There are several ways of career exploration. It’s often said that a job search is a full-time job, which is why it can be daunting to know what to do and when to do it. Or where to even start! Career exploration resources provide an easy-to-understand list of resources that can help you decide on a new or different career path, understand the skills you need for a particular job, or find career coaching when you need it.

Before diving in, know that Live Career has a plethora of resources to help you create two of the most significant documents you’ll need for a job search–a resume and cover letter. When you create your resume and cover letter, use resume templates and get things started right!

General Career Exploration and Guidance-related Resources

AARP Work & Jobs

A comprehensive directory of resources for jobseekers 50+, this site offers a search function to locate new work by title, job, or employer.

Access AARP’s work-related programs and resources, as well as expert advice on age discrimination, work-life balance, and unemployment.

Becomeopedia

A career exploration site that offers information on “how to become a ______” in hundreds of career fields, from the arts to the trades to careers in government. Include job descriptions, educational requirements, and salary information for a variety of different job titles.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Career Outlook

Career Outlook provides data and information on occupations, industries, pay, benefits, and more.

There are feature articles on a wide range of career topics as well as interviews with people in jobs that might be of interest to you.

Careers in Government

Careers in Government (CIG) connects qualified individuals with challenging and rewarding careers in government and the public sector. Allows job seekers to search for jobs by city, state, category, or employer.

Also offers career advice resources on interviewing, networking, resumes, cover letters and proper use of social media.

CareerLaunch

From the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, this very useful career and college site offer resources and links to help teens with self-assessment, summer job opportunities, college search, career development, and more.

Create a free account and download the Career Launch Facilitator Guide and Career Launch Toolkit for Clubs.

CareerOneStop

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site provides a one-stop-shop for career exploration, training, and job search.

Resources for career changers, entry-level workers, veterans, laid-off workers, and more.

CareerToolKit

Provides a free career test consisting of 53 questions that takes 15 minutes to complete. Results are determined by the skills, traits, interests, and values revealed by the test.

There are also career insights from real people already in various jobs, and valuable advice to help job seekers make the right decisions. Also included are links to the 25 best career coaches on the web.

CAREERS.org

According to the homepage: “CAREERS.org wants to be your go-to resource for job search and career advice.” We provide insights on jobs, careers, entrepreneurship, and online education and training.

Find in-depth profiles on hundreds of occupations, industries, and academic programs. “If it’s it’s about your career, it’s here!” Also from the homepage—the ability to search for jobs by keyword or location.

CheggCareerMatch: Job Prep

This section of the CheggCareerMatch site is aimed at recent college grads and those newly introduced to the world of job search.

Contains articles on how to get a job, how to network to find a job, and how to discover the right career path. You can also learn how to prepare for interviews.

EUREKA

Students using this tool can learn more about themselves, as well as explore careers and get career information. Features career assessments and a search system for finding colleges, universities, and trade schools that match your needs.

Test your knowledge with the True Colors assessment. A membership is required to access most of the resources.

MyPlan.com

“Career and college advice made simple.” Designed to help students (from middle school through college) and adults (of all ages, as well as career changers) plan more fulfilling lives by making well-informed choices about education and careers.

Access resources to help you decide which college to apply to, plus guidance on how to choose a major and plan for your career.

O*NET Online

More than 1,000 occupations are described in detail in this career exploration tool.

Developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration, it is a free resource for veterans.

Occupational Outlook Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook

Access in-depth information on a wide variety of occupation groups, from architecture and engineering to transportation and material moving (and everything in between).

Provides information on the nature of the industry, working conditions, employment, occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings and benefits, and employment outlook.