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Career Exploration:
Career Exploration

Your Evolving Identity

 

“Identities change in practice, as we start doing new things (crafting experiments), interacting with different people (shifting connections), and reinterpreting our own life stories through the lens of the emerging possibilities (making sense).”

(Ibarra, 2004, p.16)


This graphic shows the relationship between gaining experience, meeting new people, and telling a new story in expanding your career identity.
 

Dr. Herminia Ibarra is not affiliated with Walden University, nor does she sponsor or endorse Walden University products or services.


Resources

 

Sectors

Corporate 

Biz Journals

This site links to business trade journals for 41 US cities nationwide to stay informed on the latest local business news.

BusinessWire

A site providing press releases by companies making it a useful tool in preparing for an interview.

Executive Alliance

Global executive search firm for a variety of industries including business, marketing, IT, supply chain, finance, and others.

Fast Company

This magazine features articles on cutting edge trends in the business world.

Forbes

Forbes features business news as well as a library of lists including the 200 Best Small Companies and Best Places to Live.

Fortune

Fortune's annual surveys of companies include the Fortune 500, the Fortune Small Business 100, Best Companies to Work For and most Admired Companies.

Job Central National Labor Exchange

This site has been developed by a nonprofit consortium of leading U.S. corporations that have chosen to advertise job opportunities through this site.

Top Executive Search Firms

List of the top 20 national and global executive search firms.

For  professional development resources for business, management, leadership and related careers, visit the Associations and Professional Development section and select the "Management" button.

Government 

Career OneStop

A gateway to other government-related sites including state job banks. This site has a Skills Profiler through which you can assess your skills and generate occupations using those skills.

Federal Jobs

This site has information on how to find federal jobs and prepare for interviews.

Go Government

This site, from the Partnership for Public Service, provides tips for navigating the federal hiring process, identifies agencies, and includes a step-by-step resume guide.

Pathways USA Jobs - Government Student Jobs

Federal jobs resources for students and new graduates.

 

United States Office of Personnel Management

This site offers classifications and qualifications for federal positions.

USA JOBS

Links to federal, state and local government websites as well as tips on how to navigate the government. 

VA Careers
Career opportunities at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Nonprofit

Alliance for Nonprofit Management

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is a professional association aimed at improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits. The Alliance CareerBank has listings searchable by category and state.

American Society for Public Administration

The leading professional association for those in public and nonprofit administration.

American Society of Association Executives

The largest professional organization for the association industry with articles and job listings for the nonprofit world.

BoardSource

Advocacy and leadership site for nonprofit board members and purpose-driven boards.

Bridgespan

Site that supports nonprofits and National Global Organizations (NGOs) with services, stories of impact, career insights, and a nonprofit job board.

Guidestar

A site to identify prospective nonprofit employers with job listings and basic data on more than a million nonprofit organizations.

Idealist

This site offers nonprofit job listings at all levels in many geographic locations.

Job Scoop

Nonprofit job bank with positions by title, company, salary range, and area of focus.

Nonprofit Times

Business publication for nonprofit management.  Includes nonprofit job listings and articles on resumes, job search, and nonprofit careers.

Work for Good

This site has all levels of jobs in the nonprofit sector and links to other nonprofit sites.

Public Service Careers

A site sponsored by the American Society for Public Administration featuring jobs in government, nonprofits, NGOs, consulting, contracting, and academia.

Pro Fellow

Graduate and postdoc fellowship postings by location and discipline area.  This site also includes valuable advice on applying for fellowship opportunities.

 

International

Department of State – Work Visas    
Detailed information on temporary visa requirements to work in the United States.

Federal Jobs-Overseas  
Overseas government, federal, and private job listings.

Transitions Abroad    
International jobs, internship listings and helpful articles on living and working abroad.

GoinGlobal

Provides country-specific career and employment information including international internship and job postings, work permit and visa information, and career resources for over 30 countries.

Reliefweb 

Provides listings for humanitarian and development jobs around the globe.

Virtual, Freelance, and Temporary

Flexible Employment Sites
Authentic Jobs
Job board for designers, hackers, and creative pros.
FlexJobs (fee-based)
Remote and flexible jobs.
Idealist
Connecting idealists.
Jobspresso
Remote jobs in tech, marketing, customer support and more.
Landing.Jobs
Custom fit tech jobs.
Power to Fly
Women helping women elevate their careers.
Remote.co
Remote work resource.
Remote OK
Job site for remote work.
Remotive
Remote work resource.
Skip the Drive
Remote and telecommuting jobs.
We Work Remotely
Jobs that are not restricted by commutes or a particular geographic area.
Working Nomads
Remote jobs for digital working nomads.
Virtual Vocations
Telecommuting jobs.

