Polish your job application skills

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Job seekers, Librarians, Students, Uncategorized
CareerOneStop Toolkit Practice Job Application icon
CareerOneStop Toolkit Practice Job Application icon

Have you ever started filling out an online job application and dropped off partway through? Maybe you were at a kiosk at a major retailer. Or maybe you were at home working under a time limit. Either way, online job applications can be very frustrating.

A few years ago, CareerBuilder published a startling statistic: 60 percent of job seekers quit in the middle of filling out online job applications because of the length or complexity. For many applicants, the online forms can feel difficult, time consuming—some take 30 minutes or more—and discouraging, since most applicants don’t have quick access to all the information that applications request.

CareerOneStop’s new Practice Job Application can help make your next job application both easier and more effective, because of three key features:

  1. The Practice Job Application (PJA) asks for most of the same details requested by standard job applications, so you get realistic practice at describing your important information. PJA fields include your contact information, employment history, your preferences for work schedule, and more. Getting all these details written down will help you build confidence and skill at applying for jobs.
  2. The PJA also includes tips for how to respond to questions that can be tricky to answer especially when you are under a time limit. For example, there’s information on how to determine what to write in for your desired salary range, and what to know about answering a criminal history question, so your application answers will be more effective.
  3. The third, and possibly most important feature of the PJA is that you can download or print out your completed Practice Job Application form with all your answers. That will give you a hard copy of all the details that you will need next time you fill out a real job application, and that can be so frustrating to try to track down in the middle of applying for a job. This includes the names, dates, addresses, phone numbers, and other details about your work history, education and training, job references, and more.

It’s important to know that CareerOneStop does not save any of the personal information you enter. But you can print your completed Practice Job Application or you can save it to your computer or a thumb drive.

In addition to the Practice Job Application, CareerOneStop offers tips for filling out job applications.

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Workforce professionals: Skill up on using CareerOneStop!

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Librarians, Teachers, Uncategorized, Workforce Development Professionals
illustration of people building a job growth chart

If you are a workforce professional, you depend on a variety of resources to support the success of your students or customers. Ideally, CareerOneStop should be one of them.

CareerOneStop offers essential, easy-to-use tools built on authoritative data and information sources. To introduce workforce professionals to CareerOneStop, we developed a series of trainings and downloadable PowerPoints that demonstrate how to use our websites and tools to meet different needs.

CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, to serve the career, training, and job search needs of the public. Many of our biggest users are workforce professionals who:

  • help unemployed people find jobs
  • depend on using reliable information about their state’s job market
  • support students in exploring education and career options or searching for work
  • staff employment programs for people with barriers to employment
  • need specialized resources for veterans, justice-involved individuals, workers ages 55 and older, or young adults

Training options

For a quick overview of key resources to use with your students or customers, watch this video:  
CareerOneStop Overview Video for Workforce Professionals.

If you’re ready for more in-depth learning, explore one or more of these webinars, designed to help you provide virtual services using CareerOneStop. These may also be adapted for your in-person workshops and classes.

  • New Users of CareerOneStop
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, List of web pages used)
    This essential webinar is a great place to start. It will introduce you to the main content sections, tools, and resources CareerOneStop offers for your work with job seekers, students, businesses, and targeted audiences.
  • Career Assessment Toolkit
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT)
    Almost every career or employment program starts with career assessment. Learn how to use CareerOneStop’s assessment tools with students and adults who are exploring their career options. Features the Interest Assessment, Skills Matcher, Work Values Matcher, and mySkills myFuture for experienced workers.|
  • Change occupations or industries
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    As we continue to see a significant number of workers leave jobs to seek better working conditions, pay, or fit with their skills and goals, workforce professionals need flexible tools to help their customers explore and adapt. This overview offers tips and guidance to help experienced workers explore and research new occupations or industries and target their resumes and networking efforts in a new direction.
  • Develop new skills and knowledge
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    If you work with adults who want to develop new skills and knowledge, learn how to use CareerOneStop to help them find and pay for the education and training that will enhance and expand their career prospects.
  • Find immediate employment and apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    A step-by-step guide to use CareerOneStop tools and pages to help customers find short-term, immediate employment, and learn about benefits and other forms of assistance that may be available to them. The User Guide provides learning objectives and assignments for participants.
  • Job search for new college graduates
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    If you work with college students at any level, learn how to use CareerOneStop to help them explore their career options and build a solid job search plan.
  • Plan a career or job search with a criminal record, or transition from incarceration to employment.
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    Many workforce professionals have occasional students or customers who have a criminal record, while others may work directly with individuals transitioning from incarceration into the workforce. Learn how to use CareerOneStop to find valuable community resources, develop career and training plans, and conduct an effective job search for justice-involved customers.

