources for People with Disabilities

NOTE TO READERS:

These free resources offer specific programs and services designed to match individuals with disabilities with opportunities and employers who are interested in their abilities.

American Association of People with Disabilities

According to their website, AAPD is the largest national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities. The site includes two listings of internship programs for disabled youth:

1. Under “Programs,” users will find the AAPD Internships with congressional and federal summer programs in Washington, DC.

2. Under “Disability Resources,” users will find a listing of Other Internships, programs from other organizations which are open to and encourage applications from persons with disabilities. Select a program to be connected to its information.

CareerConnect, American Foundation for the Blind

This is a free resource where the blind or visually impaired can learn about the range and diversity of the jobs performed throughout the United States and Canada by other who are blind or visually impaired. CareerConnect takes the user through the process of examining what he or she has to offer an employer. Users explore careers, review tips on finding work, getting hired, and making that job work, and examine information on technology to assist in the job. Users can even build a resume online in MyCareerConnect and search for a volunteer mentor to offer some guidance while proceeding through the exploration and search. Finally, users can link to resources for employment listings. All visitors can read the articles and search the databases, but to contact a mentor or set up My CareerConnect, an individual must fill out the free registration form.

Entry Point

This program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offers students with disabilities outstanding internship opportunities in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business. Application and program information is available on the site.

GettingHired

This is a free website designed to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Several very good employers are associated with this resource and the database is well populated with opportunities. Users must register in order to view any piece of the real site, including the job listings, and in some cases the user must have “an active jobseeker profile” (a resume) in the system in order to use resources such as the career assessment. However, for those who have disabilities this looks like a terrific site and offers great jobs.

Hire Disability Solutions

This organization works to empower individuals with disabilities to reach their goals by providing them with the tools to succeed. The website presents information and resources for individuals to connect with employers and build their nonprofit organizations, numerous corporations, and Monster.com, this full-service staffing and consulting firm works to assist individuals to find meaningful employment while also aiding employers in finding the very best staffing for their companies. Individuals can easily search the database of employment opportunities and view contact information for the posting organization, but a user will need to create a Monster.com account in order to apply for these positions. Users can also post a resume on the HireDS.com site by completing their quick registration (name, e-mail address, and a password).

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Resources to Aid Separating Military Personnel and Veterans

NOTE TO READERS:

After years of service, men and women in the armed forces who wish to pursue new careers in the private sector need assistance in adapting to a different culture and in matching their extensive skills and experiences to civilian jobs. There are numerous government-sponsored and civilian resources and services available to them for free and numerous employers searching for these experienced individuals.

CivilianJobs.com

Owned by Bradley-Morris Inc., CivilianJobs.com was created to offer an online recruiting solution for candidates that are currently transitioning out of the military as well as military veterans with varying amounts of business experience. There are numerous good job listings posted here, and the organization sponsors a number of live career fairs across the country on a regular basis. Under Career Advice, The Career Planning Guide is a good map to a successful transition.

Military to Civilian

This is an extensive blog devoted to helping transitioning military and prior-military persons find careers in the civilian world. Articles posted here include resume tips, how to translate your military experience into terms a civilian hiring authority can understand, hot career areas for military-experienced job seekers, career coaching, and more. This blog is authored by Jessica Richardson, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and is supported by Bradley-Morris Inc.

Resources for Veterans and Military Personnel and Their Families

This page of The Riley Guide is dedicated to sites, services, and resources that supportcurrent and former military personnel and their families. Along with job search advice andresources it also lists information for employers who want to attract these qualified candidates,information on pay rates and employment verification, and employment and financial rights forreservists called to active duty.

The Veteran’s Job Search, Job-Hunt.org

This section of Job-Hunt.org begins with an extensive article on how to make the transition from the military to the civilian workforce and then points the reader towards several additional articles and resources for guidance. It is authored by Job-Hunt.org editor and publisher Susan Joyce, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Industry and Occupation Specific Information

List of Industry and Occupation-Specific Resources

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Researching Employers

NOTE TO READERS:

Learning about employers is an important part of the job search. Knowing who employs persons in this field creates a list of potential targets for a job campaign. Learning that a particular employer is involved in a new line of work means new employment opportunities. Having all of this data in-hand during an interview means the employer is presented with a highly skilled candidate who can match his or her experience to the employer’s immediate needs. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to the job search. The sites listed below will guide users through the research process and offer useful data for the job seeker involved in the process.

Company Research Guide, Rutgers University Libraries

The Rutgers librarians have created a company research guide resource to assist individuals seeking to learn about a company. Listings for the top business research sources (both print and online) are provided, and the site is organized by the logical steps of the research process. The research process cites both online and print resources. Users outside of Rutgers should check with their local public or college library for access.

Hoover's Online

Hoover's is a well-known and respected publisher of business almanacs. Users can access a tremendous amount of free information from the website, but paid subscribers will have access to even more detailed profiles. Hoover's covers U.S. and non-U.S. companies as well as Initial Public Offerings through IPO Central (hoovers.com/ip-central/100004160-1.html). Individuals should check with local public or college library to inquire about free access before purchasing this on their own.

Vault.com

Vault is a resource for career management and job search information, including insider intelligence on specific employers, salaries, hiring practices, and company cultures. The website offers both free and paid subscription content to users who want to research employers, professions, and industries. There is a public job bank; users will need to create a free basic account to apply for positions listed here. Vault still publishes numerous print guides to various careers, employers, and industries.

