The following list represents several information areas that may be important to your occupation selection process.  

1. Nature of the work in the occupation.

   • Why does the occupation exist?  What needs does it serve?  Purpose of the occupation.
   • Job functions performed, major duties and responsibilities
   • Products made or services provided by this occupation
   • Specializations within the occupation.
      

2. Education, training, or experience needed for the occupation.

   • College courses required or helpful for preparation
   • Previous work experience needed to enter the occupation
   • Licensing, certification or other legal requirements for employment
   • Length of time and financial costs required to get the necessary training
   • On-the-job training provided by employers
      
3. Skills, abilities and personal characteristics required for occupation.
   • Abilities, skills or aptitudes a person should have to enter the occupation.
   • Personal interest a person should have (like to work with things, people, data, etc.)
   • Special qualities or temperament a person should have (can work under pressure, takes risks, can do repetitious tasks, etc)
   • Special requirements necessary or helpful (knowledge of foreign language, computer skills)
      
4. Earnings, salary range, benefits from a job in the occupation.
   • Money earned from work in the occupation--beginning, average and top earnings.  
   • Benefits typically offered (retirement plans/pensions, health insurance, vacations, paid education, on-the-job training)
      
5. Working Conditions in the occupation.
   • Physical working conditions (office, factory, inside/outside, noise level)
   • Work schedule (hours, time of day or night, overtime)
   • Opportunities for initiative, creativity, self-management, recognition.
   • Type of supervision or management associated with the occupation
   • Dress requirements or clothing preferences of employers
   • Travel requirements made necessary by the type of work in the occupation.
   • Physical hazards associated with the kind of work in the occupation.
   • Possible discriminatory practices experienced by workers in the occupations
      
6. Types of Employers that hire individuals in this occupation.
   • Type of work organizations in which this occupation is found (type of companies, institutions, agencies, businesses, industries that employ people in this occupation; opportunities for self-employment.
      
7. Employment and advancement outlook for the occupation.
   • Normal methods of entry into the occupation.
   • Employment trends for the occupation on the local, state and national levels.
   • Advancement or promotion opportunities in the occupation.
   • Average time it takes to become employed in the occupation after training or education has been completed.
   • Average time it takes to get a promotion or advance to a higher position.
   • Stability of employment in the occupation.
      
8. Your perception of the advantages/disadvantages of entering this occupation.
   • Values, expressed in or by the occupation (high income, achievement, security, independence, creativity, time for leisure or family, variety, helping others, recognition, prestige.)  Do most of the work values expressed by the occupation match your own values?
   • Positive features of the occupation:  What do you like about it? (uses skills that you possess, expresses values that are important to you.)
   • Negative features of the occupation:  What do you dislike about it?  What does the occupation have in it that you would rather avoid?
      
9. Related Occupations:  What other occupations are similar to this one?
    
10. Sources of your occupational information.
    • List the resources (individuals, printed materials, internet sites) that you used in gathering information on this occupation.
    • Where to obtain more information about this occupation