GUIDE TO CAREER AND JOB SEARCHES

Florida International University
Green Library

Careers / Job Opportunities / Company Information / Geographical Setting

I. EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES (WHICH CAREER?)

If you are exploring what field of endeavor to enter or just beginning to consider a change of careers, you need to know:  What are the possible jobs?  What is the work like in that job?  What preparation is necessary?  How's the pay?  What is the outlook for employment during the next few years?  Besides searching the business media listed in IIIC2, below, and the professional journals of the field you would like to enter, consider the following books:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance.  REF HF5381.E52.

  2. Occupational  Outlook Handbook.  U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of  Statistics.  DESK HD8051.A62.  This biennial, along with the Quarterly (see next entry), provides one of the best sources for all types of information on careers their outlook, and their requirements. Also available: http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
  3. Occupational Outlook Quarterly. DOC L2.70/4.
  4. State Occupational Outlook Handbook. REF HD5723.S85...1998.
  5. Occupations Digest. REF HF5382.O3. An annual, similar to Occupational Outlook Handbook, but with briefer entries.
  6. Professional Careers Sourcebook.  REF HG5382.5.U5P76.
  7. The College Board Guide to Jobs and Career Planning.   REF HF5381.M557 1994.  A guide to college and career planning, with descriptions of fields of work and specific careers.

 

II.  LOCATING SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES (WHO'S HIRING?) This is usually one of the hardest parts of job searches.  Finding out who is hiring and/or who to contact in a specific company or organization about hiring.  Often the best source is to find a professional organization in the field and subscribe to their main publication, because it will usually carry job vacancy advertisements.  In addition, finding news items about companies who are expanding (and thus need new employees) can provide opportunities.  Some of the sources for these types of information are:
  1. Business Newsbank. WEB.  This option on the NewsBank Infoweb site also has a feature called "Job Search" which allows you to focus in on specific industries and locales.
  2. Federal Jobs Digest. PER HD5724.F42.
  3. Below are several sites on the web where jobs are advertised:

1. America's Job Bank: http://www.ajb.dni.us/index.html

2. Chronicle of Higher Education: http://search.cnet.com/Single/0,7,0-350462,0200.html

3. Wall Street Journal: http://careers.wsj.com
  1. The following directories were published with the intent to help people find employment. Some are old, so note the date, if there is a year after the call number. Those titles without dates are, for the most part, received on a regular basis.

1. The Almanac of American Employers. REF HF5549.5. C67P58 1996.

2. Directory  of American Firms Operating in  Foreign Countries. REF HG4538.A1D5.

3. Federal Jobs for College Graduates. REF JK716.G63 1991.

4. International Jobs. REF HF5549.5.E45K63 1993.

5. The Job Seeker's Guide to 1000 Top Employers. REF HF5382.75.U6M375 1993.

6. The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. Robert Levering, et al. REF HF5549.2.U5L38 1994.

7. Passport to Overseas Employment. REF HF5549.5.E45C55 1990.
  1. Here are two annual publications which list summer jobs, in the U.S. and abroad:

1. Summer Jobs for Students. REF HF5382.5.U5S76.

2. Overseas Summer Jobs. REF HD6270.D5.
  1. Sometimes the only way to enter a profession is through an internship; in other cases (especially when openings are scarce) internships provide an easier way to employment.  Internships also enhance a person's opportunity for advancement.  Here are three recent directories to internships:
1. The National Directory of Corporate Training Programs.  REF HF5549.5.T7B29 1988.

2. Peterson's Internships.  REF HF5549.5.T7I5.

3. The National Directory Internships.  REF HD5715.2.N37 1996/97.

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III. FOCUSING ON ONE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY (WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS COMPANY?)

When you start looking for information on specific companies or other organizations, to evaluate the viability of the employer or workplace, there are several questions to which you must know the answers, in order to go the right source of information.
  1. Is it public, private, or a government agency?

    Check Global Researcher (ERC).  If your company is included, it is public, so go to B.  If your company is not included, go to C.  If you are looking for a government agency, go to D.  If you are looking for some other organization (like a not-for-profit organization), go to F.
  2. You are looking for information on a publicly-owned company (the company has stock shares traded).  This type of company has a responsibility to publish reports to stockholders (annual reports, proxy reports) and a legal responsibility to make reports to the SEC (10K reports, Registrations, 10Q, etc.)  They are also more frequently covered by press articles in newspapers and news journals, not to mention many reference sources.  Where to go first depends on exactly what type of information you want.  Choose the options below:

1. General information sources:

a. Global Researcher (ERC).  This can be searched by company name, officer names, location of headquarters (address, city, state, zip, telephone exchange, etc.), or any financial measures.

b. Moody's manuals - begin by looking up in:  Moody's Complete Corporate Index (BUS HG4961.M6), which indexes these sets:

Moody's Bank & Finance Manual.  BUS HG4961.M65.

Moody's Industrial Manual.  BUS HG4961.M67.

