If you’re not sure what jobs you want to do or which occupations are a good fit for you, a little research can uncover new or promising prospects. This way you can focus your work search on what really interests you.
Maybe you’re looking for work for the first time. Or perhaps you’re thinking about signing up for courses or programs to help you to transition to a new occupation.
If you’re not sure which jobs are a good fit for your skills and needs, you’ll want to do some research to figure out what your options are. Here’s how.
Really not sure of what you want or which path to take in life? To choose a direction that’s best for you, try creating a career plan.
Discover How Career Planning Can Help You explains why it’s a good idea.
Follow These 4 Steps to Plan Your Career shows you how to start.
Research online
With internet access, the world is at your fingertips—especially the working world. Here are some resources:
Start with alis
If you’re looking to make a change in your life, these alis resources are a good place to begin:
- Occupational profiles—Get information about job descriptions, educational requirements, salary, and employment outlooks.
- Occupational videos—Learn about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to work in a specific occupation from videos showing real people in real jobs.
- Work options—Consider other kinds of work you can do besides traditional, full-time employment.
- Post-secondary education or training—Find a program that is right for you.
More online resources
Employer websites are valuable sources of information. Not only can you find job leads, but you’ll learn about the organization’s products, services, goals, and values.
Explore union, professional and industry association websites to find details about specific industries and occupations and to make contact with people in a specific field.
Most mainstream media outlets have online versions of their content. Explore their business sections to find the latest trends and analysis about the economy and the labour market.
Check your local library
The reference, periodicals, and non-fiction sections of your local library are full of occupational information. Try checking trade and business magazines, newspaper articles, and industry directories to find out about trends and developments in an industry, identify potential employers, and explore occupations. If you don’t subscribe to magazines and newspapers, many libraries offer a range of physical and online subscriptions for their members.
Talk to people
Once you’ve finished searching online, talk to as many people as you can for relevant, up-to-date information. Learn how to gather the knowledge you need from these contacts in Tips for a Successful Informational Interview.
Speak with people in your network. The people you know and the people they know may be able to connect you with employers who are hiring, employees you can job shadow, or students enrolled in a program or school you’re interested in.
Consider attending a job or career fair where you can get information about occupations, employers, and other industry information. You can find job fair ads posted in the business section of newspapers and at Alberta Supports Centres.
Alberta Supports Centres also have:
- Computers with access to the internet
- Print resources, such as newspapers, trade magazines, and career planning information
- Other research related to occupations, businesses, labour market conditions, and educational opportunities
Alberta Supports staff can also connect you with information and help you with your career, employment, and education options.
Make informed decisions
The best decisions are informed decisions. By researching your options, you can make decisions based on facts instead of guesswork. The more you explore the world of work and learn about your career options, the more likely you are to choose one that will be right for you.