Focus Career Assessment
Career exploration is a four step process:
- Step 1. Learn About Yourself
- Step 2. Gather Career Information
- Step 3. Make Career Decisions
- Step 4. Make Career Plans
Need help? Contact the Career Services Office, Ivy Hall Room 1323, weekdays from 8am - 5pm, or call 7[65] 269-5612. An advisor will help you learn more about yourself and your career options.
Start Now!
FOCUS is a free interactive career planning and educational assessment tool.
FOCUS will help you:
- Analyze your career planning status
- Assess your interests, skills, values, personality, and preferences
- Discover and explore occupations and career paths
- Learn about education programs that interest you
- Set your career and educational goals
- Find out what you can do now to FOCUS on your goals
You must register to use FOCUS. After you have completed FOCUS, make an appointment to see an advisor in Career Services in Ivy Hall Room 1323 or call [765] 269-5612, or [800] 669-4882, ext. 5612 in Indiana.
To begin your career journey click here:
FOCUS Log-In
Career Exploration
Research shows that students who engage in career planning have the following results:
While In College:
- Fewer transfers & switching of majors
- Graduate on time
- More motivated & goal focused
- Higher academic achievement
After Graduation:
- Better entry job with higher income
- More satisfied with the chosen career field
- Less career change, faster career advancement
To find the best match between you and a career, you should research different careers and consider many variables. You must answer tough questions about your interests, values, abilities, and experiences. Job advancement, hours and earnings, required level of education, current and future job market, field entry requirements, turnover, and location should all be considered before making a career decision. Because of the number of variables, it is unlikely to find a single career that will be your ideal. Since it is nearly impossible to find a perfect career, you must decide on your priorities and sometimes sacrifice those that are less important.
Ask Yourself
- Is it more important to make $30,000 per year and have a job you dread every day or would you rather earn $23,000 and enjoy your work?
- Would you rather earn $20,000 after earning a two-year degree or $25,000 after a four-year degree?
- Would you choose a rotating shift in a career that you love, or an 8-to-5 career that you might be able to tolerate?
If you would like help with determining your interests, values, experiences, and abilities, make an appointment with the Career Services office in Ivy Hall Room 1145, or call 765-269-5120 or 800-669-4882. An advisor can help you begin research into various careers that will make those difficult career decisions a little easier.
Informational InterviewingOnce you have narrowed your career choices to a few specific areas, you may wish to speak with people working in that career field. This is often called Informational Interviewing. For example, if you decide to pursue a career in computer-aided drafting [CAD], you should contact a CAD drafter and ask to speak with him or her for 15-20 minutes. You should ask about the type of work , what skills are important for the job, what the wages are like in this field, and any suggestions that may help you. If you do know anyone working in a certain career field to interview, contact a company who hires such workers and ask for a referral.
Job ShadowingAn even more revealing exercise is job shadowing, or spending the day with a worker in your chosen career field. Instead of just 15 or 20 minutes, ask to spend an entire day or half-day with someone. Follow them as they perform their job and watch what they do. Ask yourself, "Is this a job I would enjoy and be able to do with appropriate education?"
Ask Yourself
- Do I have the aptitude to succeed in the computer field?
- Will I enjoy working in that type of job?
- Will the education I receive at Ivy Tech allow me to get the type of computer job that you want?
- Even if there are jobs available, where are they? Will I need to move or commute a long distance for a job?
- Will my annual salary be enough to support my family?
If you would like help with determining your personality characteristics, interests, values, experiences, and abilities, make an appointment with the Career Services office in Ivy Hall Room 1323, or call 765-269-5612 or 800-669-4882. A career counselor can help you begin research into various careers that will make those difficult career decisions a little easier.
The Career Services Office has career information, software, books, and other materials to help your career exploration. Make an appointment today to meet with a career counselor and begin your journey to success. Contact careerservices.lafayette@lists.ivytech.edu or call [765] 269-5612
Resources for Career and Salary Information
The Career Services Office has career information, software, books, and materials to help your career exploration. You are encouraged to make an appointment with an advisor. Contact [765] 269-5612. This is your future!
