Career Information

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook provides statistics on the full range of jobs in the U.S. Training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, working conditions and other data is compiled annually and freely accessible on the web. Lane Library also has it in book format in the Reference Collection: REF HF 5381 .A1. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also publishes the journal: Occupational Outlook Quarterly which provides detailed articles on professions. To search for articles in this journal, use: ProQuest's ABI Inform.

Professional Literature

Each profession has its own "literature" in which research is reported and issues are discussed. Professional journals, often published by associations, are a good way to learn the nature of a profession. Some examples:

• Art Education / National Art Education Association
• Learning Disability Quarterly / Council for Learning Disabilities
• Music Educators' Journal / National Association for Music Education
• Nursing Outlook / American Academy of Nursing
• Police Chief National Association of Chiefs of Police
• Professional School Counseling / American School Counselor Association
• Radiologic Technology American Society of Radiologic Technologists

Databases for searching the professional literature

A GENERAL, MULTI-SUBJECT DATABASE:

new! Vocational and Career Collection from EBSCOhost
Provides full text coverage for 400 trade and industry related periodicals including American Machinist, Contemporary Longterm Care, Pediatric Nursing, Wireless Week, Drug Store News, Video Business, Reeves Journal, Hotel and Motel Management, Restaurant Business, Advertising Age, and many more. Use this to search for articles in a magazines and journals from many disciplines. Use the Advanced Search, and specify the profession as a subject term: physical therapy (subject) + profession (keyword)

DATABASES FOR SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES CAN BE FOUND IN OTHER SUBJECT GUIDES. FOR EXAMPLE:

Education: ERIC
Psychology: PsycINFO
Nursing: CINAHL

Professional Association Websites

These provide authoritative information. Locate them with www.google.com, or see listings in The Encyclopedia of Associations: REF HS 17 .G333 2003

Selected Reference Books in Lane library

• Career Xroads: The Directory to Job, Resume and Career Management Sites on the Web.
• Ref HF 5382.7 .C75 2002
• Guide to Your Career. (profiles of 175 careers)
• Ref HF 5382.5 .U5 2000
• Occupational Outlook Handbook U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' essential information on professions, including job outlook, certification, average salary, and working conditions.
• Ref HF 5381 .A1
• VGM's Career Encyclopedia.
• Ref HF 5382.5 .U5 .C337 2002
• What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters & Career-Changers.
• Ref HF 5382.7 .B64 2002

Browse the HF 5382 area of the Reference Collection for general books on resume's, cover letters, and descriptions of jobs for broad areas such as liberal arts, finance, retail... Books more specific to a profession are located in the call number assigned to that discipline. For example:

• Careers in Art.N 6505 .C328 2007
• Opportunities in Biotechnology Careers.TP 248.215 .B766 2007
• Resumes for Science Careers.Q 147 .R45 2007
• Careers for Computer Buffs & Other Technological Types.QA 76.25 .E23 2006
• Great Jobs for English Majors.HF 3582.7 .D43 2006
• Life as a Psychologist: career choices and insights.BF 76 .O88 2006

Finding Books in Lane library

Use GIL, Lane Library's online catalog, to search for books on specific professions. Search for books with vocational guidance or career in their subject headings:

• law enforcement - vocational guidance
• psychology - vocational guidance
• career choice
• career changes