2.1 Introduction and Learning Outcomes

Introduction

In this module, you’ll learn the strategies for researching the occupations that you’re curious about and that interest you most. Career research can help you to understand the day-to-day realities of the occupation, get a sense of the trends in the field (whether there will be growth or not and where that growth is anticipated to be), understand if the career path is a good fit for you, and finally, allow you to be much more effective in your job search.  Although it’s often overlooked or skipped entirely, conducting career research is an essential component of your career journey.

What is career research?

Career research isn’t just about discovering more about the career paths you might want to pursue. The process also encompasses learning about what  job prospects, salary ranges,  typical day-to-day responsibilities, and any required qualifications. By conducting career research, you’ll get a better sense about whether a particular occupation is a good fit for you, set more realistic career goals, build a network of people you can learn with, and be much more strategic in your job search. Some information can, of course, be found online and other information you can only acquire by actively connecting with others. We’ll touch on  both of these approaches within this module.

Learning Outcomes