Appendix B - Mailing Materials

App-B-Mailing-Materials-04.18.12.pdf

O*Net Data Collection Program

Appendix B - Mailing Materials

OMB: 1205-0421

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Appendix B: Mailing Materials

List of Changes to Materials Included in the December 2008 OMB Submission
(Appendix F)
Item

Description of Pending Change
Data Collection Method: Establishment
DOL Information Package Letter
Replaced “Responses will be kept confidential.” with “Responses
will be kept private.”

Who, What & How Brochure

Replaced "Brent Orrell" with "Jane Oates" as the DOL signatory to
reflect staffing change at DOL
Replaced “In order for this process to be random and
confidential…” with “In order for this process to be random and
the information to be kept private…”
Replaced “Will the information we provide be kept confidential?”
with “Will the information we provide be kept private?”

O*NET Brochure
Association Endorsement List
Example of POC Memo to
Employees
RTI Letter to Employee with $10

RTI Letter to Employee without $10

Web Instructions
DOL Avoider Letter for Sampling

Replaced "Rob Stupar" with "Operations Center Manager" to
reflect a staffing change at RTI
Updated "O*NET Consortium" to "National Center for O*NET
Development"
Updated the list of endorsing associations
Replaced “Also, please be assured that your responses will be
kept strictly confidential…” with “Also, please be assured that
your responses will be kept strictly private…”
Replaced “Your responses are returned directly to RTI, where
your answers will be kept completely confidential…” with “Your
responses are returned directly to RTI, where your answers will
be kept completely private…”
Updated the name of the data collection task leader to Sarah
Harris
Replaced “Your responses are returned directly to RTI, where
your answers will be kept completely confidential…” with “Your
responses are returned directly to RTI, where your answers will
be kept completely private…”
Updated the name of the data collection task leader to Sarah
Harris
Revised to include unique ID and password printed on for each
employee
Replaced “…and the information you provide will be kept strictly
confidential.” with “…and the information you provide will be
kept strictly private.”
(continued)

List of Changes to Materials Included in the December 2008 OMB Submission
(Appendix F) (continued)
Item

Description of Pending Change
Data Collection Method: Occupation Expert
RTI Letter to Occupation Expert with Replaced “Your responses will be kept confidential.” with “Your
$40
responses will be kept private.”
RTI Letter to Occupation Expert
Replaced “Your responses will be kept confidential.” with “Your
without $40
responses will be kept private.”
OE Who, What & How Brochure
Replaced “Will the information that I provide be kept
confidential?” with “Will the information that I provide be kept
private?”

Association Endorsement List
OE Web Instructions

Replaced "Rob Stupar" with "Operations Center Manager" to
reflect a staffing change at RTI
Updated the list of endorsing associations
Updated the name of the data collection task leader to Sarah
Harris

Establishment Method Materials

Information Package Mailing to the Point-of-Contact
•
•
•
•
•
•

Letter from U.S. Department of Labor
Who What & How Brochure
Incentives Brochure
Selected Occupations List
O*NET Brochure
Association Endorsement List

Letter from U.S. Department of Labor

Who What & How Brochure

Your Participation in O*NET Involves Only

Three Simple Steps
Step 1: Assist Business Liaison (BL) in the employee
sampling process.
The RTI Business Liaison will assist you in determining which
employees in a selected occupation are chosen to receive
questionnaires. In order for this process to be random and for the
information to be kept private, you will be asked to compile a
numbered roster of the employees in each selected occupati on.
This will take place over a brief telephone call of about 5-10 minutes.

Step 2: Distribute questionnaires to sampled employees.
Once the employees have been sampled, we will mail questionnaire
packets to you for distribution to them. Remember, it’s important to
retain your roster as you are the only person who knows who the
questionnaires are intended to go to.

Step 3: Assist Business Liaison with follow-up activities.
Once you have received your questionnaires the BL will give you a
follow-up call to see if all the materials were received and to answer
any questions.
In the event that not all the questionnaires are
returned, we will send replacement questionnaires for you to distribute
to any non-responders at your organization. The BL will keep you
informed as the questionnaires are returned by the employee.

