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I. Mapping the Market

Where Adults Fit Into the Educational Landscape

 B. How Do I Start?

-What Do I Study? - Career Search

Of all the new jobs now being created, more than half will require some education beyond high school and almost a third will be filled by college graduates. The fastest growing jobs will require much higher math, language, and reasoning skills than current jobs. Jobs in the middle of the skills distribution will be the least skilled occupations of the future and there will very few net new jobs for the unskilled.

Trying to discover your career path can be a frustrating task, but ultimately a very rewarding one if it leads you to new opportunities. There are many resources available to you to find the best occupation suited to your needs and talents. Your list of transferable skills should be a guide in identifying the untapped talents you bring to the work world. Libraries in your local area or on college and university campuses can be a wonderful source for researching different occupations. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook list over 20,000 different jobs with a description of each. Also, check with employment offices and women's centers for their career listings to guide you.

If you need expert advice, there are many career centers which will help you for a fee. Here you take assessment tests such as the Strong Interest Inventory Assessment, the California Occupational Preference System , the Career Assessment Inventory and the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator which will help you identify occupations best suited to your talents and temperament. Community colleges often offer these tests free or at a low cost, but may limit their services to current students. There are also State and Federal agencies such as the Job Service Centers run by Washington State Employment Security, which offer job search information and support services. Many career centers, especially those on college campuses, offer computer programs that let you explore professions and occupations at your own pace. These can offer in-depth information about the details relating to thousands of different occupations.

Once you have a working list of possible careers that interest you, consider setting up informational interviews with people who are doing what you would like to do. Asking family and friends will help you find people willing to tell you about their careers. Contact college and university alumni organizations for listings of their graduates to find interesting people to interview. Sometimes just calling professionals in the field will uncover people willing to tell you about their work. Call the person or write a note to request an interview. Be clear that you are not looking for a job, but for information, and request 30 minutes of their time. Go armed with questions about the duties and tasks of the job, qualifications, openings, salary ranges, and what the person looks for if hiring someone for the job. Be sure to send a thank you note to those that see you. The informational interview can be a valuable tool in learning first-hand the advantages or pitfalls of many occupations.

 

 "In the coming decade, well educated workers will continue to move ahead of employees who have less education."

CAM report,
Vol. 7 #7,
Jan. 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 More than 80%

of employers express concern about 'skills' shortage, but they generally mean a good work ethic and social skills.

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