Embarking on a career journey can feel overwhelming, but with the right resources, you can navigate the path to your dream job with confidence. Fortunately, a wealth of online platforms are designed to empower you with information and insights, acting as your personal Career Search Tool. These tools offer comprehensive data, exploration opportunities, and direct connections to the professional world. Let’s explore some of the most effective career search tools available to help you take control of your future.
Oregon CIS: Your Local Career Compass
For those focused on opportunities within Oregon, the Oregon CIS (Career Information System) is an invaluable career search tool. This platform provides in-depth profiles of over 600 occupations, tailored to the Oregon job market. Gain critical knowledge about expected salaries, future job prospects, required education and training, and much more. Oregon CIS also simplifies your academic planning by helping you identify Oregon schools that offer programs aligned with your chosen career path.
To access this localized career search tool:
- Start by logging into MyPCC and navigate to the “My Courses” tab.
- Find and click on “Oregon CIS” located next to “Career Planning Works.”
- Indicate whether you already have an existing Oregon CIS account when prompted.
- Once logged in, delve into specific career details by clicking “Explore Resources” and then “Occupations” in the right-hand sidebar. From there, you can access the “Occupation List” or utilize the “Sort” feature to refine your search.
Focus 2: A Broad Spectrum Career Exploration Tool
Focus 2 stands out as a comprehensive career search tool with an extensive database of occupations that spans various industries and sectors. You can explore careers using keywords, browse by industry categories, or discover majors that directly relate to your interests. Focus 2 also helps bridge the gap between career aspirations and academic pathways by enabling you to identify relevant programs at PCC (Portland Community College) based on your personal preferences and career goals.
To utilize Focus 2 as your career search tool:
- Visit the Focus 2 login page and enter your username and password if you are a returning user.
- If you are new to Focus 2, click “Register” to create an account.
- When registering, use the access code panther to gain entry and then set up your personal username and password.
O*NET Online: The Detailed Occupation Decoder
O*NET Online is a powerful career search tool offering meticulously detailed descriptions for hundreds of occupations across the national economy. This resource allows you to search for careers by keyword, explore opportunities within specific industries, or even discover professions aligned with your Holland Code personality type. O*NET is known for its robust data and is a go-to resource for in-depth occupational information.
Here’s how to leverage O*NET Online as your career search tool:
- Go to the O*NET Online website.
- Click on “Find Occupations” to initiate your search using keywords or by browsing industries.
- For a more refined search based on your interests, hover over “Advanced Search” and select “Interests” to find occupations associated with your Holland Code, providing a personalized career exploration experience.
“What Can I Do With a Degree In…?” – Unveiling Degree-to-Career Paths
For students and graduates pondering the practical applications of their degrees, PSU’s “What Can I Do With a Degree In…?” tool serves as an excellent career search tool. Developed by Portland State University, this resource directly connects academic majors to potential career fields. Explore diverse career options linked to various degrees, including insights into typical employers and industries that value specific educational backgrounds.
Discover the possibilities with this degree-focused career search tool: What can I do with a degree in?
Roadtrip Nation: Inspiration and Real-World Career Stories
Roadtrip Nation offers a unique approach to career search tools by focusing on inspiration and personal narratives. This platform has sponsored numerous students to conduct video interviews with influential leaders across diverse fields, all of whom have forged their own definitions of success. By watching these student-led interviews, you can gain invaluable perspectives and learn directly from leaders in various industries, understanding their career journeys and insights.
Engage with Roadtrip Nation as your inspirational career search tool:
- Visit the Roadtrip Nation website.
- Click on the magnifying glass icon located at the top right to access the search function.
- Select “Videos” and then “Interests” to find video interviews that align with your personal interests and career aspirations.
- Alternatively, from the homepage, navigate to “What We Offer,” then “Roadmap Tool” under “Explore & Plan.” This feature provides customized career suggestions based on your individual interests, offering a more tailored career search tool experience.
Candid Career: Video Insights from Industry Professionals
Candid Career functions as a dynamic video-based career search tool, hosting a vast library of video interviews featuring advice and insights from real-world professionals. This platform brings careers to life by allowing you to hear directly from individuals working in various fields, offering authentic perspectives on day-to-day realities and career paths.
Utilize Candid Career as your video career search tool:
- Log in to Candid Career.
- Search for videos by career title, academic major, keywords, or industry to pinpoint relevant content.
- Expand your horizons by discovering career fields you might not have known existed and gain valuable understanding of the steps required to enter those professions.
State of Oregon Employment Department: Your Local Labor Market Resource
The State of Oregon Employment Department website is a crucial career search tool, particularly for those interested in the Oregon job market. This resource provides direct access to information about employers in your desired field within Oregon, detailed job outlook projections for the state, and up-to-date wage information specifically for the Portland area.
Access local labor market data with this career search tool:
Explore the “Jobs and Careers” tab on the qualityinfo.org website to find valuable employment statistics and employer information tailored to Oregon.
Idealist.org: Connecting with Purpose-Driven Organizations
Idealist.org is a unique career search tool that focuses on connecting individuals who are passionate about making a difference with organizations dedicated to social impact. If you’re an “idealist” seeking opportunities to contribute to causes you believe in, this platform links you with organizations offering volunteer positions, internships, jobs, and collaborative projects.
Use Idealist.org to find purpose-driven career paths:
- Visit Idealist.org.
- Select “Organizations” from the dropdown menu to focus your search.
- Enter your location to find organizations in your area.
- On the results page, refine your search by selecting one or more “Issue Areas” from the dropdown menu on the left.
- Further narrow down your results by adding relevant keywords at the top of the page to specify your interests.
- Utilize the search results to learn about organizations working on causes that resonate with your values and to discover volunteer, internship, and employment opportunities within these impactful organizations.
By utilizing these diverse career search tools, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your career options, make informed decisions, and take proactive steps towards a fulfilling professional life. Each tool offers unique features and data, ensuring that you have the resources you need to navigate your career journey effectively.
