Running Start
About this guide
This guide provides Running Start students with suggested sources for career research. Use the tabs above to navigate through the guide.
Need more help?
Have a question? Stop by the Reference Desk, or contact a librarian by phone, text, or chat for more help.
Library Tutorials
Interested in learning more about the library on your own?
Explore the library’s online tutorials.
Paper Writing Assistance
Keywords
The words you use to describe a topic may be different from the words used by the library catalog and databases.
Try some of the search words listed below, or ask a librarian for help choosing the best keywords to use in your search.
- Careers
- Career education
- Career development
- College majors
- Universities and colleges
- Employment
- Occupations
- Career skills
- Professional skills
- Professional development
- Vocational training
- Vocational guidance
- Certification programs
- Job hunting
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Financial aid
- Study skills
- Student success
Reference Sources
References sources are a good place to get background information on your topic.
Print Reference Sources
These resources are available in the Luria Library Reference section:
- Occupational outlook handbook — R 371.425 U58
- Complete book of colleges — R 378.73 P957c 2010
- The College blue book — R 378.73 C697
- Job hunter’s sourcebook : where to find employment leads and other job search resources — R 331.128 G151j 2015
- Getting financial aid — R 378.3 C697c
- Peterson’s how to get money for college : financing your future beyond federal aid — R 378.3 S338c 2008
- College student’s guide to merit and other no-need funding, 2008-2010 — R 378.3 P485p
Online Reference Sources
These reference sources are available online. If you are off campus, you will need to log in with your Pipeline account information:
- Credo Reference
Database containing the full text of nearly 800 encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference books. - The everything college survival book all you need to get the most out of college life
eBook - College majors & careers : a resource guide for effective life planning
eBook - Targeting a great career
eBook - I got my dream job and so can you 7 steps to creating your ideal career after college
eBook
Books
Search the library catalog (books+) for print and online books. Your search results will include articles as well.
Limit to books by choosing the appropriate box from the menu to the left of the results.
Articles
Articles from periodicals (magazines, newspapers, and academic journals) often provide the most current information on a topic. Journal articles are more scholarly and tend to focus on narrow topics, while magazine articles tend to be shorter and more general. Newspaper articles are the most current of the three periodical sources.
To find articles on your topic, use one of the online databases listed below.
To access databases from off campus you will need to log-in with your pipeline account number and password.
- Vocational & Career Collection
Trade and industry periodicals (magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals) in a variety of occupational fields. - Academic Search Premier
Provides articles from periodicals in all subject areas, including thousands of peer-reviewed journals. - Newspaper Databases
Use one of these databases to find full-text articles from regional, national, and international newspapers. - Business and Economics Databases
Industry and company profiles, market reports, and business articles.
Explore the library’s complete list of databases to discover more topics including education, health and medicine, science, art, auto repair, and more.
Evaluating Websites
Figuring out whether the information you find online is credible enough for college research can be challenging. Use the P.R.O.V.E.N. Test for Evaluating Sources to determine whether the sources you find are credible:
- Purpose: The reason the information exists. Is the purpose to sell, to entertain, to inform, to teach, or to persuade? Do the authors and publishers/sponsors make their purposes clear? Is this source designed for general readers or academic readers?
- Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs. Does it relate to your topic? Does it meet the requirements of your assignment? Is it too basic or too advanced?
- Objectivity: The reasonableness of the information. Is it fact or opinion? Is it biased? Do the authors use strong or emotional language, or leave out important facts or alternative perspectives?
- Verifiability: The truthfulness and accuracy of the information. Where does the information come from? Can you verify it in other sources? Are there citations or links to other sources? What do experts say about the topic?
- Expertise: The source of the information. Who are the authors, publishers, or sponsors of the information? Are they experts, or has the information been reviewed by experts? Is it posted on a personal website or blog?
- Newness: The timeliness of the information. When was the information published or posted? Is it up to date? Is your topic in an area that requires current information (such as technology or current events), or will older sources work as well?
Recommended Websites
- SBCC Career Center
- SBCC Transfer Center
- SBCC Financial Aid
- Purdue OWL: Job Search Writing
- Google Advanced Search
Get help finding a job, choosing a major, or finding a career!
Information on choosing a major.
Scholarships, student jobs, and more.
Tips and examples for writing résumés, cover letters, personal statements, and other employment documents.
Try limiting domain, filetype, date, etc. to find more credible and relevant sources on the Internet.
Citation Guide
The citation tools in the library catalog and databases format citations for library sources.
The links below provide examples of MLA citations so you can check the format of a citation or create your own citation.
Contact a librarian if you have any questions about citation or avoiding plagiarism.
Visit the library’s Citation Guides for more information about other citation styles.
