Module 2

Career Research

Module 2 Description/Overview:

The world of work is a new frontier. The days of lifelong careers at one company have all but vanished, and left in its place is a shifting workforce paradigm that emphasizes lifelong career development, alternate career paths, and multiple careers in a lifetime. This section focuses on in-depth career and industry research to help you find your niche- or many niches- in the fluid and sometimes unsteady workforce.

Fortunately, you are suited to perform many jobs. Career planning is an ongoing process. People continue to change throughout life and so does the job market. On average, you will have between 6-10 careers in your lifetime. Many occupations that will be available in your lifetime may not even exist yet! Individual's knowledge of occupations is often based on stereotypes, perceptions or limited information. Most people are not aware of all the current and emerging jobs available or how to prepare for them. With the varying workforce factors in today's frontier, doing our due diligence with occupational research is critical.

In the previous module you learned about your unique skills, interests, values and personalty- including potential occupations to explore. Now, we will research industry and career options (nationally & locally) to help you make informed decisions in developing your career plan.

Getting Started:

Document Needed:
Career Pathways & Occupational Research | Word Format | PDF Format | Example

If using Google Docs to complete your documents: Do not click "request edit access". Instead, select "File" then "Save as Google Docs". This will copy the document into your private Google Drive.

To get started with this module, have your “Career Assessments Results” document from Module 1 ready for reference. Throughout Module 2, you will be referring this document.

Dominic.Cota@phoenix.gov | (602) 261-8695
Available Monday-Friday; between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructions:

You will now be conducting occupational research on the top 3 occupations from your Career Assessment Results document from Module 1. Take note that the Career Pathways- Occupational Research document for this module is two (2) pages. First, we will start by completing general, industry-specific research across the nation using occupational databases from the Department of Labor. Second, we will conclude the module by conducting local, Phoenix-based research on your three (3) occupations of choice- ultimately showcasing available opportunities in our local job market.

Lastly, please ensure you allot an appropriate amount of time to complete this module. The final proposal developed in Module 6 is dependent on the research and work we do in this section- it is critical. As always, do not hesitate to reach out for questions and/or inquiries. ENJOY!

Career Pathways- Occupational Research (Page 1)

STEP 1: Refer to your Career Assessments Results form in Module 1. You identified 16 job titles from your career assessments, now choose your top 3 job titles for future employment opportunities. The 3 job titles selected must support your transferable skills and need for training/skills upgrade.

STEP 2: From your top 3 selections, assign each occupation to Occupation of Interest #1, Occupation of Interest #2, and Occupation of Interest #3. Example:

STEP 3: Begin conducting your research on the 3 occupations selected by finding the Career Field Knowledge for each occupation. Feel free to use the following resources to find general occupational research information:

Note: As you conduct research, be mindful of the occupation requirements. Considering the demands of the field, is this occupation a good fit? Any gaps that you can identify? Can you realistically meet the demands of the occupational field? Does the work environment align with your work place values? Do the job tasks align with your skills and interests?

STEP 4: After completing all fields of page 1, proceed to page 2 instructions for the Career Pathways – Occupational Research document.

Career Pathways- Occupational Research (Page 2)

In this next section you now will have the opportunity to conduct research on which Phoenix companies are hiring for your occupations. This component will give you insight on the local employer/occupational demands.

STEP 1: For each occupation, research 3 job leads within Phoenix and complete each field on page 2. In total, you will be required to research 9 jobs in Phoenix (3 for each occupation).

STEP 2: Begin conducting Phoenix market research on the 3 occupations selected and locate 3 jobs for each. Feel free to use the following resources to find which Phoenix employers are hiring:

STEP 3: After conducting Phoenix-based research via the job boards provided (i.e. Indeed), you will have located a total of 9 local job leads. Within those 9 job leads, identify 3 job leads that closely match your current skill sets and future training goals.

Helpful Tips:

Select Job Leads that match with your current experience.
Select Job Leads that compliment and mirror your current transferable skills.
If requesting training, select job leads that identify the need for short-term (12 months or less) training.
Select job leads that are in-demand and growing in the Phoenix market.

STEP 4: Submit your completed module 2 to your assigned trainer for review.