O*NET Data
Collection Program:
Who, What & How
An Introduction to the
Occupational Information
Network

Do I have to tell you the names of the employees sampled
for the data collection?
No, you do not have to give us the names of your employees at any
time during this study, unless you choose to have the questionnaire
sent to them directly. However, if you wish, you may give us the
initials of sampled employees to facilitate the distribution of materials.
We will delete this information when data collection has been
completed at your organization.

Will the information that we provide be kept
private?
Absolutely! No identifying information about you, your company, or
your company’s employees will be published or released in any form
to anyone outside the research team. We do not use names in our
results. The data we collect from your employees will be combined
with like data from other participants in order to develop a more
complete and comprehensive database.

Who will contact me?
You will be called by one of O*NET’s professionally-trained Business
Liaisons, who will walk you through the data collection process and be
available to answer your questions and concerns. Because we are
committed to providing you with the highest quality of service,
O*NET supervisors may monitor a sample of these calls.
If you have any questions, you can call toll-free: 1-877-233-7348, ext.
100 and the O*Net Operations Center Manager, will assist you.

Will employees do this on company time?

What is O*NET?

The questionnaires used in the O*NET Data Collection Program are
self-administered. The instruction sheet that is included with the
questionnaire packet requests selected employees to complete the
questionnaire in their “off time” from work (e.g., at home, at lunch,
during a break, etc.) The research staff has no direct contact with the
employees, except in the event that a selected employee has a problem
or question about the questionnaire and calls our toll-free number for
help.

The O*NET acronym stands for “Occupational Information
Network.” It is an automated database that replaces the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles (DOT) as the nation’s primary source of
occupational information. The O*NET information is available as a
timely, easy-to-use database that is designed to help millions of
employers, workers, educators, and students make informed decisions
about education, training, career choices, and work.

Am I required to participate by law?

What is the O*NET Data Collection Program?

No, your participation is voluntary. However, you are a critical link in
this data collection project. You have the opportunity to provide direct
input to the United States Department of Labor by providing
occupational information.

The O*NET Data Collection Program is an ongoing effort to develop
and maintain this unique database on the detailed characteristics of
workers and occupations. The information is primarily collected
directly from employees working in the occupations we are interested
in. The collection of this information is designed to provide data that
are valid, reliable, and current. The O*NET Data Collection Program
is a critical step in the full development of O*NET.

Is information on the O*NET Program available on the
world-wide web?
Yes, it is. Information on the O*NET Data Collection Program is
available online at: http://onet.rti.org. You can also find general
information on many other O*NET programs and resources at the
O*NET Resource Center website: http://www.onetcenter.org.

Who is funding this program?
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) funds the O*NET Data
Collection Program. You can verify this information by checking the
DOL website: http://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet.

How much time is this going to take?
We estimate that the total time for your participation is only about 15
minutes to 90 minutes over the next several weeks.
It takes approximately 30 minutes for a respondent to complete an
O*NET Questionnaire.

Who is conducting the O*NET Data Collection?
RTI is working with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to
collect these data. RTI is an independent, not-for-profit research
organization located in Research Triangle Park, NC. RTI is affiliated
with Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
and North Carolina State University.

How did you select my company?
Your establishment was randomly selected from a list containing
nearly every business and institution in the country. The participation
of your business is important since the employees we select from your
business will represent thousands of employees in many other
businesses like yours nationwide.

Are you selling us something?
Absolutely NOT! This is not a market study and we are not selling
anything. This is an opportunity for you to provide direct input to the
United States Department of Labor regarding occupational data that
will be used to develop a national Occupational Information Network
(O*NET). O*NET is available at no cost by downloading the O*NET
Database or by viewing the O*NET data using O*NET OnLine.

What are you asking me to do?
The “Three Simple Steps” on the last page of this brochure
summarizes what your participation involves. Briefly, we will first ask
you to assist in selecting a few employees in certain occupations in
your company. Then, we will mail you questionnaire packets to
distribute to the selected employees. Finally, we will ask you to help
us by following up with the employees who do not respond within a
few weeks time by distributing replacement questionnaires.

