Changing Careers: Step One - Research

In Monday's post, we talked about making a list of at least three career choices different from the one you have.

Now that you have that list, it's time to do something with it.

The great thing is you can do the main part, if not all, of your research online.  In the past, you'd have to trek to your local library but now you can find what you need through internet searches.

A key research tool for you will be the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.  On this site you can view a lot of information about the potential careers you have chosen.

This site gives you information on:

• salary information
• education required
• future job outlook
• typical work environment
• overall job description

This information will give you a lot of the tools you need to decide if the career you've chosen is right for you.  You may also find it helpful to visit salary.com to give you additional salary and career information related to your specific location.

If you want additional salary or career information, there is also a lot of salary guide information available online.  You can find the most popular ones by doing a Google search.

Tomorrow we'll talk about doing the next step in researching a career change.

Has viewing the Occupational Outlook Handbook helped you find your career?  What resources did you use when you researched your profession?  Share your stories with us in the comments below.