career resource manual - UC Davis / Internship and Career Center

How to Research Employers and JobsThe Internship/Job SearchResearch employers and jobs to discover:• Employer histories, missions, products, services,locations, profiles, cultures, expectations, financial status,salaries, benefits and retirement plans• Industry trends• Job titles, responsibilities and duties• Typical career paths in various industries• Location of entry-level jobs, minimum qualifications• Appropriate vocabulary to use in discussing specific jobsYou can approach your research from one or more of thefollowing directions. You can research:• a specific job title• a career industry/field• employment sectors• a specific employerYou can conduct two types of research: primary researchand secondary research. Primary research involves talkingdirectly with people in a specific occupation or people whowork for a specific employer.Secondary research involves gathering information from printmaterials (books, newspapers, directories, etc.) or websites.If you want to conduct primary research, consider one ofthe following two strategies:• Conduct informational interviews with people to learnmore about a job title, a career field, an employmentsector or an employer.• There’s no better way to conduct primary research on acareer or employer than by doing an internship. Researchinternships on Aggie Job Link at icc.ucdavis.edu; searchby keyword or job function. Talk to an ICC staff memberfor more information and learn how to receive transcriptnotation and/or academic credit for an internship.If you want to conduct secondary research, visit theICC Career Library in Room 215 South Hall, where you’ll findnumerous career resources to assist you, or utilize the internet.How can I research a specific job title?• Explore the Occupational Outlook Handbookbls.gov/ooh• Visit the O*NET Occupational Information Networkonline.onetcenter.org• For California-focused information, go tocacareerzone.orgHow can I research a specific industry or career field?• Attend employer information meetings on campus.• Meet employer representatives at career fairs & ICCevents.• Join a career-related, registered, student organization. Visitcsi.ucdavis.edu for a list of organizations.• Read newspapers specific to your geographic area ofinterest. (e.g., sfgate.com/jobs for the Bay Area)• Check out profession-specific organizations and theirlocal chapters.• Go to the following websites to conduct industry research:rileyguide.com weddles.com/associationswetfeet.comEmployment Sectors To Research:• business/the corporate world/the private/for profit sector• the nonprofit sector• local, state or federal government• educationHow can I find out about employment in the corporateworld?• Use Aggie Job Link to research employers that recruit andhire UC Davis students through On-Campus Recruiting.Also learn about employer info meetings and research thecompanies attending career fairs.• Read periodicals (e.g., Sacramento Business Journal, FortuneMagazine, Wall Street Journal, etc.).How can I join the Community Service Resource Center’sListserv?• Visit the Community Service Resource Center in South Hall.• Visit the following websites:- Nonprofit Resource Center in Sacramento:nprcenter.org (select Quick Links)- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network:ynpn.org- CA Association of Nonprofits:canonprofits.org- National website of Nonprofits: idealist.orgHow can I find out about employment in government?• Talk to government employers at career fairs.• Visit icc.ucdavis.edu/students/internships/InternshipsbyInterests.htm, search for Government.• Visit the following websites:- Federal Government: www.usajobs.gov- State of CA: www.jobs.ca.gov• Visit federal, state, and county agency websites to learnabout the agency’s purpose, job listings and requirements,exam information, the hiring process, etc.NOTE: Most career positions in state government require youto take a civil service examination and/or complete an oralinterview. You will achieve a numerical score on the examwhich will then determine your eligibility for positions as theybecome available. This examination process can be lengthy, butworthwhile if you want to pursue a career in government.How can I find out about employment in education?• Go to edjoin.org to search for jobs in schools, K-12.• Use Aggie Job Link to research school districts recruitingat UC Davis.8 University of California, Davis