Planning your Career? Explore Career Resources

As you prepare for your career, there are a variety of resources you may consider consulting. You may choose to explore several resources, or you may only want to use only one type of resource. Despite what your choice may be, you may want to know what your options are in order to help you make better choices….

Campus Career Center and Career Counselor

You may want to stop by your university's career center and find exactly what resources are available. For instance, many career centers have bookshelves filled with company literature and career handbooks. These resources may help you analyze different career options or confirm that the career you've chosen is right for you. You may also want to schedule a meeting with your career counselor. He or she may not know everything about your specific career, but he or she may be able to give you some direction. Your counselor may reveal resources you never even knew existed.

Online Resources

Online job postings can give you a sense of what the demand is for a particular job, what type of salary you can expect or what type of experience is required. Many of these online career resources like Careers.org, Careerbuilder.com, and Salary.com also provide articles about appropriate work behavior and resume tips.

Career Organizations

Depending on what your potential industry is, there is probably an organization for your profession. These organizations, like Society for Technical Communicators (STC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE,) offer resources that are specific to the careers in these fields. You may want to consider joining an organization because they often provide critical information about new advancements in a field, allowing you to improve as your industry evolves. They also often provide job listings for those either looking for a career change or who are just starting out. Usually these organizations require people to pay some type of a membership fee, which varies.

Job Fairs

You may also consider attending job fairs in order to meet job recruiters from different corporations. While at the fair, you may also get a sense of the company's goals and expectations by talking with its representatives. You may even be able to set up an interview. Job fairs are opportunities to network with others in your industry. By going to a job fair, you may also be introduced to other career opportunities in your field that you were unaware of.

Off-Campus Career Centers

Another resource that you may want to consider are off-campus career or employment centers. It is often best to visit these centers when you first begin your job search so that you can create a plan. By planning ahead, you may be able to use your time more effectively. Many career centers offer programs and workshops to help with such processes. These centers often have established connections with the business community in that area, which you may be able to use advantage.
The resources listed here are just a few examples of the many available to you. To learn more about the resources in your area or about your career, simply dedicate time to doing some research. Learning about and using these career resources may help you find a job sooner.