Employment Spot

A Day in the Life

Whether you’re just entering the workforce or have been there for 30 years, it’s not uncommon to wonder what it would be like to spend a day in someone else’s shoes. Many career sites allow you to satisfy that curiosity without quitting your current job.

• WetFeet.com’s Real People Profiles
  Get the inside scoop on more than 30 jobs, from senior audit accountant to music label publicist. Each profile outlines an individual’s name, industry, education, years in the business, company size, salary and typical hours per week. The "real person" then answers questions like how she got the job and what she likes best and least about it. Each profile also includes common misconceptions about the profession and an outline of a typical workday.
• Job Profiles
  Posts questionnaires completed by workers in many fields. Workers share the rewards, stresses, basic skills and challenges of their jobs.
• America’s Career Infonet Career Videos
  Explore nearly 200 occupations, from Able Seaman to Veterinarian. The site’s list of Job Resources by Occupation offers links to resources in selected industries.
• Berkeley’s Career Exploration Links
  Learn more about jobs in 18 fields, from agriculture to nonprofit.

Explore in Person

If you are a student investigating careers, your high school, college or university may offer programs that let you "shadow" a professional for a day. This can be an excellent way to see firsthand what goes on at a hospital, real estate office or brokerage firm. If you can’t decide which profession to follow, access career profiles Review.com. The College Board’s Career Search can tell you what to expect from different professions.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Career Services and Monster.com’s Major to Career Converter can answer the age-old question, "What can I do with my major?"

Another great way to spend the day in someone else’s shoes is to volunteer. Enter your zip code at ServeNet to find opportunities in your area. Volunteer Match is a similar service that lets you help others while exploring career options.

   — AnnMarie Harris

Related articles:

• What can I do with my major?
Not sure what to do with that art history degree? The University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Career Services has put together a great collection of career opportunities by college major. Explore job options for students of anthropology,...
• Where can I learn about a new career?
If you're just entering the job market or you want to work in a different field, reading career profiles can help you explore your options. You can find out what a typical day for an employee is like, the salary and promotion opportunities. These...