The Job Search
3 Research Your Industry
The next step is to get a complete understanding of the industries you are interested in working in. The industries you select will be related to your skills and education. Once you identify the industries that are the best fit for you, it is time to do your research. Simply using the internet and a search engine like Google will get your started and give you the information you need, but feel free to branch out to specific job search sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. The worksheet below can help guide your research on your industry.
Activity: Complete the “Research Your Industry Worksheet”
Investigate the following:
- What are the current trends in your industry?
- What are the current keywords in your industry? These can include job skills and buzz words.
- What are the different roles, positions, or jobs in this industry? Which are entry-level and which are for those further along in their career? Where will you start and where would you like to end up?
- What is the salary range for someone with your level of education and experience in this industry? Is this enough for you to live on?
- Is this type of work in demand in your current geographical location? Or does your current location limit you? Are you willing to relocate? If so, where is your industry in demand? Which of these locations are a good fit for you?
- What is the current job market for your industry? Are there a lot of job openings? Is this an industry that is doing a lot of hiring currently? Is your type of work in demand? What does the future look like for this industry?
- Did you learn anything new about your industry and specific job opportunities in your industry that is important to note? Anything that could affect your choice or make you reexamine your plans?
Activity: Locate two jobs in your industry
- Select an online job search site and locate a job in your field that fits your current skill level and a job in your field that you hope to have in the future.
- Identify the skills you need in your field and fill out the list below.