The increasingly available amounts of information in this information
era can really put pressure on consumers to find out everything there
is to know before making decisions and taking action. On the job, for
health decisions, for large and small purchases, for educational/training
choices and career choices - the information seems to be never ending
and, undoubtedly, daunting to those who want to be thorough.
Developing the ability to think critically is integral to researching
if the researcher is to use time effectively, focus only on what is
needed, weed out irrelevant information, choose the information to compare
or consider, and make an action list that is feasible. Critical thinking
includes defining, gathering, organizing, analyzing, evaluating, deciding
on, acting on and re-evaluating results. The ability to investigate
critically is a tool that will be used many times during a person's
career and the more entrenched it is into a person's repertoire, the
more automatically this tool will resurface when needed.
For example, how would critical thinking apply to the following piece
of labour market information: a graph that demonstrates job gains for
workers with post-secondary education? Critical thinking would spark
the recognition that numbers alone do not tell the whole story, and
researchers would ask themselves what the numbers do not say
Was the job obtained directly related to the field of study of the
worker?
Was the worker overqualified for the job?
Was the work part-time when full-time work was sought?
Figure 17: Career Development Context Diagram
The possible answers to these questions reinforce the responsibility
of the worker to investigate further than a numerical chart in a newspaper
or a sound bite on the news.
Different types of career needs require different types of research
methods. Often, researchers, especially students, fail to perceive the
difference between the need to expand career options and the need to
narrow career options. The results of heading down one research path
when the other is needed can discourage the most eager researcher.
In an expanding type of research, clients or students might try to
broaden the scope of their interest from doctor to nurse practitioner,
paramedic, laboratory researcher, medical office designer, medical software
designer or medical illustrator. In a narrowing type of research, clients
or students drill down to find out where they might work as biochemical
laboratory researchers (hospital, university, food manufacturing company,
paint chemical company, pharmaceutical corporation or small, brand new
perfume company). What skill sets and training will best get them into
an environment they will thrive in (small, large, national, international,
informal, structured, stable, fast expanding). Knowing which resources
are best suited to which types of information and how to use them for
specific research purposes will be a valuable asset to career seekers.
Making clients and students aware of how labour market changes influence
how and what to research can save them time and energy. For example,
one tip that has developed because of the rapid changes in the labour
market is based in the observation that occupations - or the work roles
that are attached to many occupational titles - evolve quickly and may
even disappear. Industries, or fields of work, are more stable and are
unlikely to disappear. This means career researchers could find it more
beneficial to research various sets of skills that can be used for movement
within an industry than to focus only on one specific set of occupational
duties (Redekopp, 1997). For example, what other sets of skills could
benefit a shingle layer in a small roofing company? Producing job estimates,
use of financial spreadsheets, use of a computer-aided design program
for adding solariums to existing roofs are all valuable auxiliary skills
that allow such a worker flexibility in difficult times.
Some important issues to research to enhance career choices are listed
below.
Research companies nationally and internationally - their missions,
products, services, strengths and weaknesses, wages, benefits - and
work conditions because the information is available and can be used
competitively, and because the more information, the better the employment
match.
Research occupational associations because loyalty could well be
to an occupational group or industry rather than one company.
Research geographical locations because it is a very mobile work
force.
Research skills evolutions in an occupation because technology is
changing requirements so fast.
Research competitors because the information is there, and adjustments
can be made quickly to keep up or surpass.
Research customer needs because they expect it and knowledge of
those needs can give a competitive edge to business.
Given the competitiveness of today's labour market and the need to
sell one's skills on a regular basis, a higher motivational level
to be in the work force seems to be needed. That is why thorough research
to discover the best occupation, industry and skills information is
crucial. A client who discovers what he or she really wants and is good
at and figures out how to balance this with the needs of the labour
market will have more success finding relevant, fulfilling work.