Career Exploration
NACE Salary Calculator
http://www.acinet.org
http://www.bls.gov/oco
http://www.jobweb.com [comprehensive web site] *
http://jobstar.org
http://bls.gov/emp
http://www.salary.com
http://www.wageweb.com
http://www.womentechworld.org/jobs.htm
http://www.careerpathsonline.com
College and Financial Aid
http://petersons.com
http://www.collegeboard.com
http://www.collegenet.com
http://www.ed.gov/finaid.html
http://www.fastweb.com
http://wiredscholar.com
Work One
http://www.dwd.state.in.us
Job Web Sites
http://www.careerbuilder.com
http://www.hotjobs.com
http://www.monster.com
Career Resources
BOOKS ABOUT CAREER EXPLORATION
A Guide to 200 Hospital Careers
America's Top Medical, Education, & Human Service Jobs - Farr
America's Top Jobs for People Without Degrees - Farr
America's Top Jobs for People Without Four-Year Degree
America's Top Military Careers - Farr
America's Top Jobs for College Graduates - Farr
America's Top Office, Management, Sales and Professional Jobs - Farr
America's Fastest Growing Jobs - Farr
America's Federal Jobs
America's Top 300 Jobs
Career America
Career Guide to America's Top Industries
Career Success Kit - Hess
Careers for Animal Lovers & Other Zoological Types - Miller
Careers for Bookworms & Other Literary Types - Elberts & Gisler
Careers for Born Leaders & Other Decisive Types - Camenson
Careers for Car Buffs & Other Freewheeling Types - Lee & Lee
Careers for Caring People & Other Sensitive Types - Paradis
Careers for Computer Buffs & Other Technological Types - Eberts & Gisler
Careers for Courageous People & Other Adventurous Types - Goldberg
Careers for Crafty People & Other Dexterous Types - Rowh
Careers for Culture Lovers & Other Artsy Types - Eberts & Gisler
Careers for Cybersurfers & Other Online Types - Eberts & Kelsey
Careers for Enviromental Types & Others Who Respect the Earth - Kinney & Fasulo
Careers for Financial Mavens & Other Money Movers - Eberts & Gisler
Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados & Other Multilingual Types - Seelye & Day
Careers for Good Samaritans & Other Humanitarian Types - Eberts & Gisler
Careers for High-Energy People & Other Go-Getters - Eberts, Gisler & Gisler
Careers for Health Nuts & Other's Who Like to Stay Fit - Camenson
Careers for Introverts & Other Solitary Types - Camenson
Careers for Kids at Heart & Others Who Adore Children - Eberts & Gisler
Careers for Legal Eagles & Other Law-and-Order Types - Camenson
Careers for Music Lovers & Other Tuneful Types - Johnson
Careers for Nature Lovers & Other Outdoor Types - Miller
Careers for Self Starters & Other Entrepreneurial Types - Camenson
Careers for Shutterbugs & Other Candid Types - McLean
Careers for Sports Nuts & Other Athletic Types - Heitzmann
Careers for Talkative Types & Others with the Gift of Gab - Eberts & Gisler
Career Guide to America's Industries
College Majors and Careers - Phifer
Do What You Are - Tieger & Barron-Tieger
Dictionary of Occupational Titles
Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes
Earning and Learning - Bennett
Exploring Health Care Careers Volume 1 & 2
Exploring Tech Careers Volume 1 & 2
Great Jobs for Accounting Majors - Goldberg
Great Jobs for Art Majors - Camenson
Great Jobs for Business Majors - Lambert
Great Jobs for Communications Major - Camenson
Great Jobs for Computer Science Majors - Goldberg
Great Jobs for Engineering - Garner
Great Jobs for English Majors - DeGalan & Lambert
Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors - DeGalan & Lambert
Great Jobs for History Majors - DeGalan & Lambert
Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors - Camenson
Great Jobs for Math Majors - Lambert & DeCotis
Great Jobs for Music Majors - Goldberg
