Occupational Outlook Publications Help You Choose the Best Career

February 14, 2013

Dream job is where you do what you love and are good at and get paid for itHolding a job vs. having a career. Making a living vs. following your vocation. In today’s tough economic climate, many unemployed or underemployed would be happy with any job, and don’t dare aspire to a dream job. But what if you could have it all: a job that you love to do, you’re good at doing it, and is in demand so you will actually get paid to do it?

Image: Dream Job = sweet spot between passions, skills, and market demand. Image credit: TheUndercoverRecruiter.com

In President Obama’s State of the Union Address this week on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, one of the themes was the need for education and job training (and re-training) to help get Americans into the workforce or transition into more stable industries. But half the battle is knowing which profession matches your passions and talents, what skills and education you need to carry out that job, and what the current and future prospects are for that particular field so you have a better chance at keeping that job in the future.

Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (known as BLS) has two complementary publications to help you choose the right career path.

Occupational Outlook Handbook U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Occupational Outlook Handbook is the Federal Government’s premier source of career guidance featuring hundreds of occupations—both blue-collar and white-collar— from carpenters, firefighters and sports referees to teachers, medical professions, personal financial advisers, and even multimedia designers and scientists.  Revised every 2 years, the latest version contains employment projections for the 2010-20 decade.

Do you “dig” bones and ancient cultures? Read up on archeologist careers and learn their most recent media pay, entry-level education requirements or equivalent work experience, the number of jobs in this field today and the job outlook for this field over the next decade.

Currently, the top two fastest growing occupations are personal care aides and home health aides, to serve the aging baby boomers. The HGTV home renovation effect seems to have been a boon for tile/marble setters and stone and brick masons, and our nation’s kitty and puppy love for pets has made veterinary techs in high demand. The highest paying of the top 20 fastest growing occupations are physical therapists at $76,310 median annual pay and biomedical engineers at $81,540.

Occupational-Outlook-Handbook-20-Fastest-Growing-Occupations-2010

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Image: Fastest growing occupations: 20 occupations with the highest percent change of employment between 2010-20. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational-Outlook-QuarterlyFor those who want more regular updates with more in-depth articles, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also offers its attractive magazine, the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, or the “OOQ” for those in the know. Suitable for job-seekers, students, teachers, parents, job and guidance counselors, this color magazine format features personal stories and detailed articles describing insiders’ views of what different jobs are like.

In the Winter 2012-13 edition of the OOQ, the feature article explained what certificates and certificate programs are, the differences between certificates and licenses or degree programs, and how certification might offer a quick way to enter a career. Another described the “hot” field of geothermal energy (pun intended) and the various careers to take advantage of this growing industry. Other articles provide tips for online resources for comparing colleges and available scholarships, life in the real estate or personal fitness professions by successful people in these occupations, and which types of careers tend to offer the best benefits and job perks.

OOQ-Winter-2012–13-Best-Job-Perks

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OOQ-Winter-2012-13_Professional-Santa-ClausHave a hankering to turn your “ho-ho-ho” into more than a hobby? The OOQ even included a fun article entitled “You’re a what? Santa Claus!” describing the jolly job of Phil Wenz who became a professional full-time Santa Claus and Santa historian at a Christmas theme park in Illinois.

Image: Full-time Santa and Santa lecturer and historian, Phil Wenz. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

How can I buy these Occupational Outlook publications?

About the Author:  Michele Bartram is Promotions Manager for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales Division in Washington, DC, and is responsible for online and offline marketing of the US Government Online Bookstore (http://bookstore.gpo.gov) and promoting Federal government content to the public.

2 Comments | Business, Department of Labor, Jobs and Employment | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
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Uncle Sam wants to help you… get a job

May 4, 2012

If you are one of the millions of Americans hunting for a job, the U.S. Government wants you… to be prepared for the job search.

According to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 10, 2012, called “Job Openings and Labor Turnover – February 2012”, the number of job openings has been climbing:

The number of job openings in the United States in February 2012 was 3.5 million…  Although the number of job openings remained below the 4.3 million openings when the recession began in December 2007, the number of job openings has increased 46 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.

Image: Uncle Sam: “I want you to get a real job” poster. Source: SF Weekly

And today’s numbers from the Labor Department showed that the U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April while the unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent.

Together with graduating college and high school seniors, this makes this a prime time for many Americans to start or re-start their job search.

Fortunately, the Federal Government has produced a number of helpful job and employment publications and resources to help you find that job, from researching careers, industries and salaries, to preparing resumes, writing cover letters and honing your interviewing skills.

