One of the oft-overlooked benefits of college is having a near-always available career development office. Yes, you might have only gone once or twice, but having easy access to personalized career resources is a luxury that’s hard to replicate once you’re out of school. If you’ve read enough “how to get a better job” articles and are looking for more detailed sources to rely on, we’ve compiled a list of online career resources you should put on your bookmark tab.
Glassdoor
You’ve probably already heard of this site for all the right reasons. Glassdoor is an easy-to-use website that has a lot of basic career information. Not only can you research salaries by job position, but you can look at company rankings submitted by employees to determine if a potential employer is a good fit for you. Users can also post interview information – like questions they were asked during the process – so you can better prepare during the job application process.
The Muse
Reading The Muse’s articles on professional development is like getting advice from your career-savvy BFF. Whether it’s figuring out the best way to fix a mistake or how to grow your network, you can always find well-written, thought provoking pieces that will help further your career. The site also features interviews and first-person articles from inspiring business leaders, like this recent piece by former Cosmopolitan EIC Kate White.
Peterson’s
If you’ve decided that your next career move should be attending grad school, a quick Google search will show you that the search for a Master’s degree is not as easy as the one for your undergrad. Peterson’s streamlines the graduate school application process and helps you find a program that’s a perfect fit for you. The site’s interactive features allow you to pinpoint your perfect program (by geographic location, tuition price, kind of program, and more) and the site gets bonus points for giving you several personal statement resources.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Don’t let the wordy site title deter you – the Occupational Outlook Handbook is a resource from the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and has tons of information to help you find your dream career! OOH lets you research careers by job outlook, median salary, and other data-specific categories while also giving you a detailed description of what your dream job entails. (Need to see it to believe it? Check out this profile on being a fashion designer.)
Transitions Abroad
Looking for a way to combine your career with your wanderlust? Transitions Abroad has a myriad of international career resources that range from long-term job opportunities to creating an international resume. (And yes, each country has a specific resume style!) Whether you’ve recently graduated from college or are looking for a total career change, the resources offered on Transitions Abroad (like their free web magazine) shouldn’t be missed.
An oldie but a goodie! When it comes to creating a professional presence online, LinkedIn is the standard networking site everybody should use. Once your profile is created, you can use the site’s blog feature to discuss ideas for your industry or share career advice – a great tool that allows you to build your personal brand. It’s easy to follow the career paths of your professional contacts and keep in touch with them over time, so making the time for LinkedIn is a no brainer.