Freelance Sites
Envato Studio
Community of designers, developers and creatives.
Fiverr
Freelance services.
Freelancer
Freelance services.
Freelancermap
Freelance services.
Github
Built for developers.
Gun.io
Freelance software professionals.
Guru
Freelance software professionals.
LinkedIn ProFinder
Freelance services finder through LinkedIn.com.
Outsourcely
Startup specialist.
PeoplePerHour
Freelancer services.
Stackoverflow
World’s largest developer community.
Toptal
Freelancer services.
Upwork
Freelancer services.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business
Entrepreneur
U.S. Small Business Administration
SCORE
Wellfound

Job Search Aggregates
CareerBuilder
Indeed
SimplyHired
The Muse
(Search for keywords such as "temporary", "telecommuting","virtual", "contract").

 

Networking
Dribble
Site for designers.
Freelancer’s Union
LinkedIn
MeetUp

Staffing Firm Lists
American Staffing Association- Staffing Firms by Industry and Location

 

Special Interest Resources

 

People with Disabilities

Ability Jobs Job Board
Large employment site for people with disabilities.

AbilityLinks.org

The job opportunity website for persons with disabilities and inclusive employers.

American Association for People with Disabilities

This association's site contains various resources and job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Association on Higher Education and Disability

Professional association for individuals committed to equity for people with disabilities in higher education with a job board, conferences, events, and webinar offerings.

DisABLEDperson.com

Jobs, employers, and salary information to prepare for the workforce.

Federal Employment of People with Disabilities

This site walks candidates through the Federal hiring process and refers them to other resources.

Getting Hired

Largest diversity disability job portal in the USA with over 240+ employer members.

Job Accommodation Network

Information about workplace accommodations.

National Association of Nurses with Disabilities

Organization that advocates for nursing professionals with disabilities.  Includes a job board, listserv, and helpful workplace resources.

National Organization on Disability

Disability inclusion website.

National Organizations Working on Disability and Higher Ed

Robust list of organizations for networking, support, and advocacy in higher education and beyond.

National Telecommuting Institute’s Work at Home Program

Program that helps people with disabilities find work-at-home jobs.

One More Way

Online forum serving job seekers with disabilities, vocational rehab professionals, and businesses.

Recruit Disability

Leading career site and information resource that links business to qualified candidates with disabilities.

Searchable Online Accommodations Resource

The Job Accommodation Network's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) system enables users to explore various accommodation options for people with disabilities in work and educational settings.

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Full list of vocational rehabilitation agencies by state.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Disability Employment
Full list of vocational rehabilitation agencies by state.

Workforce Recruitment Program
The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.

 

For additional professional sites by career field, navigate to the Associations and Professional Development section of the Networking tab.

Undergraduates After College    

Job search and career resources for recent college graduates.

CareerOneStop 
A government sponsored site that includes a variety of resources to explore careers, salaries, and jobs.

CareerOneStop – Licensed Occupations
A government sponsored site that provides information on licensure requirements by state and state contact information.

College Recruiter
Here you will find close to a million part-time, seasonal, internship, and entry-level jobs along with tens of thousands of articles, Ask the Experts questions and answers, blogs, videos, and other career-related resources.

Live Career     
Career and job search tips, tutorials, and resources for college students and grads.   

My Plan
Research careers using this site's career database, videos, and top 10 lists.  Participate in career discussion forums and groups.

O*NET Online     
A government sponsored site, created for the U.S. Department of Labor, with detailed descriptions of occupations.  

O*Net Resource Center
A list of government links for job search and career resources.

US Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook     
Occupational hiring outlook and salary information.

Looking for internships or service learning projects?  Visit the Volunteer Opportunities and Internships page.
 

Veterans

Military2Career
Network with military professionals, explore career opportunities, and search for jobs using this site's job management center.

Recruit Military
This site enables veterans to post jobs and store their resume in its database for employers to search. 

Student Veterans of America
Job and internship site for student veterans.

USA Jobs                                                                          
Transitioning service members can find government positions here and use veterans preference when applying. 

Veterans Jobs                                                                          
A site operated by veterans for veterans with job listings in diverse fields including information technology, program and project management, sales, linguists, logistics, transportation, human resources, manufacturing, engineering, finance, health care, and accounting.

ONET Online – Military Crosswalk Search
Military to civilian career translator tool.  Search by military code or title to generate a list of related civilian occupations.

