Updated February 06, 2011
Need some career advice? The Department of Labor's 'My Next Move' web site is an online career advice tool for all categories of jobseekers. Whether you already know the type of job you want, will know it when you see it, or have no idea at all, 'My Next Move' might have exactly the career advice you need.Created by the Education and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (DOL), 'My Next Move' offers jobseekers career advice and information on more than 900 occupations, as well as local job openings and training opportunities in what the ETA calls a "simple, user-friendly format."
Getting Career Advice at 'My Next Move'
Similar to the US Government Job Finder, which finds actual job openings, the DOL's 'My Next Move' web site allows jobseekers to match their interests and experience with suitable occupations. Through their answers to 60 questions, jobseekers create a profile used by My Next Move to match them to the most appropriate potential occupations. Since 2001, the department's Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, has used a 180-question version of the profiler that could be printed out or downloaded to a personal computer. The new, 60-question streamlined version is available online for the first time as part of 'My Next Move.'
Jobseekers can also search for jobs in three categories: careers with a "bright outlook" in growing industries, jobs that are part of the "green" economy and occupations that have a Registered Apprenticeship program.
For each potential occupation selected by the 'My Next Move' profiler, jobseekers can view a concise summary, including information about what knowledge, skills and abilities are needed; the occupation's outlook; the level of education required; technologies used within the occupation; and other, similar jobs. In addition, each occupation page includes direct links to local salary information, training opportunities and relevant job openings.
Who Should Use the 'My Next Move' Web Tool?
While the DOL designed 'My Next Move' to help all sorts of jobseekers, it may be most useful to students, young adults and others looking to match their interests and education to their first job. For people with previous work experience, the DOL offers the 'mySkills myFuture' web site, designed to help them match their existing job skills and experience to new occupations.
"By leveraging technology in a user-friendly tool, My Next Move will help those seeking career guidance learn more about work opportunities in fields that are of interest to them and that are likely to have job openings today and well into the future," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis in announcing the launch of the 'My Next Move' web site.
