Choosing a Career
With so many different options from which to choose, it can sometimes be a challenge to find the career that's right for you. Whether you are deciding on a course of study, changing careers, or returning to the workforce, exploring the possibilities can help you decide. Check out this selection of resources that can help you identify your skills and abilities, that describe different jobs and their descriptions, and that suggest different career options for a variety of interests and skills. Many other books are available in the Career Center.
Print Resources
Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. J.G. Ferguson, 2008.
Ref 331.702 Encyclopedia
O*NET Dictionary of Occupational Titles. JIST Works, 2008.
Ref 331.7 O*NET 2008
Career 331.7 O*NET 2004
What Color is Your Parachute? Richard Nelson Bolles. Ten Speed Press, annual.
Career 331.128 Bolles 2009
The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers. Katy Piotrowski.
JIST Works, 2008.
Career 650.14 Piotrowski
150 Best Jobs for a Better World. JIST Publications, 2008.
Career 331.702 One hundred fifty
Careers for Culture Lovers and other Artsy Types. Marjorie Eberts.
McGraw Hill, 2007.
Career 700.23 Eberts
Top 100 Careers for College Graduates: Your Complete Guidebook to Major Jobs in Many Fields.
Michael Farr. JIST Works, 2007.
Career 374.425 Farr
Finding a Job After 50: Reinvent Yourself for the 21st Century. Jeannette A. Woodward.
Career Press, 2007.
Career 650.1408 Woodward
Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads. Sheila J. Curran and Suzanne Greenwald. Ten Speed Press, 2006.
Career 331.702 Curran
202 High-Paying Jobs You Can Land Without a College Degree. Jason Rich. Entrepreneur Press, 2006.
Career 331.702 Rich
Online Resources
Ferguson's Career Guidance Center - Accessible in the Career Center, the Reference Room, and remotely to Jones Library card holders, this database can provide information on different careers, take career assessment tests, and much more.
Websites
America's Career Infonet - Sponsored by the US Dept. of Labor, this site dispenses inforamtion about occpuations, future hot jobs, certifications, licenses, training programs, and job searching.
CareerOneStop - This site is a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers, students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent development in a global economy.
Worker ReEmployment - Also from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, this new site is a portal aimed at assisting those in the process of job transition. Targeted information includes dealing with job loss, applying for unemployment, health insurance, and more.
Massachusetts Career Information System - This site is offered free to all Massachusetts residents. It is designed to provide occupational and educational information to help people make better informed career and school choices.
O*NET Online - Developed by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, this resource serves as a primary source of occupational information, providing comprehensive information on attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations.
Occupational Outlook Handbook - This resource provided by the federal government provides information on different types of jobs, including education required, earnings, job prospects, working conditions, and job tasks. It is updated every two years. There are also job links, information on the job market in each state, and even more.
Explore Health Careers - This is a free, multi-disciplinary, interactive website designed to explain the array of health professions and provide easy access to students seeking information about health careers.
careerlink.com Career Center - This site is provided by the Applied Information Management Institute and provides a wealth of career information. In their Career Center, learn about careers, assess your skills, and identify career fairs and internships in the area.
JobHuntersBible.com - Dick Bolles, author of the "What Color is Your Parachute", uses this site to give advice on how to best use the Internet for job searching, and giving his recommendations on links that will aid job hunters.
About: Career Planning - This site provides information on the career choice process, providing information on the steps to the process and links to assessments.
The Riley Guide: Before You Search - Providing a wealth of job search information, this site includes information on exploring options, self-assessment, and career guides.