3 Online Job Research Tools That Will Keep You Ahead Of The Curve

In a previous post, I defined Career Consciousness as the state of being awake and aware of one’s career and the surrounding influences that have an impact on it. I never apply to a job or accept an offer from a company without first doing my research. In today's world, who can afford not to? So to that point, I will dive deeper into some great career research tools that I have used many times and have come to really appreciate.

1. O*net Online

With its “Occupation Quick Search” feature you can research an occupation you want or already have. You can find out:

• Skills, education or credentials needed for the job - If these are skills and education that you possess, highlight them in your resume.
• Typical job tasks - helps you determine whether or not a job is meant for you before you apply. Also a great tool for updating the job experience portion of your resume. Because sometimes you know what you want to say but you may not know how to make it sound more important or professional.
• Wage and employment Trends by city or state - know the median wage or average salary before applying in your city, state or zip code area. Growth Projections will help you get a picture of how job opportunities in that field are expected to grow in upcoming years.

2. GlassDoor

GlassDoor is a great way to get information about the culture and vibe of the company and some of your potential coworkers before you apply or accept an interview. There you can find:

• Reviews from past and present employees - Keep in mind that disgruntled employees are much more likely to leave reviews then happy ones but it’s still worth taking into consideration. Personally, I’ve dodged quite a few bullets thanks to GlassDoor.
• Company responses to employee reviews - take note of whether or not the company replies to reviews; and if so how do they respond. You can gain a lot of insight about a company and their staff by simply reading their responses.
• Wages and Salary of past and Employees - Get a picture of what people in the company are making and how happy they are with their compensation.

3. PayScale

Get a salary report for any job before accepting a job offer, asking for a raise, or just to see if your current employer is paying you fairly. Helps you to know your worth and gives you the knowledge to ask for a fair wage. This salary range is based off several variables:

• Based off your employee profile - Education level, years of job experience, the city or state in which you are applying or searching in
• Other variables that may impact the salary range include company size.

Lastly, it also helps you to set goals for increasing your earning potential by showing you what you could earn after you have a few more years of experience or if you were to get a credential like a certification, license or degree.

The bottom line is simple. Career-conscious creatures take the time to research job market trends, average salary ranges, companies and potential employers. They consider not only whether they are a good fit for a company or job but whether it is a good fit for them. They know their worth, they demand it, and work hard to constantly increase it.

If you have any other career and salary resources, please share them in the comments below!