Career research
What course should I do? Which accountants have offices in Manchester? Which companies should I apply to? Can I study in Thailand? Where can I find jobs advertised?
The answer is not always obvious and will require you to find out the information for yourself. If you are lucky there may be a directory or website that has already answered your question or made the list for you.
Here are some suggestions for places to start your research and some points to consider to help you evaluate your sources.
A few research tips before you start!
Try to use a number of different sources for your careers research. If one source contradicts another over a factual issue, such as the closing date for a job, try to contact the most reliable source that you can.
Using search engines
Search engines e.g. google are simple, quick ways to find information. The tricky part is working out which sites are going to be most relevant.
- Search terms - Think carefully about key words that might describe what you are looking for and help narrow your search.
- Location - If you specifically want information for the UK, click on UK sites only. This filters out many non-UK sites (although some may still slip through, so look carefully at any information to make sure it is relevant).
- Google tutorials - improve the efficiency of your Google searches by trying a tutorial or checking the cheat sheet of search techniques.
How reliable is the information?
Think about who provided the information - are they in a position to know what they are talking about? Wikis, blogs and forums are great but you have no way of knowing if the information is factually correct.
How up-to-date is the information? Check the dates on publications (and websites where possible), when were they written?
Who is the intended audience? A fantastic website about your dream career may only be of limited use if it is talking about the career in the USA, and you want to work in the UK.
Bias - consider the source and any possible agenda the writer/speaker will have. This does not mean that biased information is useless, or that their agenda may not be compatible with yours - just that you need to be careful about how much of what they say to believe.
- Use various sources to get different points of view.
- Be cautious about marketing-speak. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
The Careers Service is impartial and we do NOT promote any employer or course provider over any other, but try to assist you to find what is best for you.
You can also use the online careers library to find out what information we have in our Careers Resource Centre that may be appropriate for you.