Step 1: Identify the Right Career for You

Many job hunters have had to leave their original profession due to changes in the marketplace. To help them identify what types of jobs are out there and what skills are needed, here are some Federal publications:

  Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 (Paperback)
The must-have book for every career counselor, The Occupational Outlook Handbook is exceedingly useful for job hunters, particularly those who are changing careers or in an industry that is undergoing transition. It describes about 250 occupations in detail, covering what the types of tasks workers do on a particular type of job, the working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects.
  High-Earning Workers Who Don’t Have A Bachelor’s Degree
This publication is still valid today, as it reviews occupations that earn relatively high salaries without requiring expensive college degrees. Ranges from accountants, to plumbers and electricians, repair people and mechanics, registered nurses and health technicians, managers and supervisors of all types, and more. Gives percentages of these that do not have bachelor’s degrees and typical weekly earnings (circa 1999).

Additional information on job training can be found at CareerOneStop’s Explore Careers section.

Step 2:  Determine Whether You Should Get Additional Education and Training

Many job seekers need to acquire new skills or update their existing skills to become or stay competitive. These publications talk about the value of training

  What It’s Worth: Field of Training and Economic Status in 2001
If you’ve ever doubted the value of education on your earning potential, the Census Bureau assembled these figures on what additional training is worth to one’s economic status and earnings.
  Apprenticeships: Career Training, Credentials, and a Paycheck in Your Pocket
Some professions require going through apprenticeship training. This publication explains how apprenticeship works, listing apprenticeable occupations, and the years of training estimated for each occupation.

Additional information and resources about job-related education and training can be found at CareerOneStop’s Education & Training section.

Step 3: Preparing Your Work Credentials and Interviewing Skills

The next step is to hone your credentials and interviewing skills for the active job search. The following excellent publications and resources will help you ensure you put your best foot forward.

  Resumes, Applications, and Cover Letters
With this update of a popular publication, you will find out the best ways to present your credentials to prospective employers. Illustrations include a sample chronological resume, a sample functional resume, and a sample cover letter. The ‘for more information’ section lists some useful, established websites that contain advice about 21st century job hunting and resume writing.
  Getting Back to Work: Returning to the Labor Force After an Absence
Many job seekers today have what is called an imperfect employment history due to layoffs, underemployment or other career gaps. This publication helps these returning workers know what to do and what to expect when returning to the labor force can help ease the transition back to work. Part 1 offers tips on how to identify, and prepare for, your ideal job. Part 2 helps you get set for the workforce. Part 3 suggests ways to maintain work-life balance. In sidebars throughout the article, you’ll find suggestions for some special re-entry situations as well as lists of additional resources.
  Employment Interviewing: Seizing the Opportunity and the Job
This booklet gives useful advice on what to do before, during, and after a job interview to help you get that job. It also includes tips about job fairs.

Additional information and resources about resumes, interviewing and job-related education and training can be found at CareerOneStop’s Resumes + Interviews section.

Step 4: Start Your Job Search

Federal Government Jobs:

A useful publication for anyone seeking to apply for a Federal government job is “How to Get a Job in the Federal Government”. Read our previous blog post about this publication, entitled “Information about Getting a Federal Government Job”.

Once you are ready to apply, you can find all current Federal jobs openings on the Federal job site, USAJobs.gov.

Private Sector and State Government Jobs:

Information and resources about where and how to conduct your job hunt can be found at CareerOneStop’s Job Search section.

Step 5:  Research Typical Salary and Benefits

Hopefully, at this point you are receiving job offers and negotiating salary and benefits. These Federal publications can give you some ballpark figures of salaries for various occupations as well as unemployment laws in different states.

  National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2006
This Multimedia booklet and CD-ROM report on earnings for occupations common to a wide variety of establishments. Coverage includes office clerical, professional and technical, maintenance, custodial and material movement occupations.
  Occupational Employment and Wages, 2006
This guide provides occupational employment and wage data from across the United States.
  Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 2005
This Multimedia booklet and CD-ROM present 2005 employment and wages data as defined in the North American Industry Classification System. Data pertain to workers covered by State unemployment insurance laws and the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
  Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, 2005
This valuable publication provides state-by-state information on workers covered by unemployment insurance, benefit eligibility, methods of financing, and other areas of interest in the unemployment insurance program

More information and resources about salary and benefits can be found at CareerOneStop’s Salary + Benefits section and the Publications section of the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Other Federal Job Hunting Resources:

  • Occupational Outlook Quarterly – This periodical subscription service offered by the Government Printing Office is issued quarterly by the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics and provides current information on employment trends and outlook, supplementing and bringing up to date information in Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • CareerOneStop: The Labor Department has created an excellent website for American job seekers. Called CareerOneStop.org, this job hunting portal helps you find the information and resources you need about careers, training, educational financial aid, job banks and more.
    • It also has a Service Locator to help all job seekers and the unemployed find Federal, state and local employment resources in your area.
    • Veterans now can find job-hunting help at their Veterans ReEmployment initiatives section.

How Can I Obtain the Publications Mentioned in this Post?  

About the Author:  Michele Bartram is Promotions Manager for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales Division and is responsible for online and offline marketing of the US Government Online Bookstore (Bookstore.gpo.gov) and promoting Federal government content to the public.

7 Comments | Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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