Great Jobs for Political Science Majors - Rowh
Great Jobs for Psychology Majors - DeGalan & Lambert
Great Jobs for Sociology Majors - Lambert
Great Jobs for Theater Majors - Goldberg
Nursing Job Guide
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Opportunities in Accounting Careers - Rosenburg
Opportunities in Automotive Service Careers - Weber
Opportunities in Biological Science Careers - Winter
Opportunities in Business Management Careers - Place
Opportunities in Commercial Art and Graphic Design Careers - Gordan
Opportunities in Computer Maintenance Careers - Kanter
Opportunities in Computer Systems Careers - Burns
Opportunities in Data and Word Processing Careers - Munday
Opportunities in Detailing Careers
Opportunities in Electronics Careers - Rowth
Opportunities in Engineering Careers - Basta
Opportunities in Eye Care Careers - Beilikoff
Opportunities in Financial Careers - Sumichrast
Opportunities in Fitness Careers - Miller
Opportunities in Parmedical Careers - Kacen
Opportunities in Pharmacy Careers - Gable
Opportunities in Health and Medical Careers - Snook, Jr & D'Orazio
Opportunities in Hospital Administration Careers - Snook, Jr
Opportunities in Human Management Careers - Traynor & McKenzie
Opportunities in Information Systems Careers - Hoyt
Opportunities in International Business Careers - Arpan
Opportunities in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Careers - Stinchcomb
Opportunities in Marketing Careers - Steinburg
Opportunities in Medical Sales Careers - Ellis
Opportunities in Medical Technology Careers - Karni
Opportunities in Nursing Careers - Frederickson
Opportunities in Occupational Therapy Careers - Weeks
Opportunities in Office Occupations - Ettinger
Opportunities in Paralegal Careers - Fins
Opportunities in Printing Careers - Borowsky
Opportunities in Property Management Careers - Evans
Opportunities in Psychology Careers - Super
Opportunities in Public Health Careers - Pickett
Opportunities in Purchasing Careers - Banning
Opportunities in Real Estate Careers - Evans
Opportunities in Research and Development Careers - Goldberg
Opportunities in Retailing Careers - Dolber
Opportunities in Sales Careers - Brescoll & Dohm
Opportunities in Secretarial Careers - Ettinger
Opportunities in Social Science Careers - Marek
Opportunities in Sports Medicine Careers - Heitzmann
Opportunities in Speech-Language Pathology Careers - Hicks
Opportunities in Teaching Careers - Fine
Opportunities in Training and Development Careers - Gordon, Petrini & Campagna
Opportunities in Welding Careers - Rowe
Opportunities in Word Processing Careers - Munday
The American Almanac of Jobs and Salaries - Wright
The Complete Guide for Occupational Exploration
The Enhanced Guide for Occupational Exploration
The JobBank Guide to Computer & High-Tech Companies
The Nurse's Career Guide - Eagles
The Intenet: A Tool for Career Planning - Harris-Bowlsbey, Dikel, & Sampson Jr.
The Job Hunter's Word Finder - Bluemond
The O*Net Dictionary of Occupational Titles - Farr & Ludden
Who Do You Think You Are - Harary & Donahue
VGM's Handbook of Health Care Careers Second Edition
Your Career How To Make It Happen - Julie Griffin Levitt
BOOKS ABOUT CONDUCTING JOB SEARCHES
The Complete Job Search Handbook - Figler
The Complete Job Search Organizer - O'Brien
Executive Etiquette - Stewart & Faux
Getting the Job You Really Want - Farr
Government Job Finder - Lauber
Guerilla Tactics in the New Job Market - Jackson
The Guide to Internet Job Searching - Public Library Association
Hook Up, Get Hired! - Kennedy
How to Hit the Ground Running in Your New Job - Clemens & Dolph
The Ivy Tech Career Guide
Job Finding Fast - Farr
The Job Hunting Handbook - Dahlstrom & Co.
