How to Use ONET Online as Part of a Competitive Job Search Strategy

There is much discussion on the internet, across the cable channels and even in supermarket lines about the high unemployment rate in America. At the end of every month political pundits salivate and speculate about what the unemployment rate number will mean for the unemployed. Rarely do we hear about the other important number. The number of job openings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that on the last business day of October 2010 there were 3.4 million job openings in America.

What does this mean to the unemployed? It means stay positive, because employers are looking for people to fill these job openings. With 9.8% unemployment rate, it also means that to be competitive job seekers have to use every job search tool as part of a competitive job search strategy.

One such job search tool is ONET Online, a website supported by the US Department of Labor. These 3 ONET Online features can help job seekers with the job search.

1. Look for industries that are growing. Some industries are growing while others are shrinking. Use the Find Occupations link on ONET Online home page to search for occupations. A search for any occupation will give you a list including the occupation you typed in and related occupations. Click on any occupation and select the Summary tab to see information. There are links to Education, Skills, Tasks etc.; all related to the occupation you selected. Select Additional Information and you can find out the rate at which an occupation is growing or shrinking.

2. Use the Bright Outlook link. The Bright Outlook link is a list of occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics is expecting to experience rapid growth over the next decade. In this Bright Outlook list you can find occupations that require a great deal of formal education including Accountants, as well as other occupations requiring Associate's degrees or High School Diploma and much training on the job.

3. Check out the Related Occupations. In the original list of occupations you selected, will find Related Occupations. If the job seekers is an a declining occupation, they might want to explore related occupations, requiring similar skills.