Using the internet for research purposes has become habitual for many people across the globe. You will be familiar with using the internet for academic purposes as well as for leisure, such as booking a holiday. But how might we use the internet to help us to plan our careers?

Research vacancies
Looking at advertised job vacancies can be enormously helpful in terms of our career planning. So often we only look for actual job vacancies when are currently looking for work, however, it can be a good idea to regularly check in with relevant vacancies even if we are not currently in the market for a new job.  This is because it enables us to keep update with the particular skill sets, experience and qualifications that are required for different sectors. It also helps us to use the right language and terminology on CVs and applications when we do decide we are ready for a new role.  As well as finding vacancies on the webpages and social media feeds of relevant organisations, choose two or three recruitment websites which relate to your chosen sector as this can be a quicker way of getting an overview of what is available and what is in demand.

Research career trajectories
When we think of our own career plan it can also be very useful to learn about how other professionals have experienced or planned their own career.  Professional networking platforms, such as LinkedIn can be a great way of understanding how other people have navigated their own career.  You can even search for alumni from the same course that you are studying or search for members of staff at a particular organisation to which you’re attracted.  Seeing how professionals have sometimes changed roles or career focus at different points in their life can help inform your own career planning going forward.

Research company cultures
The internet can be a great source of information about what it is like to actually work within different businesses.  Clearly, much of the information online is unverified and inaccurate, so it’s important that you don’t rely on just one online source of information.  Seek out a range of different information providers. As well as exploring the organisation’s own website, make sure you also check out the relevant industry press websites and peer-sharing information sites as well to gain a more comprehensive view of the organisational culture.  This sort of internet research can help inform your career plan in the future as well as help you ask better questions when information interviewing.

Research relevant events
Working professionals don’t only meet at work.  They also meet at relevant events, such as conferences or networking events.  By conducting an online search of relevant events in your chosen career area, you can improve your knowledge of the key dates in your sector’s calendar.  Once you are aware of those events, if possible you even can try to attend them yourself, as they can be a great opportunity to extend your professional network and improve your career plan.

Research relevant professional bodies
From law to accountancy, management consultancy to design, the vast majority of professions have their own professional body or association. These membership organisations can be an incredibly rich resource of careers related information.  Indeed, many professional bodies produce their own bespoke careers webpages and resources, such as vacancy sites or mentoring schemes, which are specifically aimed at individuals who are curious about moving into their sector.  Find some time to identify which professional body is the most relevant to your field and then research the resources available to you to strengthen your career plan.

Research specific contacts
In the past, if there was a specific careers-related contact whom you wanted to introduce yourself to, you would have to send them a letter or make a phone call, if you were lucky enough to have their actual name, address and phone number!  In the new digital age, it is infinitely easier to not only identify potential contacts but also to make actual contact with them.  Whether you contact them via LinkedIn or use other social media tools, such as Twitter to ‘follow’ them, use the internet to bring you closer to individuals whom could give you a real insight into your chosen career area.

Record and evaluate
As you gather more careers insights from the internet, have a system to record the key points and evaluate what is more significant for you. If you have questions that the internet can't answer, it might be time to seek out a Careers Conversation.

Last modified: Wednesday, 2 December 2020, 1:47 PM