Phase Two: Exploration
Ask Yourself: What are the current and emerging occupational areas that are attractive to me?
Do these jobs coincide with my values and aptitudes? How do I find these jobs?
With your assessment in hand, you probably have some ideas about what you want to do. Now is
not the time to limit your opportunities. Expand the list of job titles and career paths that
appeal to you. Broaden your geographic horizons to include several places where you might like to
pursue your career. Many resources are available to help you explore your expanded set of
options.
The Transition Assistance Office can help you focus on jobs that employers need to fill today
and will need to fill in the near future. Transition staff can help you identify the geographic
areas that have opportunities in your fields of interest.
Your state employment office is another good resource during this phase, offering such
services as job interviewing; selection and referral to openings; job development; employment
counseling; career evaluation; referral to training or other support services; and testing. Your
state office can also lead you to information on related jobs nearby and introduce you to the
Department of Labor database, DoD Job Search, which has listings of thousands of jobs across the
nation.
And don’t forget your local library’s reference section. Most of them are full of helpful
publications relating to job searches.
