A CHECKLIST OF FACTS ABOUT JOBS FOR USE IN VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE
Employment prospects
Are workers in demand today? Is employment in this occupation expected to increase or decrease?
Nature of the work
What is the work of a typical day, week, month, year? What are all the things a worker may have to do in this occupation, the pleasant things, the unpleasant things, the big and little tasks, the important responsibilities, and the less glamorous details? Does he deal mainly with data, people, or things? With what kinds of tools, machines, and materials does he work? Must he walk, jump, run, balance, climb, crawl, kneel, stand, turn, stoop, crouch, sit, reach, lift, carry, throw, push, pull, handle, finger, feel, talk, hear, or see? Must he travel? Where and when?
Work environment
In what kind of surroundings is the work done? Hot, cold, humid, dry, wet, dusty, dirty, noisy? Indoor or outdoor? Is the worker exposed to sudden changes of temperature, offensive odors, vibration, mechanical hazards, moving objects, burns, electric shock, explosives, radiant energy, toxic conditions, or other hazards? Does he work in cramped quarters, in high places, or in any other unusual location? Are lighting, ventilation, and sanitation adequate? Does he work with others, near others, or alone? If with others, what is his relationship to them, and does it place him in a position of superiority, inferiority, equality, conflict, or stress?
Qualifications
Age. What are the upper and lower age limits for entrance and retirement?
Sex. Is this predominantly a male or female occupation? Are there reasonable opportunities for both? Is there any more active demand for one than for the other?
Height and weight. Are there any minimum or maximum requirements? What are they?
Other physical requirements. Are there any other measurable physical requirements, e.g., 20'20 vision, freedom from color blindness, average or superior hearing, physical strength, etc.?
Aptitudes. Has there been any research on aptitudes required, e.g., minimum or maximum intelligence quotient, percentile rank on specific tests of mechanical aptitude, clerical aptitude, finger dexterity, pitch discrimination, reaction time, etc.?
Interests. Have any vocational interest inventories been validated against workers in this occupation?
Tools and equipment. Must these be supplied by the worker at his own expense? What is the average cost? Can they be rented or bought on credit?
Legal requirements. Is a license or certificate required? What are the requirements for getting it?
Citizenship
Is it required?
Residence
Must the worker be a resident of the city or state in which he is employed?
In what other ways do workers in this occupation differ from other people?
Unions
Is the closed shop common or predominant? If so, what are the requirements for entrance to the union? Initiation fees? Dues? Does the union limit the number admitted?
Discrimination
Do employers, unions, or training institutions discriminate against minority groups?
Preparation
Distinguish clearly between what is desirable and what is indispensable.
How much and what kind of preparation is required to meet legal requirements and employers' standards?
How long does it take? What does it cost? What does it include?
Where can one get a list of approved schools?
What kind of high school or college program should precede entrance into the professional school? What subjects must or should be chosen?
What provisions, if any, are made for apprenticeship or other training on the job?
Is experience of some kind prerequisite to entrance?
Entrance
How does one get his first job? By taking an examination? By applying to employers? By joining a union? By registering with employment agencies? By saving to acquire capital and opening his own business? How much capital is required?
Advancement
What proportion of workers advance? To what? After how long and after what additional preparation or experience?
What are the related occupations to which this may lead, if any?
Earnings
What are the most dependable average figures on earnings by week, month, or year?
What is the range of the middle 50 percent?
Are earnings higher or lower in certain parts of the United States or in certain branches of the occupation?
Number and distribution of workers
Are the workers evenly distributed in proportion to population or concentrated in certain areas? Where? Why?
Can a person practice this occupation anywhere that he may wish to live?
Do conditions in small towns and rural areas differ materially from those in urban centers? How?
Are most of the workers employed by private industry, by government, by some other kind of organization, or are they self-employed? Are most of the employing organizations large or small?
Advantages and disadvantages
What do workers say they like best and dislike most about their jobs?
Are hours regular or irregular, long or short? Is there frequent overtime or night work? Sunday and holiday work?
What about vacations? Maternity leave?
Is employment steady, seasonal, or irregular? Does one earn more or less with advancing age?
Is the working lifetime shorter than average, e.g., as for professional athletes?
Are the skills acquired transferable to other occupations?
Is the work hazardous? What about accidents, occupational diseases?
How will the work affect the family of the worker?
In comparison with other occupations requiring about the same level of ability and training, in what ways is this one more or less attractive?
