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When applying for a job, you should recognize your ability and possibility to occupy the chosen job. How you can do it? You should know correctly the occupation definition and the set of skills needed.

Definitions and Classification

There are many definitions of occupation. A Princeton University occupation definition summarizes its meaning as "the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money". The Nevada Workforce enumerates the three most important elements of an occupation explaining it as "The unique set of tasks, skills, and abilities associated with a worker's performing a particular job."

Occupation Types

The classification of occupations differs from country to country. The American Community Survey uses the occupational classification system developed for the 2000 census. This system consists of 509 specific occupational categories for employed people arranged into 23 major occupational groups (for details see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/Def/Io.htm).

When you start job hunting, it is important to know the basic data: the types of occupations available, the demand for these occupations on a state and local level, the average monthly salary, and the required educational and/or training level. When starting a training program in order to find a new occupation, or finishing your studies at a college, it is important to compare the different occupations and their requirements. If you have a skill which is demanded to occupy the fastest growing occupations, your job hunting may be a successful one.

Largest and Fastest Growing Occupations

A comparision of *Top 100: Fastest Growing Occupations* is edited and adapted for O'NET occupations by Jim Cassio in 2006 (see http://www.work-info.com/top100fastestgrowing.htm). The list is based on Bureau of Labour Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics and Employment Projections Programs. In the analysis the Top 100 O'NET Occupation titles are listed with the numbers of jobs in 2004 and the forecast for 2014. The data are compared and the change of job numbers is shown in percentage. You may find the exact data of lowest wages and high wages and the demanded education/training level.

Low Wages and High Wages

Jim Cassio edited and compiled another big table comparing and listing the *Top 100 Largest Occupations*. Arranging the occupations by the number of jobs, he lists data in 2004 and forecast for 2014 (http://www.work-info.com/top100largest.htm). The columns are the same as in the table mentioned above, including the lowest wages and high wages, the wage category and the demanded educational/training level. (If you want to go into details, visit http://www.onetcenter.org/resData.html, the official website of O'NET Center.)

Gather Job Information in Due Time

The knowledge of the job definitions is highly important when start your college education. Your career depends on the good start! Choose the job which needs your best abilities.