Veterans Services
This site from the US Department of Labor contains resources on career and educational options.

Interested in government employment?  Click on the Government button, located on the Career Exploration page.

Formerly Incarcerated

HelpforFelons.Org
Job search site with job opportunities, career tips, and employment strategies for felons, inmates, and ex-offenders.

HireFelons.Org
Lists of jobs that hire felons, along with large and small employers.

Felony Record Hub:
This site includes jobs, companies, communities and more to transition from incarceration.

List of Jobs That Hire Felons
Lists of large corporations, small businesses, freelance jobs, and online opportunities for those who have a criminal record.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) “Ban the Box” Interactive Map by State
Select your state to learn more about its laws regarding when in the hiring process an employer can ask for criminal history. If you live in a “Ban the Box” state, you will not be asked to disclose whether you have a criminal record until later in the hiring process.

NovoResume Career Blog: 15+ Tips to Get a Job with a Criminal Record
Helpful tips for individuals with a criminal record on how to succeed in the job search.

Released to Shine Podcast
30+ short episodes to help formerly incarcerated individuals find inspiration, learn career tips, and gain skills to navigate life and career
transitions. 

CareerOneStop:  Re-Entry Program Finder
Search for re-entry programs by state to find local support.

CareerOneStop: Job Preparation Resources
Extensive resources to help find employers who hire ex-offenders and resources to prepare for an active job search and success in the workplace.

CareerOneStop: Get Interview Ready
Tips and language to use when communicating a criminal record or conviction to employers.

CareerOneStop: Expunging a Criminal Record
Learn about the laws in your state and the process of getting a criminal record expunged or sealed.

Walden University’s Career Exploration Resources
Identify your interests, skills, and strengths using self-knowledge tools; research career options, occupations, and employers; and access career planning tools.

Webinar: 10 Steps to Enhance Your Professional Image
Learn how to present your best self to employers during interviews and on the job.

Resume Sample: Formerly Incarcerated 
This annotated resume sample is geared toward reentering the workforce.

Self-Knowledge Worksheet
Use this worksheet to identify your interests, skills, and strengths.

Overcoming Barriers to Employment Worksheet
This worksheet can help you plan how to overcome barriers to employment.

Coping With Job Loss

Career OneStop
This site from the U.S. Department of Labor has occupational information, resumes and job searching techniques, and links to job banks and other employment resources in all 50 states.

Helpguide
This non-profit website offers tips for overcoming job loss and finding your right career.

Navigating Employment Uncertainty Toolkit
Career Planning and Development's toolkit for navigating employment uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

USA.gov - Unemployment Help
Government website with links to benefits and assistance programs.

JobsforFelons.Org
This site offers re-entry resources job opportunities, career tips, and employment strategies for people with a criminal record.

Diverse Communities

African American Organizations to Know: Project E3
This site supports diverse communities in pursuing professional growth, leadership opportunities, and career advancement.  Search for groups to join based on career fields and interest areas.

Diversity Inc.
Organization committed to workplace fairness, equity, and inclusion. Includes a Top 50 Companies for Diversity list.

ForgeRock Blog:
LGBTQ+ resources and communities for the Tech sector.

Job Stars: Diversity Professional Associations and Organizations
A powerful list of professional associations to connect with like-minded individuals, establish yourself as a thought leader, and make an impact in a variety of fields.

Top 21 African American Professional Groups
List of top professional networking groups by career field.

Top 15 Hispanic/Latino Professional Associations
List of top professional associations by career field.

Fairy God Boss: 50 Great Career Resources for Women
This power list includes online communities, support networks, educational resources, and upcoming events for women seeking career advancement and leadership roles, including serving on executive boards.

Gallup's Exceptional Workplaces
List of top organizations that were rated as world-class places to work.

Out Professional Network
This job search site connects the LGBT community with local and national job opportunities and provides a list of virtual career fairs to connect with employers.

Pink Jobs
This easy-to-use site connects qualified candidates to job vacancies.

LGBT Connect
Top job search site for the LGBT community with career advice on how to navigate the workforce.

Velvet Jobs:  LGBTQ Associations
In addition to associations, this site provides LGBT job search strategies, online communities, blogs, podcasts, and more.

AARP Job Board
AARP is the leading organization for individuals 50+ with a robust job board for full-time, part-time, and contract opportunities.

Encore.org
This intergenerational organization connects individuals 50+ with younger generations and offers fellowships for making a difference.

Walden Student Organizations
Walden offers a variety of student organizations to build professional networks and gain leadership skills.  Join one today!