Additional CareerOneStop resources

  • Review Outreach materials for CareerOneStop slideshow presentations and free materials you can order
  • Check out the COS Blog for posts on topics of interest
  • Visit our Web API page to learn how to link to us or customize our web tools for your own website

Visit CareerOneStop’s page for Career Advisors to see more resources.

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School counselor? Check out CareerOneStop’s free resources!

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors

This weekend CareerOneStop is excited to join thousands of school counseling professionals in Austin, Texas, for the American School Counselor Association Annual Conference.

Are you a school counselor looking for solid resources to help your students advance their career planning? Whether you plan to be at the ASCA conference or not, you’ll find lots of great resources on GetMyFuture, CareerOneStop’s website for young adults ages 16-24.

The site is free, mobile friendly, and full of resources for youth and the intermediaries who work with them on career, education, and employment goals. Key features for school counselors include:

  • A Youth Program Finder to locate employment programs that serve young adults in any U.S. area.
  • A quick 30-question Interest assessment, based on the Holland code system (RIASEC), that provides immediate results linking students to detailed career information.
  • Free occupation profiles with key points about employment demand and wages in your local area, education required, tasks, a career video, and more.
  • A quick overview of college: basic facts, how to apply, how to pay.
  • A Scholarship Finder, letting students easily search more than 7,500 scholarships, fellowships and grants.
  • Apprenticeship and short-term training resources for students who want good alternatives to a 4-year degree.
  • Job search and work readiness content, including first jobs information, work documents, preparing resumes and applications.
  • Success stories for youth and young adults with significant obstacles to success.
  • Justice-involved resources.
  • Foster-care system resources.
  • Additional resources for special groups such as young parents, youth with chemical addictions, and those seeking financial literacy.
  • A User Guide for counselors and teachers, with worksheets to download or print, step-by-step pathways through the major content sections, and quick access to videos.

Will you be in Austin at the ASCA conference July 9-12? Stop by Booth 1018 to visit CareerOneStop. We’d love to show you our free resources, hear about your work, and ask you what other resources you’d like see from us! CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

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Military spouse? Find career and job search help here

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized

Married to a military service member? Learn about a variety of helpful resources for military spouses to find employment, education, and training resources, along with other benefits and assistance.

U.S. Department of Labor Resources

CareerOneStop
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop offers resources for career exploration, education and training, job search, and finder tools for local employment help.

  • Take career assessments to better understand your interests, skills, work values and priorities for a good job fit.
  • Find education and training information and options, search for scholarships and other ways to pay for training.
  • Search for jobs anywhere in the U.S. on the Job Finder, with thousands of postings updated daily, from authenticated sources. It includes a remote jobs filter to identify jobs with hybrid or full-time remote work locations.

American Job Centers
Nearly 2,400 AJCs nationwide help people search for jobs, find training, and answer other employment related questions. Services include career consultations, job search help, job search support groups and networking groups, resume and interview workshops, computer access, and more.

If you’re a military spouse who lost your job or are underemployed due to your spouse’s relocation, you may be eligible for dislocated worker funding; ask a representative at your local American Job Center.

Military One Source

Military OneSource offers Employment Resources for Military Spouses, Training and Support, Moving Resources and much more. Some of their special programs for military spouses are detailed below.  

