Information sources and resources

Abstract

Information about the world of work and the relationship of individuals to it, is essential to the career development process. Up-todate and accurate career information has been viewed as a key component of career decision-making since the Parsonian matching model appeared in the early 1900s (Harris & Wallin, 1978;Herr & Cramer, 1984). Career information is important to both counselors and clients. Counselers need to know how and where to get current job and career information that will best help their clients, and they need to provide clients help in translating that knowledge into concepts that are personally meaningful in making career decisions.This article focuses primarily on career information sources and resources, and addresses how counselors can select resources to help clients process information more effectively. Every client has a unique way of processing information and, therefore, a unique way of using information (NOICC, 1988a). Sources and Types of Career InformationThe primary sources of occupational, career, and labor market information include federal and state agencies and nongovernmental sources. Because of the many types of career information available, this section is organized in a modified version of the spectrum of information described by Kunze (1967). This spectrum provides a system for delineating the range of career information required to meet both counselors' and clients' needs:Mary Elizabeth McCormac is Occupational Information System Specialist for National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee,