Defining Next Steps: Part Three
“Where do I get good career planning information?”

Once you’ve identified career options, it’s important to get a reality check. If you are making a career change, you want to have some certainty that your next move will meet your needs, and that you have the necessary skills, experience and education for the jobs you are considering. To find out if the choices you are considering are suitable, I suggest using multiple sources to gather valuable career information such as the internet, books, magazines, conferences, professional association meetings, and colleagues.

People Resources
People love to talk about what they do and are excellent sources of career information. A technique that is often used is "informational interviewing." You set up an appointment to talk with someone to learn about their job. I recommend an in-person interview whenever possible, but getting personal accounts in any way about experiences in various jobs is valuable. The questions below can be the guideline for your interview.

Attending professional association meetings, conferences and events is a great way to learn about industry trends and job opportunities. The Encyclopedia of Associations is a directory that lists associations for every interest, hobby, profession, and industry. Most libraries carry a copy in their reference section. You can also search Yahoo! or Google to find online listings of associations. Look for regional chapters that hold events near you.

Online Resources
The internet is a great tool for researching career information. There are millions of websites containing career information. To make it easier, I’ve highlighted a few on my website-
www.futures-in-motion.com/extranet/online_resource.php

Two of my favorite sources of career information are the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco) and O*Net Online (http://online.onetcenter.org/). Both resources provide information on hundreds of jobs from the training and education needed, earnings, job outlook, what workers do on the job, and working conditions. They also provide links to related occupations and relevant professional associations.

As you research the options, keep in mind that you are looking for specific bits of information:

• What are the duties and tasks of this occupation?
• What are the typical skills necessary?
• What education background and other qualifications are required? What graduate degree or additional education will be required for advancement?
• What are some of the benefits/rewards of this type of career (salary, career advancement, job security, future employment outlook, etc.)?
• What are some occupations related to this field?
• Where can additional information about this career be found (professional associations, trade magazines, internet resources, library resources, etc.)?

Good luck! 

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