best sites for clear career exploration is
the Occupational Outlook Handbook
site hosted by the U.S. Department of
Labor ( www.bls.gov/ooh). This site is an
expansion;of;the;Occupational;Outlook
Handbook that has been published by
the;U.S.;Department;of;Labor;since;1949.
The;handbook;was;first;designed;to;help
returning;World;War;II;veterans;find;em-ployment.;Today;the;handbook;has;been
updated and expanded and includes information about pay, education, training,
and;the;outlook;for;nearly;every;type;of
career in the United States.
To;explore;a;specific;career,;navigate
to;the;handbook;website.;On;the;left;side
of the screen, you will see a list of occupation groups. If, for example, you want
to learn more about a career in fashion
design,;select;the;“Arts;and;Design”;oc-cupation group from the menu. That will
open a web page with a number of different careers within that category. The page
will highlight fashion design and give a
brief summary of the career, including
median pay.
Clicking;on;the;link;for;the;selected
career;(“Fashion;Design”);will;take;you
to;a;page;with;details;about;that;specific
career. Across the top of the career page
there are a number of tabs:
•;Summary:;This;page;includes;detailed
information about the career. It also
has a bit of information about each of
the;other;tabs;(and;links;to;those;tabs).
•;What;They;Do:;This;page;will;include
specific details about the job. It will
usually list different options that are
available;within;the;career;field.
•;Work;Environment:;This;page;will;tell
you;what;it;is;like;to;work;in;the;career
field;and;who;employs;people;in;this
field.
•;How;to;Become;One:;Here;you;can
read details about the education and
training that are typically required to
get started in this career.
• Pay: This page will give you a general idea of how much money you can
expect to earn if you decide that this
career is right for you.
•;Job;Outlook:;Here;you;can;read;about
how;the;specific;career;is;expected;to
expand or contract over the next decade, giving you an idea about whether
or not there will be a lot of jobs in this
field;after;you;graduate.
•;Similar;Occupations:;In;case;you;think
the career you selected is not quite the
right;fit,;this;page;will;list;a;number;of
other occupations that are similar to
the selected career, giving you additional options to explore.
•;Contacts;for;More;Info:;This;page;can
list organizations that are related to
the career you have selected. Often
you;can;contact;these;organizations;to
learn even more about the career and
possibly;speak;to;people;employed;in
the career.
When;researching;a;career,;take;your
time and learn as much as you can about
a;career;before;making;a;selection.;Make
use of the online resources as a starting
point,;but;be;sure;to;talk;to;people,;if
you can, to learn even more about your
selected career. Finding the answer to
“What are you going to do after high
school?”;can;be;interesting;and;can;be;a
lot of fun.
Jeffrey Ober is a full-time freelance writer
and professional sports photographer.
He and his wife Rikki live in remote Juneau,
Alaska, where they homeschool their two
children. He has more than twenty years of
experience working with and programming
computers. Read more about Jeffrey at his
personal website: www.ober.org.
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Top 10 Best Paid
Occupations
• Management
• Legal
•;Computer;and;Mathematical
Science
•;Architecture;and;Engineering
•;Healthcare;Practitioner;and
Technicians
•;Business;and;Financial
Operations
•;Life,;Physical,;and;Social;Science
•;Arts,;Design,;Entertainment,
Sports, and Media
•;Education,;Training,;and;Library
Source: jobsearch.about.com/od/best-jobs/a/
best-paying-jobs.htm
Top 25 In-Demand
Jobs
1.;Biomedical;Engineering
2.;Network;Systems;&;Data;Com-
munications Analysts
3.;Home Health Aides
4.;Personal;and;Home;Care;Aides
5.;Financial Examiners
6.;Medical Scientists
7.;Physician;Assistant
8.;Skin;Care;Specialists
9.;Biochemists;and;Biophysicists
10.;Athletic Trainers
11.;Physical;Therapist;Aides
12.;Dental Hygienists
13.;Veterinary Technologists and
Technicians
14.;Dental Assistants
15.;Computer Software Engineers,
Applications
16.;Medical Assistants
17.;Physical;Therapist;Assistants
18.;Veterinarians
19.;Self-Enrichment Education
Teachers
20.;Compliance;Officers
21.;Occupational Therapist Aides
22.;Environmental Engineers
23.;Pharmacy;Technicians
24.;Computer Software Engineers,
Systems Software
25.;Survey Researchers
Source: www.campusexplorer.com/college-
advice-tips/76DB6BDB/Top-25-In-Demand-
Jobs-and-Fastest-Growing-Occupations