The Job Search Handbook - Bayer
Knock `Em Dead: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Handbook - Yale
Non-Profit Job Finder - Lauber
Power Schmoozing - Mandell
Professional's Private Sector Job Finder - Lauber
Red Socks Don't Work - Karpinski
Researching Your Way to a Good Job - Crowther
Successful Job Search Strategies for the Disabled - Allen
Through the Brick Wall - Weudleton
What Color is Your Parachute? - Bolles
Job Strategies for People with Disabilities - Witt
Federal Jobs in Law Enforcement - Warner
BOOKS ABOUT CREATING RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, AND JOB SEARCH CORRESPONDENCE
200 Letters for Job Hunters - Frank
201 Killer Cover Letters - Podestra & Paxton
Cover Letters for Dummies - Kennedy
Dynamite Cover Letters - Krannich
Electronic Resumes - Gonyea & Gonyea
Gallery of Best Resumes for Two-Year Colleges - Noble
High Impact Resumes & Letters - Krannich
National Business Employment Weekly Resumes
Resume for Dummies - Kennedy
Resume for Health and Medical Careers - VGM
Resume & Job Search Pro
The Resume Solution - Swanson
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BOOKS ABOUT INTERVIEWING
101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview - Fein
Best Answers to the 201 Frequently Asked Interview Questions - DeLuca
Fashion Interviewing Technology
Information Interviewing - Stoodley
Job Interviews for Dummies - Kennedy
Negotiating Your Salary - Chapman
New Women's Dress for Success - Molloy
Out-Interviewing the Interviewer - Merman & McLaughlin
Successful Interviewing and Resumes - Perrin & Dublin
Sweaty Palms - Medley
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BOOKS ON EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
JobShift - Bridges
The End of Work - Rifkin
Zen and the Art of Making a Living - Boldt
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BOOKS WITH COMPANY INFORMATION
Hoover's Top 2,500 Employers
Job Hotlines USA
The 1997 National Job Hotline - Williams- Cubbage
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PERIODICALS
Black Employment & Education Journal
Fast Company
Hispanic Business
Job Choices
Journal of Career Planning
REPORTS
Career Services Annual Report - Ivy Tech Community College
Job Service Openings and Starting Wages Report - Indiana Workforce Development
Indiana Employment Review
Kennedy's Career Strategies
Salary Survey - NACE
Spot Light on Career Services
The Graduate Report - Ivy Tech Community College
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SOFTWARE
201 Killer Cover Letter Examples
Adams Job Interview Pro
Career Success Kit - Hess CD-ROM
Chronicle Career Development CD-ROM
This CD-ROM provides an overview of 600 occupations. Occupational information contained on this CD-ROM includes the work performed,the working conditions, salary ranges, education and training, personal qualifications, licenses, unions, or professional organizations associated with the occupation, types of employers, employment outlook, entry methods, and advancement opportunities.
Discover - A World of Possibilities
Discover is a computer-based career planning program which includes interest, ability, values, and experience inventories. It aids in developing a list of occupations to explore, of identifying majors related to specific occupations. It has a database of 497 occupations and 7000 schools. Finanacial aid information and information about how to get a job is also avaliable.
Electronic Resume Writing
Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance
The encyclopedia has 2000 job titles contained in 521 occupations articles. It is easly organized for users to access information on occupational earnings, work conditions, employment and advancement opportunities, education/training requirments, day-to-day tasks, and more. Include references and information on 68 industries and resources on training programs, internships, and apprenticeships.
Hoover's Top 2,500 Employers
Multimedia Study Skills
This software allows the user the options of exploring a specific study skill needing improvement or completing the full program for a detailed lesson on how they can improve their study habits and grades. They may then return to individual sections of the program to review information or re-execute practice exercises. The CD-ROM is organized into two modules: study skills and test preparation. Subjects include learning styles, study times, assignment notebooks and calendars, note taking techniqques, reading, listening, remembering, and the 4 A's to test taking and test taking strategies.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator & Career Report
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality inventory. The results of this inventory classify an individual's personality type. Type information then can be used to gain insight about self and others, to aid in decision making regarding business, career, or personal concerns, and to assist when wanting to improve work and personal relationships.
