With the job market constantly evolving, it can feel overwhelming to explore career options. Thankfully, the internet provides a wealth of excellent resources that make this journey more manageable. Whether you're curios about what's out there, thinking of transitioning to another industry, or searching for a role that aligns better with your skills, you'll find a treasure trove of information and tools online to guide you along the way. In this article, we'll take a look at some excellent resources for exploring new careers and how they can help you make informed decisions about your professional future.
O*NET
O*NET Online is my absolute go-to as it has soooo much information, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. It's a robust database run by the U.S. Department of Labor and includes information on work activities for many occupations. The website's advanced search tools allow you to explore careers by keywords, industries, and your own skills and interests. You can also search for similar professions, salary levels by state, or learn about the professional associations for each profession.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning (previously known as Lynda.com) provides a selection of courses covering fields such as business, technology and creative subjects. Despite being a subscription-based platform many individuals find the investment worthwhile for the in-depth courses taught by industry experts. You might also be able to access it through your library membership, for example, it is included among Seattle Public Library's online resources.
Glassdoor
Glassdoor is well-known for its company reviews, salary reports, and interview questions shared by employees. It's an excellent resource to get an inside perspective into a company's culture, expectations, work-life balance, etc. This inside look can be incredibly useful when considering joining a specific organization.
Tech Sites
For those interested in the tech industry, TechCrunch is a leading source of information on startups, new technologies, and tech industry trends. Keeping abreast of the latest innovations can inform your career decisions, especially if you're looking to enter a rapidly evolving field like technology. The Wired Newsletters and Morning Brew are also excellent for this. For tech industry salary levels, check out levels.fyi
Coursera and edx
Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer courses across a wide range of subjects. This platform is particularly useful for exploring new fields of study and acquiring certifications that can bolster your resume for a career change. You can audit many courses for free and only pay for them if you want to obtain the certification.
Similar to Coursera, edX also offers free online courses from prestigious institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Berkeley. It's an great way to explore knowledge in a new field without a significant financial commitment.
Meetup and Facebook Groups
Meetup isn't just to find hiking buddies, it also lets you to find and join local groups and events based on your interests and professional goals. It's a great way to network with people in your desired field, learn from their experiences, and get advice on navigating a career change. There are also great communities on Facebook, even specific to career transitions.
LinkedIn allows you to network with professionals in your own area and across the globe. You can follow industry leaders, participate in group discussions, and even reach out for informational interviews to learn more about different careers directly from those currently in the field.
Conclusion
Theses resources listed are a great way to learn more about career options, gain new skills, validate a pending career decision and connect with others who are already in the field.
References
O*NET OnLine: https://www.onetonline.org
LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning
Seattle Public Library Online Learning: https://www.spl.org/online-resources/online-learning
Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com
Wired Newsletters: https://www.wired.com/newsletter
Morning Brew Newsletter: https://www.morningbrew.com
levels.fyi: https://www.levels.fyi
Coursera: https://www.coursera.org
edX: https://www.edx.org
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com
Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feed
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com
Sylvia Broetje, PhD Industrial / Organizational Psychologist and Career Counselor