Cabrillo College Library
Challenge #1: Background information
Challenge #2:
Occupational outlook--labor trends in your occupational area
Challenge #3:
Web resources for career exploration
Challenge #4:
Periodical Articles
Additional Resources
How to get to this page on the Internet
 
 

 your name___________________________

How to get to this assignment on the Internet

  1. Go to the Cabrillo College Library homepage by typing  http://libwww.cabrillo.edu into the Location or Address box towards the top of the screen
  2. Click on Internet Links
  3. Click on English; then on Course-Related Materials
  4. Scroll down and click on Writing for the World of Work
Challenge #1: You need background information about the occupational field in which you are interested.  Where can you look?
Your solution: You use the Occupational Outlook Handbook and other resources that describe occupations, the training required, and direct you to additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Department of Labor is the standard resource for information about job searches and occupational fields in the United States.  It is available both in print in the library, and online on the Web.  For specific careers, the information covered includes

  • key occupational characteristics
  • nature of the work; working conditions, typical earnings
  • employment (including geographic distribution of jobs)
  • training and other qualifications required
  • job outlook in general

Here's what you do

  1. Go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition
  2. Click on the "OOH Search/A-Z Index" link located in the upper right corner of the Web page, and then enter the name of an occupation in which you are interested in the "Search The Handbook" box.

In general, what's the job outlook for your occupational area? 

           __________________________________________________________ 

What training is required for this occupational area? 

           __________________________________________________________ 

           __________________________________________________________ 

Here's what else you can do
If you have difficulty finding your occupational area in the online version, you may want to try using the print version of this resource.  It is located in the library's Reference Area.  Call number is ref HF5381 .U62 2006-07 .  It is also available electronically. Ask for assistance at the Reference/Instruction Desk if you need help finding either the print or electronic version.

While you are in the Reference Area, you might want to look at these other very useful book resources about occupations: 

Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance, Holli R. Cosgrove, editor-in-chief. 11th ed. Chicago: Ferguson Pub. Co., 2000. ref HF5381 .E52 2000

The Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook, by Michael Farr and LaVerne Ludden. 3rd ed. Indianapolis, Ind: Jist Works, 2000. ref HF5382.F368 2000

First Stop for Jobs and Industries. Detroit: Gale Research, 2000. ref HF5382 .F57 2000

Guide to Careers in Community Development, by Paul C. Brophy and Alice Shabecoff. Washingotn, D.C.: Island Press, 2002. ref HN90.C6B754 2001

Pathways to Career Success for Minorities. Chicago, IL: Ferguson Pub., 2000. ref LC3727.P27 2000

Where the Jobs Are: The Hottest Careers for the 21st Century, by Joyce Hadley Copeland. 3rd ed. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2000. ref HF5382.75.U6S3 2000

Your notes:

    ___________________________________________________________ 

    ___________________________________________________________

Challenge #2  You'd like to get a sense about job projections and trends in your occupational area of interest
Your solution  You check a Web site for labor force projections

Here's what you do
What are the labor projections for the occupational field you are interested in?  Summarize what you learn:

    ___________________________________________________________ 

    ___________________________________________________________ 

        ___________________________________________________________ 

        ___________________________________________________________ 

Challenge #3  Although you have a pretty good sense about an occupational area to pursue, you'd still like to do a bit more exploration into how your career interests and talents might best match.  How can you do that?
Your solution  You go to some Web resources for career exploration.

Here's what you do
Try the Internet resources gathered together at the What Do You Like? and What Can I Do With A Major In...?  Summarize what you learn.

    _____________________________________________________ 

    _____________________________________________________ 

    _____________________________________________________

Challenge #4  You'd like to get some periodical articles that talk about work in your occupational area.
Your solution  You use Academic Search Premier

Here's how you use Academic Search Premier

  1. Go to the Cabrillo College Library homepage by typing http://libwww.cabrillo.edu into the Location or Address box towards the top of the screen. [If you are at a computer in the Library, just click on HOME towards the top of the screen.]
  2. Click on Full Text Articles (the 2nd icon down on the left)
  3. On the next screen, click on Academic Search Premier (under General, top left)
  4. On the next screen, click on   towards the top of the screen.
  5. Click in the small box next to Full Text, to limit your search to articles that are full text in the database. You may have to scroll down the screen to do this.
  6. Go back up to the search boxes (where it says Find: ) and type in your search terms.  Then click on the Search button. See the example that follows.

Information about at least one article with information of interest to you:

What's the title of the periodical? (look where it says Source) __________________________

What's the title of the article? ___________________________________________

When was it published?_____________________________ 

NOTE: Just so you know -- You can read an article on your computer screen, of course. When you are researching, you might want to print, save, or email the article.When the full article is on your screen, just click on Print, or Email, or Save (towards the top of the screen) and follow directions.

Want to Explore Some Additional Resources?  Check these out!
Cabrillo College's Career Planning Center
Finding Out About Careers: A Library Research Guide

Your notes:

    _______________________________________________________________ 

    _______________________________________________________________ 

How to get to this page on the Internet
  1. Go to the Cabrillo College Library homepage 
  2. Click on Internet Links
  3. Click on English
  4. Scroll down, and under Course-Related Material, click on Writing for the World of Work

T.N. Smalley; last rev. 3/07