We have all been through a point in our lives where we need to make a decision on what we want to do for a living. It does not matter your age, it is never too late to start something new. There are a number of free online tools that can give you insights into the job market to help you choose your next career path. One of those online tools is Glassdoor.
Glassdoor is a free digital platform that gathers information and reviews from employees or former employees about companies, salaries, and even job openings. The company is headquartered in California and it has information from employers all over the world.
As with many other internet platforms of its kind, people can get lost in the amount of information, especially reviews, that can be found. The following four things can bring value if you are looking into choosing a new career path with the Glassdoor tool.
Salary Expectations
This is a very important one. The first thing you will see at the top of the platform is the search bar. You can simply search for the career you are interested in and the tool gives you tons of information.
To learn about the salaries, all you have to do is type the keyword for the industry that you are considering. Select “Salaries” from the drop-down menu and type in your location. Eg, “Medical Assistant”, “Salaries”, in Los Angeles, California.
Voila. Comparing industries will give you a better idea of the path you should take.
Career Insights
While the salary is important, it is not the only thing that we care about. In order to explore more about different career paths, go to Glassdoor.com, click on “Jobs” and select “Career Insights” from the drop-down menu. Type in a job title and location.
Example: “Electrician” in the “United States” will give you interesting facts about this type of career. Learn everything from the career’s definition and common skill sets, to common career path transitions and average years of experience.
Companies to Work For
To look at what companies exist for different industries, go to Glassdoor, click on “Discover Companies” and scroll down to “Explore Sectors”. Choose the one that interests you. For example, “Transportation and Logistics”. You will then find a list of all the companies in the database sorted by relevancy. For “Transportation and Logistics” there are almost 3000 companies!
Explore your way around the companies that you like. You will be able to find information on salaries, benefits, job openings, interviews and even some photos that employees or ex-employees have submitted of specific companies.
Business Owners
Let’s say your ultimate goal is to own your own business. Glassdoor provides information on salary expectations for your potential employees. Don’t forget to type in your location to get a better idea of the hourly rates in the place where you live.
BONUS: Interview Questions
In the Glassdoor Blog, you will find a lot of free resources that can help you improve and prepare for your job interviews. With articles like “Answering Questions About Educational Background,” you can get a very good idea of what real job interviews feel like and the questions that your employers may ask.