Occupation Exploration: Using O*NET in the Management Classroom

In this article, I discuss the potential uses of the Department of Labor–sponsored Occupational Information Network (O*NET) in the classroom context. O*NET is a free, publicly available resource that provides an array of occupation-specific information, such as relevant tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, and salary information. Tools such as the Interest Profiler are also available and are designed to help individuals find an occupation that best fits their preferences and interests. I discuss my use of O*NET to assign a variety of well-received and original assignments to my students, varying at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I further discuss how O*NET can be used to teach specific topics in a variety of management-related courses, such as recruitment and selection, and conclude with how O*NET is an overall valuable and easy-to-implement resource for instructors in the field of management