Moody's International Manual.  BUS HG5150.M6. Moody's OTC Industrial Manual. BUS HG4961.M7237.

Moody's OTC Unlisted Manual.  BUS HG4501.M62.

Moody's Public Utilities Manual.  BUS HG4961.M7245.

Moody's Transportation Manual.  BUS HG4971.M74.

2. Directory information:  see below, IIIC1; most directories include both public and private companies.  They usually nclude only name, address, type of business, and, sometimes, names of top personnel.

3. Financials:

a. Global Access has annual reports, 10k reports, and proxy reports.

b. Global Researcher (ERC) has balance sheets, ratios, etc., gathered from various company reports including 10Qs.

c. See also the Moody's manuals, listed above.

4. Officers:

a. Global Researcher includes officers and members, plus their compensation from the company.

b. Standard & Poor's Register.  RRF HG4057.A4.  Has top officers and their backgrounds.

c. Reference Book of Corporate Managements.  RRF HD2745.D85.  D&B's equivalent to 4b.

5. History & recent developments:

a. Encyclopedia of American Business History and Biography. (Search title in LUIS for available volumes and their individual call numbers.)

b. International Directory of Company Histories. (multiple vols.) REF HD2721.I57.

c. World Class Business.  REF HD2755.5.M384 1992.

d. Also check the beginning of the entry in Moody's manuals. (See above, IIIB1b.) Each manual also has a "News" volume for current events.

e. In addition, the company's annual report may have an account of the company's history on special occasions.  Check every year, since such a history is usually published to celebrate some milestone (such as the company's 25th, 50th, etc. anniversary).

f. Wall Street Journal Index. MIC.  Has three sections: 1)Corporate news, 2)[green pages] Barrons, and 3)General News.  WSJ, by editorial policy, covers only publicly-owned companies.

g. Also see the list of indexes and databases covering public and private companies, below, IIIC2.
  1. You are looking for a privately-owned company or a subsidiary.  There is very limited information available on these categories of enterprises.  Because private companies and subsidiaries do not have to make information public (except by local & state regulations), you must rely on 2 basic sources of information for these entities:  directories and the news media.

1. Directories:

a. Dun's Directory of Service Companies.  RRF HD9981.3.D7.  This companion volume to Million Dollar Directory covers service companies.  Main listing by company, indexes by geographical location of headquarters and S.I.C.

b. Million Dollar Directory.  RRF HC102.D8.  This index of major U.S. companies bases its listings on the physical assets of the companies.  Main listing by company name, with geographical index and S.I.C. industry index.

c. Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.  RRF ;T12.T6.  Includes most manufacturers in the U.S.  Has three sections:  by product name, company listing, and company catalogs (cross-referenced from product listing.)

d. Directory of Corporate Affiliations.  RRF HG4067.A219.  A directory of U.S. & international companies with subsidiaries, with an index to subsidiary names.

e. America's Corporate Families. RRF HD2709.A4.  D&B's equivalent to Directory of Corporate Affiliations.

f. Brands and Their Companies.  RRF T223.V4A22.  A list of brands and trademarks (including d.b.a. names.)

g. Microcosm: Dade County. MIC. This directory put out by Dun & Bradstreet included all companies in Dade County with 2 or more employees in 1997.

h. There are many other directories in this library.  In addition, the greatest collection of company & industry directories is at the Miami Dade Public Library, Main Branch, across from the Government Center, downtown Miami.

2. Indexes to magazines, journals, and newspapers:

a. ABI/Inform.  Bell & Howell.  Indexes a broad spectrum of business scholarly journals and news magazines.  Many available in full text online, including in PDF.

b. Business & Industry.  FirstSearch.  Indexes trade journals and industry documents.  Better than 20% available in full text online.

c. Business Index.  Indexes a mix of scholarly journals, trade journals, and news magazines in the business field.  Includes some full text.

d. Wilson Business Abstracts.  Indexes several hundred business scholarly journals and news magazines.

e. Academic Universe.  Includes full text searching of a number of business publications.

f. Business Newsbank. MIC. This option on the NewsBank site also has a feature called "Job Search" which allows you to focus in on specific industries and locales.  It indexes the business section of hundreds of newspapers in the U.S. and dozens of local/regional journals.  The articles are available on the computer in full-text.

  1. You are looking for a government agency.  Most information about such is published by the agency itself, so check with Government Documents librarians.  The following sources may be of special help:

1. United States Government Manual.  DESK JK421.A3 & DOC REF AE2.108/2:.

2. Federal Jobs Digest.  PER HD5724.F42.

3. Encyclopedia of Governmental Advisory Organizations.  REF JK468.C7E52 1992/93.

4. Florida Handbook.  DESK F306.F597.

5. The Municipal Yearbook.  REF JS342.A2I52.  An annual publication covering major agencies (e.g., police depts.) of cities, including statistics and current heads of the departments.

