That's the most basic question of any career search. This exercise is designed to help you answer that question by "sampling the field" of your choice and identifying the most commonly sought skills, experiences, credentials and characteristics.
Instructions Collect 20-25 job listings, Internet postings, newspaper advertisements, mission statements, and/or job descriptions for the career field(s) you are seeking. As you read through the listings, identify key words or phrases that describe the education, experience, skills, and qualities potential employers are seeking. Each time there is a new key word or phrase, add it to your list. Each time an item appears again, place a checkmark (√) in the "frequency" column. The items which receive the most checkmarks will give you good insight into what employers in your field are seeking in their employees. Example:
| Keywords and Phrases | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Strong verbal and written communication skills | √√√√√√√√√√√√ |
| Bachelor's degree (in *****) | √√√√ |
| 3-5 years related experience (in *****) | √√√√√ |
| General computer skills | |
| Specific computer skills (in *****) | √√√√√√√√ |
| Ability to work as part of a team | √√√√√√ |
| Sense of humor | √√√√ |
| Willingness to travel | √√√√√ |
| Strong organizational, analytical, and problem solving skills | √√√√√√√√√√ |
| Appreciation of and commitment to workplace diversity | √√√√√ |
| Customer service experience | √√√√√√ |
| Certification/Licensure as ***** | √√ |
| Ability to manage multiple projects | √√√√ |