How many employees are you selecting in my company?
No more than 20 employees in total will be selected from your
business. Usually, the number selected is less than 20.

How will my company benefit?
To express our appreciation to your company for participating, we
offer your business the O*NET Toolkit for Business. This Toolkit is
designed to help you use the O*NET database to simplify tasks such as
writing job descriptions and planning for future human resource needs.
Additionally, every company benefits from the updated national
O*NET database that will be the product of the occupation
information your company provides.

How will I personally benefit?
You will benefit indirectly from the improvement in the O*NET
database that will be possible because of your company’s participation.
This up-to-date, accurate information will make tasks like writing job
descriptions and determining job qualifications much easier. In
addition, the person in each business who serves as our point of
contact will receive an attractive desk clock and a framed Certificate
of Appreciation from the U. S. Department of Labor. Another special
gift – the O*NET Toolkit for Business - will be sent to you later when
we mail the questionnaires.

How will the sampled employees benefit?
As our way of saying thanks, we’ll provide each sampled employee
with a $10 incentive attached to their questionnaire. (The only
exceptions are Federal Government employees and employees of
businesses that request that no incentive be offered.) Furthermore, an
improved O*NET database will benefit your employees in the long
run, if they are considering a career change or improving their job
skills to be able to qualify for a more specialized job.

What kinds of questions are asked of the employees?
Our survey consists of objective questions regarding the requirements
and training for occupations we have identified to study at this time.
You can find a complete set of questionnaires on the O*NET Data
Collection Program Website at: http://onet.rti.org. A selected
employee will receive only one of the questionnaires being used.

Incentives Brochure

Gifts that say “Thanks for participating
in the O* NET Data Collection Program”

*RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.

Conducted by RTI International* for the U.S. Department of Labor and the National O*NET Consortium

You have already received…

Thank you very much for your help

O*NET Desk Clock is
included in this mailing.

In our next mailing to you, you will receive…

We are very appreciative of the help you and your company
are providing to the O*NET Data Collection Program. We
realize your time is valuable and limited, and we are truly

A framed Certificate of
Appreciation from the
U.S. Department of Labor.

appreciative of your contributions to this program.
To express our appreciation, we have put together a collection
of gifts for you, your company, and the employees who are
selected to participate in the Program. Descriptions of these
gifts are shown on the right.
We believe the most valuable benefit of your participation

A $10 cash gift for each employee who is
selected to complete the O*NET Questionnaire.
The $10 cash gift is an expression of our appreciation
to the employees for completing this 30-minute
questionnaire during their spare time.

is the information that will be returned to you and your
company through the O*NET database. Many employers
access this database routinely for information on occupational

In a separate mailing, your company will receive…

characteristics, worker attributes, and job descriptions.
We hope you enjoy all these benefits of the O*NET Program.
We look forward to working with you over the new few weeks
as we collect occupational information from your company.

The O*NET Toolkit for Business. The O*NET
Toolkit for Business is a free packet of information
about the O*NET Program that managers can use
for human resource planning, including a guide
for writing job descriptions.

These gifts will be included with the questionnaires that we will ask you to distribute to the
sampled employees. Each employee’s $10 gift will be enclosed in a sealed envelope
containing the questionnaire.

Selected Occupations List

Selected Occupations for

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This list contains the definitions of a number of occupations that are of interest to [he surve y. Your O·NET
representative will try to determine whether you have employe es in some -of these occupation s in your next
phone call. Please have this list available when he or she calls.
Note: Only five or fewer of the occupations listed below will actually be selected from your organization.
The O·NET representative will provide further details about this when he or she calls.
1. Terrazzo Workers and Finishers:

Apply a rruxrure of cement , sand , pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion

durable and decorative surfaces.

2. Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles:
Apply blocks, strip s, or sheets of shock-absorb ing, sound-deadening, or decorative co verings to floors.
3. Stonemasons:

Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curb stones , or special types of masonry

for vats, tanks, and floors .

