Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Gerald Moore/Workforce Development Team

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Are you a first-time job seeker?  Are you a worker who is considering a career change? Have you thought about the type of work you would like to do? If any of these questions apply to you, you should think about your skills and interests and how you can assess these areas to help you in your job searching.  Whether you are looking for employment for the first time or you are someone looking to find work in a different area, you need detailed knowledge about what the work entails.  At the same time, you need to be aware of your own skills and interests to ask yourself if you are suited for the work in the career path you are considering.

Research is critical to your job seeking success. We recommend the following skills and interest assessment tools to aid you in answering the questions, “What do I like to do?” and “What would I be good at?”:

Fergusons Career Guidance Center is an award-winning reference database for lifelong career exploration and planning. It offers a wealth of resources for users to assess their career goals and interests, plan their education, learn workplace skills, find apprenticeships and internships, conduct a job search, and much more.  It provides users with clean, fast access to core content; a fully responsive design; a seamless multimedia experience; unparalleled, up-to-date information; proprietary directories of apprenticeships and internships; and financial aid and school search databases.

CCPL library card holders have free access to this database.

Another useful assessment tool which is also interactive is the popular online resource  O*Net Interest Profiler (Occupational Information Network) which is part of the My Next Move website.  Developed under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor, this tool helps you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can find out what you like to do. The O*NET Interest Profiler also helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore.

Once you have determined the kind of work best suited to your level of skills and your interests, you want to find out as much information as you can about the career you are interested in.

You can use the Fergusons Career Guidance Center to find that information.  Additionally, you can use your CCPL library card to access LinkedIn for Learning.  This resource offers tutorials and comprehensive online courses on a wealth of topics from different subject areas.  If you are looking for skills and interest assessment courses, here is a sampling of the courses (listed by title) offered in LinkedIn for Learning:

  • Create Your Own Dream Career: A Transformative Guide for Women
  • Managing Your Career as an Introvert
  • Making a Career Change
  • Switching Your Career
  • Leveraging Your Transferable Skills to Drive Your Career
  • Preparing for a Career Transition Over 50

Inform yourself further by exploring companies in your field of interest.  CCPL Library cardholders have free access to informative company profile databases such as Business Insights: Essentials & Reference Solutions. 

Doing the research beforehand gives you a competitive edge.  In interviews, employers will usually ask the question, “Do you have any questions for us?”

Reference our blog On Interviewing: What to Say When You are Asked, "Do You Have Any Questions for Us?") to learn how you can use the information you have retrieved from the company research you have done.  It will enable you to leave a good, lasting impression with the perspective employer.

With a little bit of practice and self-patience, you will be ready to take on the next steps in your future career.  If you would like more information about how to apply for jobs online, assistance in finding resources, tips on how to get the job-hunting process started or more, please reach out to us at CCPL by email, chat, or text. Remember, you are not alone.