APA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Language Guidelines 

Guidelines for inclusive language that raise awareness and promote a culture of belonging.

Resources







Career Exploration

 

Career Management 


Career Resources for Walden Programs: By Degree Level

Select your degree level (undergraduate, master's, PhD doctoral, or professional doctorate) to access key resources for career preparation and proactive career management.

Fast Company Magazine

This magazine features article on cutting-edge business trends as well as a "company of friends network" where one can network with others in business-related fields.

Free Management Library

This site has free resources on 650 topics to improve personal effectiveness including time management and career development.  One can input the search term 'job bank' to bring up a long list of links to jobs in the for-profit and non-profit arenas. 

LinkedIn

This well-known professional networking site allows users to create a free profile, connect with professionals and thought leaders, research jobs and companies, and join groups based on specific interest areas.  

Listen Notes
This podcast search engine generates lists of podcasts based on specific topics of interest. Consider searching for podcasts using keywords such as career, job search, leadership, self-care, and others, to find career information and inspiration. 

The Muse 
This site includes advice and articles on a wide range of current career management topics including career paths, success at work, and diversity and inclusion.

US Newspapers     
A quick way to access newspapers across the country for current events and job listings. 

Walden Career Planning and Development YouTube Channel 
This channel features over 100 career-related videos and recordings to prepare for career success.  Search YouTube for additional career topics.

Program-Specific Career Hubs
Specialized career preparation resources for Walden University public health, human services, psychology, counseling, management, technology, education, communications, and healthcare administration students.

Nursing Field Experience: Professional Preparation Resources
Toolbox for nursing students and professionals to prepare for career success at field sites and in healthcare settings.

Indeed.com- YouTube Channel
Short videos for career and job search skill development.  Includes JobCast by Indeed live streams by industry experts, Job Science videos for landing a job, and much more!

Self-Knowledge

Self-Knowledge

To generate the best possible career options and work settings for your unique background and preferences, it is invaluable to assess your personality, interests, skills and values.

While there are numerous beneficial fee-based and free career-related assessments online, we include some of the best.

Personality

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (fee-based)
This widely-used and well-validated personality assessment provides information on how you prefer to get energy, process information, make decisions, and plan tasks.  It is very helpful in determining if a job and work environment will mesh well with your personality. 

Keirsey Temperament Sorter (free)
This informal personality assessment renders results similar to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator's personality preferences.  Because it has not been widely validated like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, it should not be regarded as a  substitute and results should be carefully validated by the user.

Interests

Strong Interest Inventory (fee-based)
Psychologist John L Holland developed a theory describing the world of work through six personality types/work environments called the "Holland codes."  This widely-used assessment compares your interests to those in 211 occupations and generates the top Holland codes that fit your interests and occupations you might want to explore further.

My Next Move (free)
Developed by ONET Online, this assessment identifies interest areas and aligns them with potential careers.  Knowledge, skills, abilities, and job outlook information is then provided for each career, leading to further career exploration.

CareerKey (fee-based)
The CareerKey assessment will tell you your Holland personality type and identify careers you might wish to consider.   

Skills

Career One Stop: SkillsMatcher (free) This online questionnaire helps identify your skills and matches them to potential occupations. 

SkillScan (fee-based)
This assessment asks you to self-rate various skills to determine your strengths, weaknesses and skills needing development.  The results include suggested action steps for strengthening areas you would like to improve.

LinkedIn - Skills by Industry and Job Title
Explore top skills required by industry or job title compiled by LinkedIn research.  Click on the Explore the data link, then scroll down to use the interactive feature and search for skills in your target industry or job. Use the Communicating Skills and Competencies Worksheet to develop accomplishment statements for your resume.

MySkillsMyFuture (free)
An online tool that identifies new career options based on prior skills and experience.  Enter your current or past job title and receive a list of similar careers.

Motivational Assessment of Personal Potential (MAPP) (free)
This motivation-based assessment helps identify preferences and job characteristics, and then aligns them with potential occupations. Upgrade packages are available for a fee.

Values

Career Change Checklist (free)
This assessment of past likes and dislikes regarding past work experiences is valuable to those making a career change to help evaluate whether an opportunity is the right fit.  

Culture Wizard from RW3 and GoinGlobal (free)
This tool can help you build cultural awareness to work effectively on global teams. Receive a personal cultural profile that provides insights on nine cultural dimensions.

Strengths

Strengths Assessments 360 Reach (free)
This web-based personal branding assessment provides feedback on how others may perceive you. People in your network receive an anonymous 10-minute survey where they can share their reflections about your unique strengths.

