Job Searchers
Learning About Careers
Explore different careers to determine what matches your talents and interests.
Quicklinks: Exploring Careers | Self-Assessment Tests | Career Test Preparation | Volunteering
Exploring Careers
The Top 100: The Fastest-Growing Careers for the 21st Century
Search in the Library:
Materials on Careers »
Materials on Changing Careers »
The Library also has career guides for specific fields, such as:
Career Information »
(Illinois Department of Employment Security)
Portal to several websites with comprehensive Illinois data for career planning, wage information, unemployment statistics, summer job programs, green jobs and more.
Career Information Center »
Descriptions of more than 700 careers, including salary information, employment outlook, education and training requirements, and more. Career Information Center is available on any Chicago Public Library computer and on other computers using your Chicago Public Library card.
Occupation Information »
(CareerOneStop)
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Occupational Outlook Handbook »
This guide outlines training and educational requirements, average earnings, employment outlook, job duties and work conditions for hundreds of careers. From the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Research Career Types »
(O*NET)
Occupations in the same field require similar skills. Use career clusters to help focus education planning toward obtaining the necessary knowledge, competencies and training for success in a particular career pathway. For example, the Educational and Training career cluster would include computer teachers, English teachers, teacher assistants and vocational education teachers. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.
Self-Assessment Tests
Online self-assessment tools may help you determine what careers you would enjoy.
Career Coach »
(Women Employed)
Explore and plan careers.
Online Career Assessment Review for Job Seekers »
(Quintessential Careers)
This resource gives a short description of a number of online assessment tools, including any costs. It is important to remember that results provide only general guidelines. You may want to consider the assistance of a career coach to interpret the results.
Skills and Interests »
(Illinois workNet)
Identify your skills and interests.
Career Test Preparation
Certain careers, including those in civil service, cosmetology, plumbing and real estate, may require licenses and/or certifications.
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant Exam Cram
Whitenton, Linda
Search in the Library:
Volunteering
Keep your skills up-to-date, learn a new skill or explore a new career while volunteering your time.
Serve.gov »
A resource for finding volunteer opportunities and creating volunteer projects.
Volunteer Match »
Find volunteer opportunities by ZIP code.