4. Plasterers and Stucco Masons :

Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.

5. Tile and Marble Setters:

Apply hard tile, marble, and wood tile to walls, floors, ceilings, and roof decks .

6. Carpet Installers:

Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.

7. Helpers--Electricians:

Help electricians by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using , supplying or holding materials or

tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

8. Helpers-Carpenters:

Help carpenters by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying or holding matenals or

tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

9. Brickrnasons and Blockmasons:

Lay and bind build ing materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and

terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and

other structures.

10. Rough Carpenters:

Build rough wooden structure s, such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnel, bridge , or sewer supports, billboard

signs, and temporary frame shelters, according to sketches, blueprints , or oral instructions.

O*NET Brochure

beyond

information .

intelligence.

More
O*NE

descrip

Hire intelligence.

busine

compr

* Rapidly changing world markets and vast technological
innovation. Increasing competition at home and abroad.
Rising customer expectations. For employers and job

D
I

seekers alike, staying competitive in today’s demanding

workplace means making smart choices in all employment

decisions.

* At the same time, occupational information

is everywhere—in books, newspapers, websites,

magazines, and elsewhere. But most sources only give

Tools

Wheth

part of the picture. Without standardization in the business

or just

of employment, compiling, customizing, and maintaining

solutio

occupational data can be a cumbersome, ongoing process.

Fortunately, the business of
employment just got smarter.
O*NET ®is a unique, powerful source for continually

WHO USES O * NET?
HR personnel
Training facilitators

updated occupational information and labor market

Students

research. By using a contemporary, interactive skills-

Workforce researchers

based database and a common language to describe
worker skills and attributes, O*NET transforms
mountains of data into precise, focused occupational
intelligence that anyone can understand easily
and efficiently.

Career counselors
Efficiency experts
Rehabilitation counselors
Job seekers
Software developers
Displaced workers
Business forecasters
Industry analysts
Educators at all levels
Organizational consultants

O*NET in action
More than a database—a solution.
O*NET integrates a powerful, relational database, a common language for job and skill
descriptions, and crosswalks to other classifications systems into a complete solution for
businesses, job seekers, and workforce development professionals. As the most
comprehensive occupation resource available,

O*NET helps workforce professionals:

S O * NET?

DEVELOP detailed, accurate job descriptions.
IDENTIFY interest and experience requirements to align the right
candidate with the right job.
DESIGN relevant career curricula and occupational skills development programs.
DEFINE success factors for promotion and advancement.
FORECAST HR requirements more effectively.

Tools you can use.
Whether it’s finding and retaining the right people, developing more effective job descriptions,

O*NET is your complete
solution for keeping up with today’s rapidly changing world of work. O*NET offers:

or just getting the most recent occupational information available,

Current, detailed information on more than 800 occupations including new and
emerging and green occupations.
More than 450 standardized descriptors of skills, abilities, interests,
knowledge, and work context plus the tools and technologies used.
Standard occupational classification (SOC) coding.
Easy-to-use interface and search menus.
Skill-searchable occupational descriptions for more exact career targeting.

ators

Tools to build accurate job descriptions.

earchers

Crosswalks to other classification systems and links to placement
and labor market resources.

ors

rts

Accommodation information to use as a disability counseling tool.

counselors

opers

kers

asters

sts

l levels

l consultants

O NET helps employers by giving them
very current information to help in the designing
of organizational, recruiting, training, and
compensation systems.

—Michael D. Bass,
Sears Roebuck & Co.

m
esigning
nd

the

power of
O*NET

BUSINESSES AND
HR PROFESSIONALS

JOB SEEKERS

USE O*NET TO FIND—AND KEEP:
QUALIFIED JOB CANDIDATES

A QUALITY JOB

Expand the pool of quality
candidates for open positions.

Find out which jobs fit with their
interests, skills, and experience.

Develop effective job descriptions
quickly and easily.

Explore growth career profiles
using the latest available labor
market data.