Wetfeet.com

Wetfeet offers “insider guides to employers” which consist of interviews with employees of the organization or the employers themselves. The guides offer good insights into the company’s culture, interview process, and career development possibilities. Wetfeet allows all users to view extensive employer, career, and industry profiles, only sending users to the shop for their detailed print guides at the very end. Most users will gain much from the public information.

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Social Networking Sites

Blogger

Blogger is a free weblog (blog) publishing system. Users can have their blog hosted free of charge on blogspot.com. An individual can use a blog to highlight skills, experiences, accomplishments, and reflections. Photos and videos can be uploaded, and individuals can choose to follow a person’s blog. The blog can be linked to an individual’s social networking site(s).

CareerBuilder

Facebook

Used for both social and professional networking, Facebook is the most frequently used social networking site. According to the site, there are currently more than 500 million active users, spending over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook, each user with an average of 130 friends. Fifty percent of the 500 million use Facebook daily. “Friendships” are initiated and either confirmed or ignored. Individuals provide information on a profile page and can upload links, photos, videos, or notes. Brief status updates are used to inform contacts of a person’s activities for the moment or day. Notes can be sent and friends “tagged,” both of which show up on their “wall” and in their email. Individuals can join groups and become fans of employers, organizations, movie stars, hobby sites, social causes, and the like. Instant chatting is also available, and privacy settings can be set to allow only certain information to be shared. Facebook offers several job-search applications or apps, including LinkUp (companies can post job openings on Fan Pages), virtual business cards, Inside Job, My LinkedIn Profile (connecting with a LinkedIn account), and Work With Us (by Jobvite). A client should be aware that personal information may be shared or sold with/to employers.

Jobster

Jobster is a comprehensive job search site that allows users to search job postings on their site as well as other job boards. Individuals create professional profiles, superstar tags (to highlight one’s skills or experience), video profiles or resumes, and use social networking to increase their hiring potential.

LinkedIn is a professional social networking site boasting over 90 million users, with executives from all Fortune 500 companies, 170 industries, and a million companies represented. They provide a “gated access” to members, where contacts must know each other or be introduced to each other from a common contact. LinkedIn provides groups. In addition, members can write “endorsements” of other contacts which serve as brief letters of recommendation and can be seen by employers. Members can use an advanced search function to find contacts for a specific company, or browse through company profiles that also include current and previous employees who are contacts, using their Company Search tool. LinkedIn also allows companies to post jobs and individuals to link their blogs to their profile. If a person adds to his or her blog, it will be updated in the person’s LinkedIn profile. Twitter Link also allows a person to import conversations from Twitter, which allows those not on Twitter to see that individual’s tweets.

Monster

Monster.com is one of the best known employment websites, where participants can search for jobs, post resumes, research occupations, and read advice columns focused on career planning. Readers can also join communities, such as the group for career women called “Excelle,” and the “Govcentral” community, which is a very well-developed community with career guides, job opportunities, federal job fairs, and forums.

MySpace

The focus of MySpace leans more towards the “social” side of SNSs, although it can be used as one aspect of a professional job search. Some of the features include bulletins (allowing for a post to all of one’s “friends”), groups (providing a common page and a message board), instant messaging, forums, and classified ads.

Omegle

Omegle is a site that allows for instant chatting with strangers from all over the world. A person can quit the conversation as quickly as they begin, and can share as much personal information as they wish. This may open opportunities for work internationally, but clients should be cautioned about divulging too much personal information without adequate proof of who the person is.

Second Life

Second Life (SL) is a virtual world in which members choose avatars to represent themselves and interact with other avatars from around the world. Many members are paid for services provided “in world” such as through designing “skins” or “builds” or even for providing counseling services. Corporations, universities, and professional organizations are represented in SL. Because the avatars represent real people, SL provides a unique opportunity to expand a social network.

Twitter

In addition to following individual or organizational tweets, guests and members can also search for tweets about career, job, and interviewing. NCDA has a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/NCDAwebeditor. Twellow is a Twitter tool that searches bios and URLs based on a variety of factors. One can search by company or industry, and the software provides a list of those people who are on Twitter. Other job search aids in Twitter include http://www.Twitterjobsearch.com (a job search engine that provides listings that match keywords), JobShouts (employers freely post job openings that are then tweeted to members), and JobAngels (also available on Facebook and LinkedIn, designed to motivate people to help just one other person find a job). Members should know that Twitter does sell information to third parties.

Zimbio

Zimbio is an online megamagazine made up of “wikizines” in which members can add or edit material on a specific topic. Ranked by alexa.com as one of the ten most popular magazines online, with more than 18 million readers each month, members can increase their visibility to potential employers and clients, as well as increase their expertise, by submitting articles, blog entries, or photographs or videos to a subject-specific wikizine.

ZoomInfo

ZoomInfo is a source boasting 50 million summaries of business professionals and 5 million company profiles that allows employers to locate “passive” job candidates, i.e., individuals who are currently employed and not looking for a job, but might be open to a new opportunity. ZoomInfo pulls public information on specific employees from various web sources, and also allows individuals to build a profile or add to its summaries. Ziggs and Notchup are similar sites.

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Career Developments Magazine

Career Developments is a themed publication offering articles that balance a broad vision with practical applications. All NCDA members receive this as a benefit of membership. Learn more about Career Developments.

None at this time.