  • Military Spouse Interstate License Recognition Options
    It is the U.S. Department of Labor policy to reduce employment barriers and enhance career opportunities for military spouses. Generally speaking, licenses are state-specific and each state has their own licensing requirements. That doesn’t mean you’ll have to start the education and licensing process from scratch. Some states offer “license reciprocity” which means that if you already hold an active license in one U.S. state, you can apply for a license in your new state without taking all of the state-required pre-licensing courses. Find out whether your license may be recognized in different states.
  • TEAMS
    Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses and Caregivers is a series of Department of Labor employment workshops that extend the Transition Assistance Program to assist military spouses and caregivers as they plan and prepare for their job search. All TEAMS workshops are instructor-led virtual training, provided at a variety of times, to meet the needs of individuals stationed throughout the world.
  • Military Spouse Employment Partnership Career Center.
    This is an employment and career partnership, connecting military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. MSEP currently has more than 540 partners, who have hired over 220,000 military spouses.
  • MySECO
    The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program provides education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide and offers comprehensive resources and tools for all stages of your career progression. You can learn about different occupations you may be considering, locate training programs in your area, search for education scholarships, and find job openings in your field. They offer an online career coaching service as well.
  • MyCAA Scholarship
    The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance of an occupational license, certification, or associate’s degree needed to gain employment in an occupation.

How to discuss your disability in a job interview

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Workers with disabilities

Wondering if, when, or how to disclose your disability in a job interview?

Bringing up a disability in a job interview requires thought and planning. You may feel uncertain about disclosing your disability at all. But ultimately, it’s up to you to decide the time, the setting, and the degree of information to share.

Are you required to tell an employer about your disability?

No. Disclosure of a disability is not required. But job candidates should be aware that once disclosure of a disability or an accommodation request is made, employers may ask the employee about the limitations related to the job and are permitted to make medical inquiries.

When is the best time to disclose a disability?

If you have a visible disability, you may want to anticipate the concerns of the employer. Consider taking charge during the first interview to talk about your disability and how you would handle any impact on the job. You may want to describe any accommodation you use, how it helps your performance, or demonstrate how you would perform difficult functions.

What should I say?

Many experts suggest disclosing before a job offer in order to communicate self-confidence and refocus the employer’s attention on your ability to do the job. Some people with non-visible disabilities may choose not to disclose their disability at all.

Share examples of the strategies you use to do your work. For example, a candidate with low vision might say: “In my previous work, I was responsible for maintaining our inventory. I created a labeling system with a good color contrast that I could see easily. It turns out that this was a benefit for others as well.”

Let the interviewer know that you would be glad to answer any questions they might have about how you would do your work and the accommodations you use. Being open and direct about your disability will help put the interviewer at ease, which is a critical factor in whether you receive a call for a second interview.

Get more ideas on disclosing a disability from the Job Accommodation Network, or see the 411 on disability disclosure workbook, developed by TransCen, Inc. for the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth. It was written with young people in mind but is an excellent resource for all ages.

Want more tips and resources for navigating employment with a disability?

Visit CareerOneStop’s Resources for workers with disabilities.

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Tips for employers looking to hire foreign workers

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers
Two people of diverse backgrounds working together

Foreign workers can make a vital contribution to your workforce. But there are specific rules and requirements for U.S. employers hiring workers from other countries.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s s Foreign Labor Certification Program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary or permanent basis to fill jobs essential to the U.S. economy. It’s designed to ensure that admitting foreign workers into the U.S. will not adversely affect the job opportunities, wages, and working conditions of U.S. workers.

Employers must be able to demonstrate that there are insufficient qualified U.S. workers available and willing to perform the work at the local prevailing wage. You can file a prevailing wage request with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor certification process

To hire a foreign worker, you must apply for certification directly from the U.S. Department of Labor. This process includes several steps. Employers must:

  1. Identify the need to hire a foreign worker to fill a job vacancy.
  2. Determine that the vacancy meets the criteria of the selected foreign labor certification program.
  3. Complete the appropriate ETA form.
  4. Ensure that the candidate will be paid at least the prevailing wage rate.
  5. Sign the ETA form, attesting that all required compliances will be met.
  6. Mail the completed form and all attachments to the designated office.

Foreign worker status for certification

Foreign workers may be hired as permanent or temporary employees, and for positions ranging from agricultural work (H2A) and those requiring specialized training (H2B) to professional occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher (H1B).

The status you apply under will depend on occupational requirements of the job, such as education and experience. Follow a link below for more information:

Applications for permanent employees
Applications for temporary H1-B employees
Applications for temporary H2-A agricultural workers
Applications for temporary H2-B non-agricultural workers

All applications require a federal employer identification number (FEIN) to apply under any status. Businesses that apply may track their application process online and find answers to frequently asked questions. For assistance with your application, contact your local Office of Foreign Worker Certification.

Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) provides guidance for employers on many topics related to employment practices. Learn more at OSC’s Employer Information. You may also sign up for OSC Webinars for employers and human resources representatives.

Have more questions about recruiting and hiring?

Visit CareerOneStop’s Business Center.

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Summer jobs for teens

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Parents, Students, Uncategorized, Youth
Girls working in a community garden
Two young female students working in a community garden

Are you a teenager looking for work? This could be your lucky summer! There are many job openings in a wide variety of fields, and employers are motivated to fill jobs to maximize summer business – some are even paying higher wages that before the pandemic.

Some of the traditional types of summer jobs are most in need of workers, such as summer camp counselors, restaurant and cafe workers, lifeguards and other outdoor recreation staff, and retail workers – cashiers and salespeople.

Read on for more ideas about how to find job openings, how to apply and interview for jobs, and whether a youth employment program could help you.

Where can you find job openings?

Try these ideas for finding openings. If you won’t have access to a car to get to work, focus on the businesses and shopping areas that are within walking or biking distance of your home, or that are close to public transit lines.

  • Ask at your school and and local neighborhood centers if they keep lists of job openings.
  • Look for Help Wanted signs in your neighborhood and where you go shopping or eat out. If you see one at a place you’d like to work, walk in and ask to complete a job application.
  • Ask your family and friends if they know of companies that are hiring, or if there are more job openings where they work. If they give you an idea, follow up with a call or e-mail to ask about job openings, or stop in to fill out a job application.
  • Go to the Job Finder to search for job openings, include terms like “teen” or “summer” to narrow the list of openings.

Job application tips

  • Most jobs will require a job application form. Be sure to keep it accurate and neat. Put all your information together so you can quickly fill out job applications. More information on job applications.
  • For internships, you might need a one-page resume. A resume includes your name, home address, phone number and email address; any jobs you’ve had; volunteer experience and your school history. More information on resumes.
  • Create a list of work references who can confirm that you are reliable. Usually job applications ask for 1-3 references, and most young workers use teachers, coaches, or people you have volunteered or worked for. Important: Be sure to ask them before you list them as a reference. You will need their full name, email address, and phone number.
  • Most employers will require you to prove you have the right to work; learn about the basic work documents you may need to get hired.
  • Put in a lot of job applications, because even though employers need workers it’s still common to not hear back from applications or to get turned down. Look at this as part of the process; keep putting in applications and eventually, you will be very likely to get hired.
  • Employment laws are different for workers under age 16, so be sure to ask before you apply for a job if the employer hires people your age.

Job interviews

  • If you get a job interview, learn about the business and its products or services so you are ready to ask questions and show your motivation. Look up the company’s website online and make a note of a couple interesting facts.
  • In any interview, let the employer know that they can depend on you, that you have a way to get to work consistently, that you will show up to work on time every day ready to work, and that you are eager to learn.
  • If you have a choice of job opportunities, here are some things to consider in deciding which to take: the chance to learn skills or knowledge, the work environment and how well it matches you, the job’s value for your future goals – does it relate to a career you want to work in, or would it add to your college applications? Is one more convenient or does it have a better work schedule or pay?

Youth employment programs

Youth employment programs offer help with getting summer jobs and other work experience. Some programs are located in American Job Centers, and some are independent community programs. Find youth employment programs near you, and call, email, or stop in to ask about their summer programs and who is eligible.

  • Many offer services to anybody age 14 to 24, while others focus just on people whose family meets certain income limits, or who have a criminal record, or other challenges.
  • Youth employment programs may offer one type of job, such as planting trees or maintaining community gardens, or offer a variety of jobs, such as child care, assisting in a summer children’s program, IT and other office jobs, baking, and more.
  • Many youth employment programs include skill building, mentoring and supports for success in the workplace.
  • Some take applications in advance, while others may have openings throughout the summer.

Learn more about teen employment on GetMyFuture.

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Launching a career in organic farming

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in career explorers
Professional gardner building plant irrigation system for garden

Have an interest in organic farming and wondering if you can make a career out of it?  The answer is yes, you can, but you may have to follow an unusual career path.