O*NET
O*NET descibes and classifies occupational information. 1200 job descriptions covering all major jobs and almost 100% of the labor market are included. Information can be found searching for the occupational title or through skills requirments.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
This software allows individuals to find a weath of information on over 1000 specific occupations. Information includes future job outlook, length of trining, skills, activities, suggested classes, and other important information about each career in the database. The system also allows you to search for occupations in the database by title, by interests and skills, or by individual topics such as employment outlook, salary, etc.
ProCD Business Listings of the U.S.
Resume Maker
Self-Directed Search
The Self-Directed Search is an inventory used to help match personality types with the kinds of careers and work enviroments that might suit their interests and skills.
The CPA Sourcedisc
Who Do You Think You Are? CD-ROM
A multimedia system of self-discovery which utilizes a personality test. Upon completion of the profile, instant feedback is provided regarding your expessive, interpersonal, work, emotional, and intellectual syles.
WinWay Resume
World Wide Web
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VIDEOS
A Two-Way Street: Interview Skills in Action
Career America - Career Opportunity with Federal Government
Career America - Student Employment Programs
Creating a Résumé
Effective Resumes - Reading Between the Lines
Heavy Metal Hot Careers in Welding
Informational Interviewing: A Foot In The Door
Interview to Win Your First Job
Looking Sharp: Practical Tips on Dressing for Success
Looking Sharp: Practical Tips on Grooming for Success
Nerves, Sweat, & Fear: The Basics of Interview Preparation
Putting It All Together: Best Career Plan
Ten Commandments of Resumes
The Job Search
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EQUIPMENT
Computer [2]
Laser Printer [1]
Ink Jet Color Printer [1]
Typewriter [1]
TV/VCR [2]
Head Phones [4]
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OUT-OF-TOWN COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Greater Cincinnati Street Guise 1998-1999
Greater Cincinnati Guide to Job Opportunities
Greater Cincinnati Guide to Entertainment
1998 Greater Cincinnati Business Connections
1999 Indiana Travel Guide
1998 Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Business Desk Reference
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DIRECTORIES
1998 GTE Phone Book
1999 Native American Connections Yearbook/Directory
1997 Ivy Tech Community College Alumni Directory
Indiana's 1999 Hotel & Meeting Directory
Select Phone Book User Guide
1998 Administrative Personnel Directory of Indiana's Public and Independent
Colleges and Universities
Carmel & Clay 1998 Community Resource Directory
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Web Resources
The Internet has become an essential tool in a job search. Firms are posting job openings on home pages, and job seekers are posting their résumés in hopes of catching the attention of an employer. Additionally, local newspapers are publishing their classified ads on-line, and state employment agencies are making their job openings available to all. Therefore, it is to your advantage to use the Internet and World Wide Web [WWW] in your job search.
This is not a guide on how to use a computer or how to use the Internet. Instead, we will focus on where to look on the Internet for the job openings you seek. Following are WWW addresses for job search related web pages and search engines. There are too many job-related web pages to list all of them, so we have included the most relevant and helpful sources.
Internet Search Engines | WWW Job Search Sites
Internet Search Engines A search engine on the WWW is a site which actively scans Web pages on the Internet and organizes the information so it can be searched. It can be thought of as an index to the Internet. In your job search, you can use it to look-up Web sites of company homepages, find sites listing jobs, or for information pertaining to your career field.
