This document outlines a 5-step process for exploring labor market options and determining one's next career move. The steps include: 1) assessing your skills and determining if additional training is needed; 2) identifying your salary needs, retraining options, job requirements; 3) researching occupations using online tools to understand wages, trends, and requirements; 4) making a list of potential occupations; and 5) narrowing options by searching for employers, researching companies, and conducting informational interviews.

1. What’s My Next Move?
Exploring the Labor Market
5- Step Process:
1. Know Yourself / Where Are You Now?
Skills Assessments—find out about specific occupations that are a good match for
your unique blend of skills. Decide whether you need more training or experience in
an area. Some suggested sites:
a. Jobfit at www.jobfit.com/worksource
b. My Next Move Interest Profiler at www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
2. Identify Your Needs
a. Salary levels – TheCalculator.org
b. Retraining
c. Demand / job requirements
d. Other needs (commute, work hours, etc)
3. Research the Labor Market
a. O*Net Online at www.onetonline.org
i. Occupation classification information
ii. Tasks
iii. Education requirements
iv. Related occupations
v. Wages and employment trends
b. Career Onestop at www.careeronestop.org
i. Wages and employment trends by occupation and local area
c. ESD Employment and Economic Information Pages at
www.wilma.org/wdclists
d. Job Listings at go2worksource.com, indeed.com and others
e. Training Provider information at www.careerbridge.wa.gov
i. In Demand job lists
ii. Training provider information / ETP
f. Training Funding information and application materials at
www.workforce-central.org/GeneralOrientation
4. Make a list of possible occupations
5. Narrow the Results
a. Search for Employers via www.Go2WorkSource.com
b. Employer research – Dunn & Bradstreet, LinkedIn,
employer websites
c. Informational interviewing – corporate culture?