Define employee and/or job-specific
success factors.
Align organizational development
with workplace needs.
Refine recruitment and
training goals.
Design competitive compensation
and promotion systems.

What you’re

Research what it takes to get their
dream job.
Maximize earning potential and
job satisfaction.
Know what it takes to be
successful in their field and in
related occupations.

looking for.

O*NET ORGANIZES ITS WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT
EACH OCCUPATION INTO SEVEN, INTERRELATED AREAS:
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

describe the education, training, skills, licensing, and
experience required for entry and advancement.

OCCUPATION REQUIREMENTS

outline the typical tasks associated with each occupation or
group of occupations, including specific physical, social, or
structural demands on workers.

WORKER REQUIREMENTS

include individual performance factors, such as skills and
knowledge, including basic skills and cross-functional skills.

WORKER CHARACTERISTICS
WORKFORCE CHARACTERISTICS
OCCUPATION SPECIFIC INFORMATION
RELATED OCCUPATIONS

represent the work styles, interests, and abilities that are
important to job seekers evaluating potential career opportunities.
include links to current labor market information on occupations,
including wages, employment outlook, and industry size.
provides comprehensive details for a single occupation or
narrowly-defined job family.
cross-reference occupations that require similar knowledge,
skills, and experience.

O*NET in it
O*NET in it. Some of the most sophisticated occupational systems in
*theGet
world contain one powerful, unique ingredient: O NET. Software and system

developers can meet your specific needs by customizing
flexible data to your own organization’s applications.

O*NET ’s powerful,
O*NET was developed

by some of the nation’s top occupational researchers and analysts. They
have collected and classified occupational information to guarantee that

O*NET intelligence is accurate, current, consistent, and comprehensive.
Look for the seal. All software applications and other resources
powered by

O*NET data will now display the official “O*NET in*it”

seal on their packaging. Look for it to find the most dynamic
intelligence on today’s U.S. labor market.

O NET will help us keep our internal job descriptions,
appraisals, and training up-to-date. Rather than spend
our time collecting data, we will have more time to focus
on developing our workforce.

—James B. McGregor,
Morgal Machine Tool Company

Association Endorsement List

National Association of School
Psychologists
National Association of Service Managers
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of State Directors of
Career Technical Education
Consortium
National Athletic Trainers’ Association
National Bicycle Dealers Association
National Blacksmiths and Weldors
Association
National Burglar and Fire Alarm
Association
National Business Education Association
National Career Development Association
National Center for Manufacturing
Sciences
National Center for Simulation
National Cleaners Association
National Concrete Masonry Association
National Cosmetology Association
National Council for Advanced
Manufacturing
National Council of Agricultural
Employers
National Council of Teachers of English
National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
National Criminal Justice Association
National Dance Association
National Dental Assistants Association
National Dental Association
National Earth Science Teachers
Association
National Elevator Industry, Inc
National Employment Counseling
Association
National Environmental Health
Association
National Farmers Union
National Federation of Licensed Practical
Nurses
National Freight Transportation
Association
National Funeral Directors Association
National Glass Association
National Hardwood Lumber Association
National High School Association
National Human Resources Association
National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence
National Institute for Literacy
National Institute for Metalworking Skills
National Judges Association
National League of Postmasters of the
United States

National Management Association
National Maritime Education and Training
Association
National Paralegal Association
National Propane Gas Association
National Railroad Construction and
Maintenance Association
National Registry of Environmental
Professionals
National Rehabilitation Counseling
Association
National Retail Federation
National Roofing Contractors Association
National Science and Technology
Education Partnership
National Society of Professional
Surveyors
National Stone, Sand and Gravel
Association
National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association
National Therapeutic Recreation Society
National Tile Contractors Association
National Tooling and Machining
Association
National Tour Association
National Training and Simulation
Association
National Utility Contractors Association
Network and System Professionals
Association
Network Professional Association
New York Academy of Sciences

o-s
Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket
Association
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers
Association
Packaging and Label Gravure Association
Painting & Decorating Contractors of
America
Pedorthic Footwear Association
Plastic and Metal Products Manufacturers
Association
Pleaters, Stitchers & Embroiderers
Association
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
National Association
Precision Machined Products Association
Precision Machined Products Association
Educational Foundation
Precision Metalforming Association
Precision Metalforming Association
Educational Foundation
Printing Industries of America & Affiliates