The overall employment prospects for farming are not particularly rosy: the number of people making their living as farmers, ranchers, or agricultural managers is expected to decline over the next ten years. But specialty farming such as organic farming is one bright spot, as demand for specialty farm goods and organic produce continues to rise. Organic farmers raise crops using sustainable techniques such as composting, and they use natural, chemical-free post control and fertilizers.

How to get started

If your goal is to own or run an organic farm, there are several ways to get started and gain experience. You’ll want to become familiar with organic farming techniques and processes, and you’ll want to learn if you’re really cut out for a job where you’ll likely be working outside year-round—often with seven-day work weeks. You can look for a job as a helper on a farm or at an organic nursery or other business that uses organic growing practices. You’ll want to gain knowledge about those practices as well as experience in weeding, tilling, planting, harvesting, and other organic farming skills.  

What qualifications to earn

There aren’t formal education requirements to be an organic farmer, but you’ll gain a competitive advantage—and extra skills and knowledge—by earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a field such as Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture or Agricultural Business Operations. You can consider taking classes or earning a degree while working part-time at a farm or nursery.

You can also earn a certification in sustainable agriculture.  (Once you have your own farm or sell your own products, you’ll need to have an organic certification from the USDA if you sell more than $5,000 worth of organic products per year. Without this certification, you can’t label your products as organic.)

Running a business

When you get to the point of owning or leasing your own land to farm organically, you’ve become a business owner. Like any business owner, you’ll be thinking about marketing your goods and sustaining or expanding your volume. Many organic farmers develop one-on-one relationships with local restaurants or stores where they can sell their products. Others start or join a joint CSA (community supported agriculture) program to sell directly to consumers. You can find resources to help you run your business at a Small Business Development Center.

Happy farming!

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Explore a career: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs)

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized
African female EMT next to ambulance

Ever wonder what it feels like to be an EMT? Imagine driving with sirens blaring, your adrenaline running as you rush to the scene of an accident, preparing to take action to save the life of an injured person.

Emergency Medical Technicians, known as EMTs, are trained to handle just this kind of scenario, as well as non-emergency activities such as transferring a stable patient between health care facilities. Learn about the day-to-day work of an EMT, typical pay and job outlook, and the training needed to start in the field.   

What do EMTs do?

  • EMTs respond to 911 emergency calls and, when they arrive at the caller’s location, they assess their injuries and illnesses. They perform basic emergency medical care, such as administering CPR, stabilizing a trauma victim, or dressing a wound. Once the EMT secures an individual in the vehicle, they transport the patient to a medical facility.
  • Most paramedics and EMTs work for ambulance services, local government, fire departments, and hospitals. Some paramedics serve on rescue crews based on helicopters or airplanes.
  • EMT work is very physical and requires strength and stamina. To treat patients in various circumstances, they bend, kneel, and lift or move people to better position them or extract them from dangerous conditions.
  • Risks are inherent in this line of work. EMTs and paramedics may be exposed to contagious diseases and be called in to high-risk situations. They may need to treat combative individuals who don’t want treatment.
  • Work schedules are often 12- or 24-hour shifts, including overnights and weekends.

Watch a career video about EMTs.

Job outlook, openings, and wages for EMTs

There is strong demand for EMTs. Nationally, job openings are expected to grow much faster than average. According to the most recent figures, there are more than 260,000 EMTs employed in the U.S, with 20,700 annual job openings projected for the next several years. In some rural communities, ambulances are staffed by volunteers.

Nationally, annual salaries range from $24,650 for more entry-level positions to $62,150 and above for more experienced EMTs.

Training and education for a career as an EMT

To qualify for a career as an EMT in most states requires a postsecondary certificate, earned from a community or technical college. Training includes theoretical and practical coursework that prepares students to pass their state’s licensure exam. Programs vary in length from approximately 6 months up to 2 years.

Find training programs that can prepare you to become an EMT.

States vary in what tasks they allow EMTs to perform. Typically, positions do not require previous work experience. A professional license is required by many states to work as an EMT. Look up your state licensure requirements.

Professional certifications can help you qualify for an EMT position or enhance your qualifications; those sponsored by the American Red Cross, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians are frequently mentioned on job postings for EMTs.

