¶ … O*NET Database
Using the O*NET database was extremely easy. I entered a basic search term (namely "barista") in the search box and it was the first choice given to me. This is a job that I have held in the past and I was surprised by the detailed and varied information it offered. Among the duties, it listed all of those that I have had to complete, from "Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees and teas" to "Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers" (Baristas, n.d.). Because being a barista is considered an entry-level and menial job to most people, I did not expect that the database would be as comprehensive with it, including the attention paid to the skills required to be an effective barista. I was also impressed with learning things about the job that I did not know before, such as the fact that the Department of Labor considers it a job with a "bright outlook," meaning it will be more in demand in the future (Baristas, n.d.). In terms of getting a basic idea of what the job is, what it entails, and what qualities a person should possess to do well in that job, O*NET exceeds expectations as a resource. One area where it would be more comprehensive is in detailing where one might find employment in this position, and even what the companies are that are hiring in that area most. As an example, it would be more informative if they were to say that nationwide, Starbucks is the largest employer of baristas and barista jobs were also available in coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, etc.
I was very surprised by the jobs suggested by O*NET. They are not jobs I have ever considered and it made me question whether I had chosen the right skills for myself. The top five jobs listed were municipal fire fighter, plumber, medical appliance technician, manager of logging worker, and manufactured building and mobile home installer (Skills Search, n.d.). These jobs matched ten skills that I stated that I possess. These jobs are largely manual labor and construction oriented, which is not a field that I have ever considered or experienced. I think the reason that these jobs came up as matching my skills is because of my choice of "coordination," "operation and control," and "monitoring" (Skills Search, n.d.). I was anticipating something more people and service-oriented. My chosen job, human resources manager, was further down the list, matching eight skills that I had chosen. This is still fairly accurate and I was impressed that it was on the list. I think part of the disparity between my goals and what the tool chose for me lies in how I perceive my skills. While I reviewed and carefully considered the skill list, I am still not sure that I chose the right ones for myself. I think this might be an area where a professional career coach could assess these more accurately than I can myself. Perhaps it may also help if there were tests on the O*NET website where one could test for each of these skills according to the parameters that the Department of Labor establishes.
3. I think this tool could be incredibly useful in conducting job analysis.…
