by edward gallo, graduate intern at the temple university career center
The Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, is a handy resource for multiple facets of career development. The professionals at O*NET have gathered data on over 1,000 occupations, giving you access to detailed descriptions about what it’s like to work in a variety of fields.
While O*NET has many features students can utilize, it can be especially helpful for career exploration, planning, and the job search process. Learn one way to navigate this valuable resource!
Career Exploration
O*NET has an adaptive search function, simply entering key words or sample job titles will result in a list of relevant careers. Here’s how to explore further:
On the home page, the “Advanced Search” function allows users to sort potential occupations by different criteria. While all of these selections are valuable, “Interests” are more generalizable and simple to conceptualize.
https://imgur.com/a/AIJiMXU
You will be brought to a page listing six different areas of vocational interest. These are the “Holland Codes”, or the “RIASEC” model. If you have not yet determined your top three vocational interests, use the link provided to access a brief questionnaire hosted by My Next Move.
https://imgur.com/a/kIh9VjK
After selecting one interest, you’ll be able to plug in the other two in order to generate a list of occupations most suited to your code. You can play with different amounts and combinations of interests to get new options.
https://imgur.com/a/G8t9Ujl
Careers are sorted by “Job Zone”. This is a reference to the amount of preparation needed to enter that field. Here’s how it breaks down:
Job Zone 1 – occupations that need little or no preparation
Job Zone 2 – occupations that need some preparation
Job Zone 3 – occupations that need medium preparation
Job Zone 4 – occupations that need considerable preparation
Job Zone 5 – occupations that need extensive preparation
These lists are a great way to explore and brainstorm career options. Feel free to use the other search criteria like Abilities, Knowledge, or Work Values to draw comparisons. O*NET’s biggest strength is the “Summary Report” for any given occupation.
https://imgur.com/a/3vQAB48
At first glance, a summary report will provide a brief description about the nature of that job. “Sample Job Titles” can be useful when it comes to the job search process, as well as for continued exploration.
If you’ve found a promising occupation, make sure to check out the education requirements. The “Knowledge” tab gives students an idea of what competencies they should be cultivating while working towards this career.
You can use the “Find Training” function to look at what majors are usually associated with this field.
https://imgur.com/a/TpayO5s
Job Search
If you’re passed the exploration process and ready to apply, or would just like to see examples for potential openings, the “Job Openings” section provides a fantastic job search tool.
https://imgur.com/a/pVGA216
The “Find Jobs” function will prompt you to search by state, or by specific zip code. You’ll end up with the most recent results provided by Career One Stop in your area. Usually the bulk of these listings are from the National Labor Service.
https://imgur.com/a/2k1ikJE
Under the “Job?” specifier, you’ll see a code. Through O*NET OnLine, you’re able to search all related careers at once, so your results will not be limited by specific key words in a job title. Cross-referenced with other popular job boards, these results are comprehensive.
Results can be further filtered by distance, city, company, and date posted. You’ll be redirected to active job postings where you can apply directly.
Prepping Application Materials
When it comes to writing a resume and cover letter for any position, you should be tailoring those materials to each specific position. This means identifying the tasks, skills and competencies described in the posting.
O*NET Summary Reports give great examples in terms of action verbs, tasks, knowledge, and skills.
https://imgur.com/a/WYMXRdb
When drafting descriptions in your experience section, you can use these examples as a model.
O*NET OnLine is just one of many resources utilized by Temple’s Career Center. Connect with us on for more articles, tips, and to learn about upcoming events! Use Handshake to make an appointment today!