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Career planning and job searching can be overwhelming, but there are many good resources available to assist the job seeker. Below is a list of websites that specialize in career advice, workforce data, job availability, and more. This list contains only a few of the many websites and resources available, but it should be a good starting point to your career search.

Virginia Career Works - Northern Region WIOA Youth Program - The WIOA Youth Program assists eligible young adults ages 17-24 to gain the skills needed to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. Available services include:

Career Development

• Job Preparation Skills
  Apprenticeship Opportunities

• Interview Coaching

• Training Opportunities

• Resume Building

Educational Support

• College or Vocational School Exploration

  • Tutorial Assistance

  • GED & High School Completion Options

  • Short-Term Training Opportunities

Virginia Occupational Career Resource Guide - The purpose of the Virginia Occupational Career Guide is to help provide students, teachers, job seekers, work force professionals, and others with a resource that will aid them in navigating the ever-changing world of employment. The guide provides samples of growing occupations in the U.S., and more specifically, in Virginia. Each sample gives the employment trends, average annual income, and education/ training required for each occupation. Also included are articles with helpful tips on job searches, filling out applications, job interviews, and more.

CareerOneStop - CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and provides career information, training, and job searches nationwide and by state, regional, and Local Workforce Development Boards.

My Next Move - O*NET Interest Profiler - The O*NET Interest Profiler can help 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. 

Firsthand: Day In The Life - Firsthand’s Day in the Life feature allow you to read examples of a “typical day” on the job for roles in 18 different industries, from accounting to STEM fields.  This feature can help you understand both entry-level jobs and positions you might aspire to later on—whether the role of a policy analyst at a nonprofit advocacy group or senior partner at a management consulting firm. By further understanding the daily routine of these jobs, you can assess whether you could envision doing them as part of your own career journey.  After using this feature, you might have ideas of specific jobs you’d like to learn more about through informational interviewing or other job shadowing opportunities.

Forage: Hands-On Virtual Job Shadowing Tool - This free resource serves as a hands-on tool for you to take your job shadowing to the next level.  Forage offers virtual experience programs where you can complete a virtual project modeled on real-world job responsibilities at participating organizations, including BCG, Deloitte, Accenture, and JP Morgan Chase. These hands-on programs can help you enhance your self-knowledge and explore roles and responsibilities you’re curious about.  You can earn a certificate of completion for each completed program and add the experience to your resume as an extracurricular activity.