Using the Occupational Outlook Handbook to Explore Careers

The following post offers insight into Using the Occupational Outlook Handbook to Explore Careers.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), published by BLS, is one of the best resources available for analyzing potential career paths and learning what to expect in the job.

Read: Understanding Your Resume’s Audience

Related: Considerations When Evaluating Multiple Job Offers

OOH is useful for gathering information about different career prospects by tapping into BLS data that ultimately helps you make more informed career decisions.

Here’s what you need to know about using OOH.

Overview

OOH provides comprehensive descriptions of various occupations including job duties, work environment, how to become one, compensation, job outlook, state/area data, and education requirements.

Below for your visual reference is a screenshot of the Aerospace Engineers page on OOH.

Explore Different Occupations

The A-Z Index is a good place to start. It features in-depth information on occupations of all types.

Also, there’s the Occupation Finder which is a navigation tool enabling you to filter and narrow occupation search results to match the level of education and experience you possess.

Lastly, the OOH database allows you to explore occupations based on multiple criteria. Here’s a screenshot of the search filters.

Actual Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes OOH using comprehensive data it collects nationwide.

The data BLS gathers is as comprehensive as it gets. That’s why OOH is one of the most reliable and accurate sources of information regarding job market trends, occupational outlooks, and educational requirements.

Here’s an excerpt from the OOH FAQs.

BLS publishes projections for more than 800 detailed occupations that are included in the Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC). The OOH includes detailed information on 592 occupations in 333 OOH profiles, which covers about 4 out of 5 jobs in the economy. Limited information, including wage data, base-year employment, and projected-year employment, is available for the remaining occupations that are not covered in detail.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, OOH has long been one of my favorite resources for exploring career paths. Whether you’re fresh out of undergrad, or you’ve got 25 years or experience under your belt, OOH can help!

Visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.