University of Alabama Libraries, HES 310 Course Page

Exploring a career and finding a job can be a lot like doing a project or an assignment. A job interview can be a lot like a test. And just like with any test, project, or assignment, the library can help by providing resources and information.

Basic Career Exploration

An important tool for career exploration is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), which is published annually by the United States Department of Labor. You can use the OOH to find out information about a particular profession or field. The OOH tells you

the training and education needed
earnings
expected job prospects
what workers do on the job
working conditions

A print copy of the OOH is kept at the Information Services Desk in Gorgas Library, but you can also look at this online (free of charge) at: http://www.bls.gov/oco

Who is out there? Where can I work? Who might be hiring?

Public and Private Companies

To get a list of companies that might be hiring (these are not job listings), try the database ReferenceUSA, available via the UA Libraries' database page: http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases. Please note that this resource is not available free of charge.

Search strategy: Go to "Custom Search" Search by the "Yellow Pages Heading" and the MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). For example if you only search by the City and State (Birmingham, AL) , you might miss out on places that border a city, like Hoover, AL. MSA provides you with the broadest search for job searches in a metropolitan area.

Social Service Agencies, Associations, Not-for-Profits, Chambers of Commerce

To get a list of Chambers of Commerce, social service agencies, associations, not-for-profits, try searching in Associations Unlimited , also available via the UA Libraries' database page: http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases. Please note that this resources is not available free of charge.

Search strategy: Go to the "Custom Search" page and do a search using the state and "free text"

Examples

"State/Province"=AL

"Free-text" ="chamber of commerce"

"State/Province"=AL

"Free-text"= nutrition

"State/Province"=GA

"Free-text"="interior design"

Finding positions working for a city or other form of municipality

Many cities advertise their positions via the official city website. To find a city website, simply go to a search engine like Google and type in a phrase such as "City of Charlotte" When you go to the official website of the city, links to jobs will probably be under "employment" or "jobs."

Job listings in cities

Another strategy is to see if the city has a site on Craigslist. You may be able to find a job listing there.

HAPPY JOB HUNTING!

If you have questions about the content of this page, please contact Pam Morgan.