Tech Tip: CONDUCT INDUSTRY RESEARCH

TECH TIP

CONDUCT INDUSTRY RESEARCH

In the world of business, anything older than six months is considered ancient. Today, information about industries and the companies that represent them is essential for anyone who wants to get a sense of how careers are trending, what the most innovative sectors are, which college majors are in or out, where the money is, and who’s hiring.

THE PROBLEM

You have no idea where to begin your industry research—all the options leave you dizzy.

THE FIX

Start with a tried-and-true comprehensive resource.

HOW TO DO IT

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STEPS TO DOING INDUSTRY RESEARCH

Step 1. Figure out what industries interest you:

  1. Visit O*NET OnLine (onetonline.org) and use the Find Occupations option at the top of the page to begin your search.
  2. Search occupations by keyword, or choose from the occupational categories:
    1. Career Cluster. These are occupations in the same field of work that require similar skills.
    2. Industry. These are broad groups of businesses or organizations with similar activities, products, or services.
    3. Job Zone. These zones group occupations into one of five categories based on required levels of education, experience, and training.
    4. Bright Outlook. These are occupations that are new and emerging, are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years.
    5. Green Economy Sector. These are occupations in fields related to environmental protection and sustainable energy.
    6. Job Families. These are groups of occupations based on skills, education, training, credentials, and work performed.
    7. STEM Disciplines. These are occupations that require education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Step 2. Continue your research to identify your desired role within your chosen industry.

Step 3. Identify companies or organizations of interest within a larger industry. The federal government, for example, has approximately 575 departments and agencies! With so many choices, your research will depend on your expectations and wants.

Step 4. Do research on each individual employer of interest. How well does the organization pay compared to others in the same industry? Does this employer require long hours or frequent travel? Set up an informational interview to talk to people who are already working within the organization.

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

Market Research marketresearch.com
Wall Street Journal executivelibrary.com/Research.asp
First Research firstresearch.com/Industry-Profiles.aspx
Market Watch marketwatch.com/tools/industry
Hoovers hoovers.com
Occupational Outlook Handbook bls.gov/ooh
Job.com job.com
Job Bank USA jobbankusa.com
USA Jobs usajobs.gov

GO ONE STEP FURTHER

Create an Online Profile on LinkedIn.com. Your online profile should be professional and include your résumé and only the information you’d like potential employers to know.