6. Moody's Government & Municipal Manual.  BUS HG4931 .M58.  Although published for the purpose of investing investments in bonds, this work can also provide insight into the workings of the city/state governments.
  1. Sources which will cover most of the above(B,C,D)are few. Basically, you will need to search indexes of newspapers and popular magazines. In addition to those listed in IIIC2., here are a few more suggestions:

1. Academic Index.

2. Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature.  A&I AI3.R48.

  1. Not-for-profit, research, and educational organizations can usually be found in one of the following directories:

1. Encyclopedia of Associations.  RRF AS22.E5.

2. Encyclopedia of Associations:  International Organizations.  RRF AS22.E52.

3. Encyclopedia of Associations:  Regional, State, & Local Organizations:  Southeast.  RRF AS22.E53.

4. National Trade & Professional Associations of United States.  RRF HD2425.D53.

5. Consultants & Consulting Organizations Directory.  REF HD69.C6C647.

6. The Foundation Directory.  REF AS911.A2F65.

7. Higher Education Directory.  DESK L901.E345.

8. Official Museum Directory.  REF AM10.A2O4.

9. Research Centers Directory.  REF AS25.D5.

 

IV. STUDY THE SETTING: (WOULD I LIKE LIVING THERE?)

Usually when you start considering whether you want to work for a specific company, you examine the community in which it is located. Is the community an improvement over what you might find elsewhere? Would you be willing to take less salary to live there? Would you expect more income to live there? Usually the geographical location and its social conditions form either a benefit or a liability.
  1. What are the environmental & cultural conditions? Because much of this type of information will be included in more general sources, especially travel guides, see section D., below. However, here are a few "rating" guides:

1. An Atlas of the U.S. Economic Growth, 1967 - 2000.  REF G1201.G8N62 1985

2. America's Top Rated Cities.  REF HT123.A669 1996.

3. America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities.  REF HT123.A6692 1996/1997.

4. Book of World City Rankings.  REF HT153.M37 1986.

5. Facts About the Cities.  REF HT123.C385 1992.

6. Gale Book of Averages.  REF HA155.G34 1994.

7. Gale City & Metro Rankings Reporter.  REF HT123.G25 1994.

8. Moving & Relocation Sourcebook.  REF HT334.U5M5 1992. This book, arranged by state & then city, is much more than a directory.

9. The New Book of American Rankings.  REF  HA214.N49 1998.

10. The New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities.  REF HT123.H49 1997.

11. Places Rated Almanac.  REF HN60.B69 1993.

12. The Rating Guide to America's Fifty States.  REF HN60.T49 1994.

13. USA by Numbers.  REF HA214.U8 1988.

14. Homefair.Com has several "calculators" at:
http://www2.homefair.com/
  1. What are comparative price/income factors?  Especially when you are offered a job, the cost of living becomes a factor in judging what you are offered.  The following sources give comparative statistics:

    1. Cost  of  Living Index.  REF  HD6977.C63.  This quarterly  publication  is based on  volunteers  sending  in price  data  to  the publisher each 3 months.  It  has  two sections.  The first section, based on a national index  of 100,  gives each city/area covered a general rating, plus  a rating  for such things as housing, utilities, food,  transportation,  and  medical  care. The  second  section  gives actual (average) prices for specific items. Being based  on a  national average = the index 100, it provides a good  way to compare costs between two or more cities.

    2. American Salaries and Wages Survey.  REF HD4973.A67 1993.

    3. Pathfinder's Money Online Cost-of-Living Comparator:
    http://search.cnet.com/Single/0,7,0-550556,00.html

    1. What are the demographics?

    1. Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide.  MAP G1201.G1R3.  An excellent source of information in maps and in statistics, both demographic and economic, at the county level.

    2. The Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics.  DESK HA203.U5.

    3. Demographics U.S.A.  DESK HC106.7.S9.  Arranged by state and then by county; data is on the county level.

    4. County and City Data Book.  Many different types of statistics; most current data is on CD at the DOC Desk.
    1. Sources with general coverage:

    1. Florida Almanac.   DESK F311.F65.   Describes setting and history of each county in Florida.  Also has an "Annual Price Level Index" in the "Counties" section for comparison of cost of living between counties.

    2. Also check out travel guides; many are written for the person moving to a new location just as much as for occasional visitors.  You will usually have to look for a guide on the state or even region rather than the individual city.  Fine, that just gives you a broader perspective, plus the travel guide will likely have a section devoted to the city you are examining (or a page or two on smaller towns).  So, in WebLUIS check under the subject of the state, plus the subheading, DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL.  For instance, to check on Atlanta, you would choose SUBJECT, then type into WebLUIS:
    GEORGIA- -DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL

    3. Check with the local chamber of commerce.  They usually have brochures of people interested in the area.  To get the address or telephone number of a specific chamber of commerce, use the World Chamber of Commerce Directory,  REF HF294.W75.

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                 Business & Legal Specialist,                                                
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