O*net Database Using the O*net Database Was

¶ … 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. 2. 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. I could see career coaches and universities using the tool for people who have little to no direction career-wise. It functions well as a jumping off point for learning about various jobs, even some of which you may have never heard of.

I think that is a particularly useful thing, given that most people are only exposed to occupations that exist within their small sphere, which people they know or have encountered have had. This tool then has the potential to open them up to a larger world of employment. Secondly I think that the tool could be useful for human resources departments because they could compare an applicant's skills with the demands of the job for which they are applying.

If they are incompatible, they may be able to steer that applicant toward other positions within the organization. Beyond that, it is definitely a useful tool for career-changers. By being able to cross-reference the skills required by your current job with a wide swath of jobs in the community, you can save yourself from a lot of trouble by narrowing down your options. For example, a corporate executive may want to go into the non-profit sector, but they may be unsure if what they have to offer is adequate.

They could go into the tool to find out that there are similarities between the fields that they could then use to their advantage in the job interview, by perhaps trumpeting their planning skills or their knowledge of business law. 4. As a director of human resources, I would have my staff use the site.

As I mentioned earlier, there is a wealth of information present that could help members of a large organization transition between jobs in that organization or could help human resources employees to find applicants who fit an opening well. I think the tool does have a few shortcomings, namely that a human resources department at a smaller, less diverse company may have trouble.