Module 3 Researching a specific occupation

Introduction: Now that you have some information on yourself, you're ready to look at specific occupations which relate to your interests.

Objectives:

• Discover web sites for finding specific occupations
• Research one occupation of your choice.

Activities: After taking the Career Key and the MBTI, you now have some information on occupational areas and the work values which may be suited for you. Please keep in mind that these suggestions are not the only occupational fields that you may achieve in. It is rather one tool to provide information which may be suited for you. If you have other interests not represented in your results, by all means explore them!

Now we're going to look at specific occupational areas. Go to the Occupational Handbook at : http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

• Click the "Use the Handbook Index" button. From here you may research a large variety of occupations by alphabetical order by clicking on the first letter of your occupation.
• We're going to look at the topic of electricity. Click the "E" in the alphabet list and then scroll down and click "Electrician".
• Use the information you've found to answer the following questions. (Use the back and forward arrow on the top left of your screen to move back and forth within the Occupational screens).
  1. What types of tasks would an electrician do?
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  2. What are the working conditions like?
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  3. How many electricians were there in 1996?
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  4. What type of educational background do you need to be an electrician?
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  5. Is employment for electricians expected to increase or decrease? Why?
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  6. What is the median weekly earning for an electrician?
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Now pick an occupation you'd like to learn more about (perhaps one of the careers you found in Module 1). Type it here:
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• Locate your occupation it in the Occupational Handbook Web site at: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
• Read through the information. Answer the following questions:
  1. What are the working conditions?
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  2. What did you learn about the employment status? How many people were employed recently?
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  3. What training is provided?
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  4. What does the future outlook look like?
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  5. What is the average salary range? What's the starting salary range?
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  6. What related occupations were listed?
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  7. Where else can you look for further information?
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