Clifton Strengths (fee-based)
Based on 34 Strength Themes developed by the Gallup organization, this book and online assessment provides ideas on how to turn specific themes into personal strengths that are aligned with core values. Specific action steps on how to develop strengths in the workplace are also provided. 

To generate the best possible career options and work settings for your unique background and preferences, it is invaluable to assess your personality, interests, skills and values.

While there are numerous beneficial fee-based and free career-related assessments online, we include some of the best.

Leadership

Psych Central's Leadership Style Quiz (free)
Take this short quiz to explore four leadership styles (autocratic, laissez-faire, democratic, or transformational) and identify the leadership style you exhibit most often. 

Idealist's What's Your Leadership Style? Quiz (free)
Learn about your leadership style and how it can help you lead projects and teams more effectively.

Research

Career Journal       
Want to read the latest articles about the world of work?  The Wall Street Journal's career site has excellent articles on trends in the workplace and a free e-newsletter.

CareerOneStop
Wondering what types of jobs are in your career field?  Use this site to explore career fields (with links to other sites such as Princeton Review), salary info, identify your skills, and even download a template to build your resume.  You can also link to job banks for all fifty states.

Glassdoor
Looking for insider tips on companies and jobs? Glassdoor is a database of anonymously posted information including company reviews, salaries, and benefits. Access interview questions and research competitors.  

Job Hunt
Want to find jobs or networking groups in your home state?  This site lists these resources, job fairs, international jobs, and lists of industry-specific sites.  

Job Hunters Bible    
Want to engage in self-assessment from the ground up?  Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute, has developed an excellent site with self-assessments and job search techniques.

Monster.com
Interested in advice on changing careers or seeking a message board in your career field?  Monster.com features more than just job listings.

My Plan
Research careers using this site's career database, videos, and top 10 lists.  Participate in career discussion forums and groups.

Occupational Outlook Handbook  
What kinds of work occupy professionals in your career field?  Specific career information from BLS including what workers do on the job, working conditions, earnings and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.

O*NET Online
What are the required qualifications for my field?  The Occupational Information Network provides information about jobs including: work activities, outlook, wages and tasks; and worker requirements for jobs including: knowledge, skills, experience, education and training. 

Open AI
Maximize the use of emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies by using Open AI's ChatGPT function as a career research tool.  Sign up on Open AI, select "ChatGPT," then type in your career-related questions to get started.  Below are a few general examples:

  • What can I do with a degree in [field]?​
  • ​What are the top organizations to work for in [field] in [location]?​
  • ​What are the most common job titles for [area/field]?​

​Tip: Continue to ask specific questions to narrow down the responses for your specific field or interest area.

Walden University Programs
Review the career impact and learning outcomes for Walden programs and specializations.

Company Research

The Business Journals- Local Business Directory
Search for local businesses by name or category.

Business Wire           
This site provides company press releases, a useful tool in preparing for an interview.

Career Bliss
Search jobs by company or job title; company reviews by employees.

Dun & Bradstreet Hoovers Company Directories 
Search companies by geography, business classification, or industry.   

Forbes   
A source for business news, financial information, and company information.     

Linkedin 
Largest professional online network where you can also research companies and learn about their mission, culture, employees, and job openings. 

Nexis Uni   
Access the Nexis Uni database through the Walden Library.  Extensive search capability for company information and reports.

FIRSTHAND (Formerly Vault) (fee-based) 
Search companies using various parameters such as industry, city, number of employees and annual revenue.

Salary.com
Salary research site with an easy-to-use Salary Wizard that generates salary information by career field, job title, location, years of experience, and other criteria.

Zippia
Leading tool to explore job titles and career paths. Search for a job title and location, then scroll down to view related job titles, access a list of similar roles, and review career paths to prepare for career advancement in the filed.

What Can I do with this Major?

 Accounting
 Business Studies
 Child-Family Studies
 Communication Studies
 Computer Science
 Counseling
 Criminal Justice
 Education
 Engineering
 Finance
 Foreign Language
 Global/International Studies
 Healthcare Sciences
 Human Resources
 Human Services
 Logistics
 Management
 Management Information Systems
 Marketing
 Nursing
 Political Science & Government
 Psychology
 Public Administration
 Public Health
 Public Relations
 Retail/Merchandising
 Social Work
 Sociology
 Statistics
 

 For additional information on your career field, visit the Walden University website and search for your degree.

Self-Knowledge Tools: Enhance Your Competitive Edge

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