March 2025 Resource Spotlight: BlueCareer

With winter ending, are you ready to spring into a new career? If so, the library has the perfect resource to get you started: BlueCareer, opens a new window. This all-in-one platform is designed for anyone exploring careers in the skilled trades. Whether you're a high school student considering hands-on work over a traditional college path or a seasoned worker looking for a change, BlueCareer is your go-to guide for building a future in the trades.

BlueCareer, opens a new window is linked on the following library webpages: 

• Careers & Jobs Services, opens a new window 
• Careers & Jobs Resources, opens a new window 
• A-Z Resources, opens a new window 

When you open BlueCareer, opens a new window, there are four options to choose: 

• Exploring – take an Assessment test of 30 questions which will then provide three skilled trades that best match your interests
• Interested – browse more than 150 industries and trades
• Experienced – for those already trained in a skilled trade and looking for work, connecting them immediately to the Job Seeker part of BlueRecruit, where they can create a free jobseeker profile in order to be matched with employers. 
• I don't need a job. I need to hire. – for employers to connect with BlueRecruit where they can create a free employer profile, post jobs, and be matched with jobseekers having the needed trade skills and certifications. 

In the upper right, you can click Sign In to create a free BlueCareer personal account within this library resource. Once you have signed in, you will be taken to your BlueCareer Dashboard. Here you can take and re-take an Assessment and save the results of your three matched trades. You can also the Search by Industry feature to browse through the 150 skilled trades available.

For each trade, you will learn a variety of information, such as: 

• What do they do? – a brief description of the work done within that skilled trade 
• Fast Facts – insights like average pay (nationwide), In-Demand Trade Ranking #, percentage of employers that require a driver's license for this trade, and percentage of employers that require a clean criminal record for it. 
• Necessary skills 
• Recommended Certifications 
• Learn the Day to Day – includes personal stories from someone within that trade, links to trade associations and organizations useful for networking, three BlueCareer Team vetted Instagram Influencers within the trade, and YouTube videos to learn more.
• Jobs You Can Do – lists of specific jobs available within the skilled trade 
• Learning Paths – provides links to either online learning or trade schools and a scholarship search, plus Start Working Now (which provides links to some required certification training and a link to creating a free Job Seeker Profile in BlueRecruit).

Back on the Dashboard page, scrolling down unlocks even more features:

• Salary Search – locate the average salary for a skilled trade in your geographic area.
• View In-Demand Trades – see which careers are growing in your state.
• Career Journeys – revisit your saved assessments
• Recommended Trainings – discover relevant courses to build your skills.
• Resource Center – Learn about trade math, industry acronyms and common terms. Also find interview prep resources including tips for those with criminal backgrounds as well as for those age 50+ thinking of switching careers and more.

For more on how to BlueCareer, opens a new window, you can always receive one-on-one help from a librarian by calling 330-744-8636, emailing ASK@libraryvisit.org, opens a new window, or visiting any library, opens a new window.