Learn more about Emergency Medical Technicians. Or explore other careers in the Health Science career cluster.

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Job change? Make it a brighter future

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Change Word on Wood Blocks
Change Word on Wood Blocks

The last couple of years have been turbulent for the job market. Many workers have left jobs and many employers are looking for workers. That makes this an especially good time to consider the major reasons people leave their jobs, and how they can help make sure the next opportunity truly offers a brighter future.

Three of the reasons for a job change often rise to the top. Let’s make this personal. Are you:

  1. Looking for more pay or better benefits from a different job or career choice?
  2. Hoping to work in a different location that better meets your lifestyle goals?
  3. Seeking a job or workplace culture that provides greater meaning and purpose?

If you hope to make a job change for any of these reasons, it can help to do some research and gather information to test out your ideas. Let’s dive into some of the great tools on CareerOneStop that can help support your quest!

1.   You want to earn more pay or better benefits from a different job or career choice

  • Salary Finder: Use this tool to find salary information for more than 900 different occupations. To start, either search for an occupation or keyword, and enter a location. You will see the national and local salary information based on your entered location – ZIP code, city and state, or state.

    You can use this information to learn the typical salary range for your field, or other fields you are considering. This is helpful for choosing a career, targeting a specific location for your job search, and for salary negotiation.
  • Compare Salaries: Compare Salaries lets you compare how much you might earn in different careers.  You can choose up to five different occupations to compare average salaries in the same location. This tool also allows you to select up to five different locations so it may also be used to research new locations for “reasons to leave a job” #2 below.  

    You can use this information to see how different careers you’re considering measure up on pay. We use the median yearly salary figure (median means that half of the people working in that career earn less that this figure, and half earn more).
  • Highest Paying Careers: View the list of the highest-paying careers in any state. Data is the most recently available, authoritative data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can filter the list to show highest paying careers by level of education.

    You can use this list to consider different careers that may pay a higher salary than you currently earn. Select your current education level in the filter titled “typical education” and the list will narrow to show the occupations that require your same education level that pay the highest salary.

2.    You want to work in a different location that will better meet your lifestyle goals

  • Compare Cost of Living: This tool helps you understand how much more or less it might cost to live in a different location. When you enter your current location and salary (or hourly wage), the tool will show you the salary or wage amount that would pay for a similar lifestyle in any new location you enter.

    You can use this information to estimate the salary you may want to aim for if you relocate and help determine if you can afford a new location. For example: Let’s say you live in Wichita, KS and earn $40,000 per year. Given the difference in cost of living, to earn a comparable amount in Los Angeles would require a salary of $60,100. Or if you moved to Bozeman, MT, you’d need to earn about $43,100.
  • Largest Employers: Check out the companies that employ the highest number of people in any state. Just choose a state to search, and you’ll see the 150 largest employers in that state.

    You can use this information to target your job search to large employers in the state you are moving to. Links take you to a business detail page that lists business website, phone number and address, key contact person and more.
  • Compare Employment Trends by Occupation: Learn how many people in your field are employed in every state. Also find whether your occupation is expected to grow or shrink in every state, and by how much.

    You can use this information to see how robust the job market may look for your occupation in any state you consider moving to.

3.   You’d like to find a job or workplace culture that provides greater meaning and purpose

  • Work Values Matcher: The Work Values Matcher is a quick card-sort exercise that asks you to rank statements to define your ideal job. Your choices indicate your top work values, such as career advancement, or working independently.

    Knowing your work values can help you choose a career that matches your values and identify employers that offer a workplace culture with similar values to your own.

    Use this tool to learn how to recognize a workplace culture or employer that reflects your own values. You’ll find sample questions to ask in informational interviews or job interviews to get at what the company culture and values are all about.
  • Research employers: Research is a critical part of the job search process. This page has tips and questions to guide you in employer research, including where to find information.

    You can use these tips and questions to identify companies that may be hiring in your field; learn about potential growth of businesses and industries; understand how you can apply your skills in a new field; learn about their workplace culture; and prepare you for a job interview. They will also help you focus your job search on employers that share your values.

Ready to start looking for jobs? Search for job openings on the Job Finder.