Altavista - http:// www.altavista.com
Metacrawler - http:// www.metacrawler.com
WWW Job Search Sites
A resource for students and beginning professionals for researching companies, reading about latest workplace trends, finding a job. http://www.experience.com/
Premier career site for executives, managers and professionals. http://www.careers.wsj.com/
Search jobs, post resumes, personal job shopper. http://www.autohiresoftware.com
CareerBuilder is the world's largest recruiting network, combining over 27 leading career Web Sites and over 40 databases for "quick" searches. http://www.careerbuilder.com/
Job-Search-Engine is not a Job Board, but rather a meta job search engine dedicated to employment. It searches the top 100 American and 30 English and French Canadian job boards in parallel and in real time. The one click will save you hours of searching through the job boards and career fairs individually. http://www.job-search-engine.com/
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Access Indiana has a link to the Indiana State Job Bank is a comprehensive listing of open positions across the State of Indiana within Indiana State Government. http://www.ai.org
Journal & Courier Web pages to access classifieds and news. http://www.jconline.com
CareerWebSource has developed a sophisticated set of online tools and career content that delivers a proven system for helping people find jobs they love. http://www.myjobsearch.com
Minnesota Workforce Center, where job seekers and employers click. http://www.mnwfc.org/cjs/cjs_site/
U.S. Dept. of Labor 2002-03 Occupational Outlook Handbook. http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Very good virtual career fair listing over 1 million jobs per month. http://www.monster.com
An Employer/Employee center with real jobs for real people. http://www.employmentguide.com/
Contract job hunter. http://www.cjhunter.com/
Jobweb - a comprehensive job search resource, job listings and company information for college students and new grads with emphasis on early and effective career planning. http://www.jobweb.org
HealthCareerNet - Online healthcare jobs aggregator.
Hundreds of websites are searched to find thousands of US based medical and allied health jobs on a monthly basis. - http://www.healthcareernet.com/
America's Job Bank, a government-sponsored listing of jobs. http://www.jobbankinfo.org/
America's first and oldest online career guidance service -- in operation since 1989 on AOL and the Internet! http://www.iccweb.com
International Summer jobs. http://www.summerjobs.com/
The online service designed by career development professionals for career development professionals. http://www.career-nsite.com
Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. http://www.indychamber.com
Star Tribune Working is a product-line dedicated to helping your career with postings, resume matching, and employment news. http://ww2.startribune.com/careermanagement/
A comprehensive source of occupational & economic information to help you make informed career decisions. Find wages and employment trends, occupational requirements, state by state labor market conditions, millions of employer contacts nationwide, and an extensive career resource library online. http://www.acinet.org/acinet
Purdue employment postings. http://www.purdue.edu/hr/Employment/
Fedworld lists about 1500 federal positions nationwide. http://www.fedworld.gov/
Federal Communications Commission job postings. http://www.fcc.gov/
Federal jobs digest. http://www.jobsfed.com
Homeworks - self employment experts Web site. http://www.homeworks.com
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Small Business Administration - provides information on programs of the federal government's main small business agency. http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov
Collision Services Autobody Online. http://www.autobodyjobs.com
A complete internship and summer job resource. http://www.indianaintern.net/home.asp
College Grad Job Hunter - The largest open access Web job search site dedicated to college students and recent grads, providing immediate access to job postings, employer database and information on résumés, cover letters, interviewing, offer negotiation and more. www.collegegrad.com
WomenTechWorld - WomenTechWorld.Org is part of the WomenTech Project funded by the National Science Foundation. It is the on-line home for women technicians to connect with each other. The WomenTech Project is run by the Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science [IWITTS] a national nonprofit organization based in Alameda, California. womentechworld.org/jobs.htm
From the site: "CareerCity is specifically designed for those technical and professional people who are seeking the most demanding and challenging positions available today in their chosen field. These candidates visit CareerCity to find top opportunities at today's most dynamic employers. They are also attracted to CareerCity by the tremendous quantity of top-notch career information available on the site." www.careercity.com
From the site: "Whether you are an individual looking for an exciting job opportunity or an employer in need of qualified candidates and recruiting tools, FlipDog.com is your employment solution. With more jobs from more employers in every category, FlipDog.com is the single largest employment search engine on the Web. So, if you're looking for a career you can really sink your teeth into, turn to a job seeker's best friend--FlipDog.com." www.flipdog.com
Good Works: not-for-profit jobs. http://goodworksfirst.org
Salary.com answers the question, "What are you worth?". This site features a "Salary Wizard", "Salary Talk" [a weekly forum on compensation and benefits], career resources, and a "Lighter Side" where you can ask job-related questions or read about various jobs in "Dream Jobs". http://www.salary.com/home/layoutscripts/sall_display.asp
+Jobs America, a premium, nation-wide Internet job database determined to help make the connection between America employers and potential employees. http://www.plusjobs.org/
