Career Research Using Vault Industry Guides

Career Research Using Vault Industry Guides

Once you have conducted a thorough assessment of your personal skills, values and interests, it is very important to research career fields of interest. Vault industry guides are helpful tools, allowing you to access key data about hundreds of different career fields.

Instructions

This assignment will allow you to read in-depth information on your top career field of interest. Select the Vault industry guide that most interests you following the instructions below.

Steps to Access Vault.

1. Log into Handshake using your directory ID and password at www.careers.umd.edu/handshake Links to an external site. (Click on the Student Tab to log in)
2. On the home screen of Handshake, look at the left column and click on the words "Career center" (highlighted in gold below):

Then click on "Resources"

Scroll down slightly until you see the button for Vault industry guides:

3. Click on the blue "Get Started" button and then the blue "Log in with your Network ID" button. That should log you automatically into Vault but, if it does not, follow the steps to log in with UMD single sign on (directory ID & password). 

4. Once logged in, click on "Guides" in the left toolbar: 

Then access the drop-down menu that says "All Guides" to select the industry that best represents your career interests. NOTE: There are many guides housed under the "Other Industries" section-- you may want to check it out if you don't see your interests on the main list.

Each Vault Guide contains numerous job titles associated with the career field. For each job title, the guide then provides quick facts as well as detailed information about the history of the role, day to day duties, educational requirements, work environment, hiring outlook, salary information and much more.

Once in your chosen guide, look for the table of contents icon in the top left:

Then click the "Entries" drop-down menu to access all of the associated job titles in the industry guide:

Pick the one job title that is of greatest interest and write a one-page SWOT (Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat) Analysis of your readiness to enter this career field/position after graduation. A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that can help you personally examine your specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats/challenges related to a new opportunity/career field. 

In your one-page analysis, be sure to address the following questions:

Strengths:

• Which specific skills do you possess for this position?
• What have others told you are your greatest strengths, especially in relation to this field?

Weaknesses:

• Do you have areas of weakness in your preparation for this field?
• Do you have personality traits that could hold you back (i.e., dislike of public speaking in a role requiring much of it)

Opportunities:

• How could you get more involved in this field (professional associations, etc.)?

Threats:

• What, if any, obstacles would you face in landing an entry-level role in this career field upon graduation?

Evaluation

In order to receive full points for this assignment, you must complete an analysis that is one full page and addresses each of these 4 areas above thoroughly. Be sure to specify which industry guide and job title you researched.

For more information and additional resources, visit: careers.umd.edu Links to an external site.