Selecting a career is a very important decision. After graduation, a great deal of you waking time will be spent at work. Your job will also be an important factor in determining the lifestyle you will lead. Therefore, it is very important that you thoroughly research your potential career.

Below is a list of methods learn about the career fields you are considering.

Internet Research – Information can be found on the Internet about almost every potential career field. Therefore, the Internet can be a great place to begin when you are researching potential careers. It is important not to stop your research with Internet research because there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet and it can be difficult to really know what a career is like only by reading about it.

Library Research – Public and school libraries have books about a lot of careers. Be sure to see when the books were written. Some information about careers goes out of date fairly quickly.

Bookstore Research – Bookstores also carry books about most career fields. In general, books found at bookstores tend to be more current than the ones found at libraries. However, before spending money, be careful to ensure you select a book that provides accurate information and is in a format that you will enjoy reading.

Job Fair Research – Even if you are not ready to start working, job fairs can be a wealth of information for students deciding on a career. At a job fair you can meet recruiters for the career field you want to enter. Through the recruiters, you can learn about companies and what employers are looking for in that field.

Informational Interviews (also referred to as information interview or occupational information interview) – An informational interview is a meeting that you initiate with a professional in the career field your interested in. The purpose of this type of interview is to learn more about a career field that interests you, what employers are looking for in prospective employees, and what a typical day is really like on the job.

Job Shadowing – Spend a day following a professional in the field you would like to enter. This will help you to see what they a day on the job will be like.

Volunteering – Volunteer some of your free time to work with professionals in the career field you are interested in. This will give you more information about what it is like in the field, an opportunity to network with professionals in the field, and related experience to include on a resume.


Use the suggestions above to help you research careers you might be interested in pursuing. Completing the appropriate research will help you gain the information you need to make the best decision you can for yourself.