Researching Professions | Professions by Ed Planning

  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook has information about the nature of work for specific careers, the academic preparation needed, average salaries, and more. http://www.bls.gov/oco/
     
  • The ESC Career Resources Center has links to career self-assessments, articles on career trends, and more. 
     
  • Other professionals are good sources of information. Develop a list of questions you might ask when interviewing other professionals.  You might ask what skills and knowledge they rely on most in everyday work, what skills they need to advance at work, and/or what college courses best prepared them for their current work.
     
  • Research professional journals, which are magazines written for professionals practicing in a certain field, to find out current trends, issues, and expectations in your field. It's also useful to evaluate a selection of professional journals in your field, to determine which ones are most useful in providing information to maintain currency in your field.

  • Research job vacancies, to see the type of knowledge and skills expected for certain professions.