Career Research & Exploration Websites
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
The gold standard for career research. Provides comprehensive information on hundreds of occupations including job duties, education requirements, median pay, job outlook, and projected growth. Updated annually with reliable government data.
Best for: Detailed salary data, job growth projections, education requirements, and understanding day-to-day responsibilities
O*NET Online
https://www.onetonline.org/
Comprehensive career exploration tool developed by the U.S. Department of Labor. Search careers by skills, interests, knowledge areas, or job titles. Includes detailed information on tasks, tools used, work context, and skill requirements.
Best for: Discovering careers that match your skills and interests, understanding specific competencies needed, exploring related occupations
MyNextMove
https://www.mynextmove.org/
Interactive career exploration tool built on O*NET data. Features interest assessment, keyword search, and industry browsing. User-friendly interface designed specifically for students and young professionals.
Best for: Taking career interest assessments, browsing careers by industry, finding careers that match your personality
CareerOneStop
https://www.careeronestop.org/
Sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor. Offers career exploration, training finder, resume builder, salary calculator, and job search tools all in one platform. Includes state-specific career information and local training opportunities.
Best for: Finding training programs, exploring local job markets, using career planning tools, building professional materials
LinkedIn Career Explorer
https://www.linkedin.com/career-advice
Professional networking platform with career advice, job postings, and skill development resources. Browse profiles of professionals in your field of interest to see real career paths. Access free learning content through LinkedIn Learning trial.
Best for: Networking, seeing real professionals' career trajectories, finding mentors, accessing industry insights
Glassdoor
https://www.glassdoor.com/
Company reviews, salary information, and interview experiences shared by employees. Get insider perspective on workplace culture, compensation ranges, and what it's really like to work at specific companies. Includes interview preparation resources.
Best for: Real salary data, company culture insights, interview preparation, understanding workplace expectations
AI Learning & Literacy Resources
Introductory AI Courses (Free)
Google AI Essentials
https://grow.google/ai-essentials/
Beginner-friendly course covering AI fundamentals, practical applications, and responsible AI use. Designed for people with no technical background. Includes hands-on projects and real-world examples across industries. Can complete in 10-12 hours.
Beginner
Certificate Available
Best for: Complete beginners, understanding AI basics, practical applications without coding
AI For Everyone (Coursera - Andrew Ng)
https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-for-everyone
Non-technical introduction to AI by renowned AI expert Andrew Ng. Covers what AI can and cannot do, how to spot AI opportunities, working with AI teams, and AI strategy. Approximately 6-8 hours of content. Audit for free (pay for certificate).
Beginner
Certificate Available
Best for: Understanding AI's business and societal impact, learning AI terminology, strategic thinking about AI
Elements of AI
https://www.elementsofai.com/
Free online course created by University of Helsinki and Reaktor. Interactive, self-paced learning covering AI theory, applications, and societal implications. No programming required. Available in multiple languages. Includes exercises and quizzes.
Beginner
100% Free
Best for: Self-paced learning, theoretical understanding, global perspective on AI
Microsoft AI for Beginners
https://microsoft.github.io/AI-For-Beginners/
12-week, 24-lesson curriculum covering different AI approaches including symbolic AI, neural networks, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. Includes video lessons, written content, and hands-on projects. Open-source and completely free.
Beginner-Intermediate
Hands-On Projects
Best for: Structured learning path, hands-on practice, comprehensive coverage of AI topics
AI Tools to Experiment With
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
https://chat.openai.com/
Conversational AI chatbot for answering questions, brainstorming ideas, writing assistance, coding help, and learning support. Free tier available. Practice prompting skills and understand how large language models work through hands-on use.
Text Generation
Free Tier
Google Gemini
https://gemini.google.com/
Google's AI assistant for research, writing, planning, learning, and creativity. Can analyze images, process multiple documents, and integrate with Google Workspace. Free version available with powerful capabilities.
Multimodal
Free Tier
Claude (Anthropic)
https://claude.ai/
AI assistant designed for thoughtful, nuanced conversations. Strong at analysis, writing, coding, and complex reasoning. Known for helpfulness and safety. Free tier available for personal use.
Text Generation
Free Tier
Microsoft Copilot
https://copilot.microsoft.com/
AI companion integrated across Microsoft products. Free web version available for research, writing, image generation, and productivity support. Experience AI assistance in action.
Productivity
Free Access
Coding & Technical AI Resources
Machine Learning for Kids
https://machinelearningforkids.co.uk/
Build machine learning models using Scratch or Python. Hands-on projects teaching classification, recognition, and training concepts. Designed for beginners with no prior experience. Free and browser-based.
Coding
Beginner-Friendly
Teachable Machine (Google)
https://teachablemachine.withgoogle.com/
Train computer vision and audio recognition models in your browser. No coding required. Upload images or sounds, train a model, and test it immediately. Great for understanding how AI learns from data.
No Code
Interactive
fast.ai - Practical Deep Learning
https://www.fast.ai/
Free courses teaching deep learning with hands-on approach. Start building AI models from lesson one while gradually understanding theory. Requires some Python knowledge. Community-driven with active forums and support.
Intermediate
Project-Based
Kaggle Learn
https://www.kaggle.com/learn
Micro-courses on Python, machine learning, data visualization, deep learning, and more. Hands-on coding exercises in browser. Join competitions to apply skills. Strong community and free computational resources (GPUs).
Coding
Community
AI News & Industry Updates
MIT Technology Review - AI Section
https://www.technologyreview.com/topic/artificial-intelligence/
In-depth journalism covering AI developments, implications, and analysis. Balanced perspective on benefits and challenges. Articles written for educated general audience, not just technical experts.
Industry News
The Verge - AI Coverage
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence
Technology news focused on how AI impacts daily life, business, and society. Accessible writing style with multimedia content. Regular updates on major AI announcements and trends.
News
Accessible
VentureBeat - AI News
https://venturebeat.com/ai/
Business and technology news focused on AI implementation in enterprises. Coverage of AI startups, funding, and practical applications across industries. Perspective on how AI transforms business operations.
Business Focus
AI Alignment Forum
https://www.alignmentforum.org/
Discussion forum focused on AI safety, ethics, and alignment research. Technical discussions but also accessible explanations. Understand critical perspectives on ensuring AI benefits humanity.
Ethics
Safety
Additional Career Development Resources
Khan Academy - Career Readiness
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Free courses on computer science, entrepreneurship, and college/career planning. Self-paced learning with video lessons and practice exercises. Covers foundational skills needed for tech careers.
Codecademy - Free Coding Courses
https://www.codecademy.com/
Interactive coding courses in Python, JavaScript, data science, and more. Free tier available for basic courses. Hands-on learning with immediate feedback. Good foundation for AI-related technical skills.
edX - University Courses
https://www.edx.org/
Free university courses from MIT, Harvard, and other top institutions. Offerings in computer science, data science, AI, and various career fields. Audit for free or pay for certificates. College-level content for advanced learners.
Internships.com
https://www.internships.com/
Database of internship opportunities across industries. Filter by location, industry, and career interest. Includes tips for application success and career advice. Start gaining real-world experience.