Professional Association of Custom
Clothiers
Professional Caddie Association
Professional Landcare Network
Professional Managers Association
Property Casualty Insurers Association of
America
Refractory Ceramic Fibers Coalition
Refrigeration Service Engineers Society
Retail Bakers of America
Risk Management Association
Society for Experimental Biology and
Medicine
Society for Foodservice Management
Society for Protective Coatings
Society for Technical Communication
Society of Allied Weight Engineers
Society of American Archivists
Society of American Florists
Society of American Foresters
Society of Computer Professionals
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Society of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Society of Professional Benefit
Administrators
Soil Science Society of America
SOLE—The International Society of
Logistics
Specialty Graphic Imaging Association
Structural Insulated Panel Association

t-w
Telecommunications Industry Association
Tooling and Manufacturing Association
Transportation Intermediaries Association
Tree Care Industry Association
Tube and Pipe Association International
Tubular Piping Association
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America
United Council on Welfare Fraud
United Professional Sales Association
United States Tour Operators Association
Water Environment Federation
Western Dredging Association
Wildlife Disease Association
Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association
Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers
Association
World International Nail and Beauty
Association
World Leisure and Recreation Association

Association Support
As a leading national and industry association, we support O*NET, the Occupational Information Network.
A major initiative of the United States Department of Labor, O*NET is a database of occupation information,
specifying job characteristics and worker skills and abilities.
O*NET helps employers meet human resource challenges by identifying front line skill needs. It helps employees identify skills
necessary to succeed in their fields, and helps job seekers understand the skills and training they
need for the jobs they want.
We urge you to complete the O*NET questionnaire. By providing this valuable information, you will help
the O*NET database capture the realities of the changing American workplace and be a participant in building
a national labor exchange system able to compete in the international marketplace.

a
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Accrediting Council for Continuing
Education and Training
African American Women’s Clergy
Association
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Aircraft Electronics Association
Allied Pilots Association
American Academy of Actuaries
American Academy of Environmental
Engineers
American Academy of Orthotists and
Prosthetists
American Academy of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation
American Academy of Physician
Assistants
American Apparel and Footwear
Association
American Association for Adult and
Continuing Education
American Association for Health
Education
American Association for Homecare
American Association for Leisure and
Recreation
American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy
American Association for Respiratory
Care
American Association for Vocational
Instructional Materials
American Association of Colleges of
Pharmacy

American Association of Community
Colleges
American Association of Cosmetology
Schools
American Association of Early Childhood
Educators
American Association of Engineering
Societies
American Association of Motor Vehicle
Administrators
American Association of Museums
American Association of Psychiatric
Technicians
American Association of State Colleges
and Universities
American Association of Zoo Keepers
American Bar Association
American Business Conference
American Chemical Society
American College of Cardiology
American Composites Manufacturers
Association
American Congress on Surveying and
Mapping
American Correctional Association
American Council for Construction
Education
American Council of Life Insurers
American Counseling Association
American Culinary Federation
American Dental Assistants Association
American Design Drafting Association
American Education Finance Association
American Electronics Association

American Federation for Medical
Research
American Federation of Home Health
Agencies
American Federation of School
Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American Financial Services Association
American Fisheries Society
American Forest & Paper Association
American Foundry Society
American Geological Institute
American Health Information
Management Association
American Historical Association
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Hotel and Lodging Association
American Industrial Hygiene Association
American Institute for Conservation of
Historic and Artistic Works
American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics
American Institute of Building Design
American Institute of Chemists
American Institute of Constructors
American Institute of Engineers
American Institute of Floral Designers
American Institute of Professional
Bookkeepers
American Insurance Association
American Jail Association
American Library Association
American Loggers Council
American Management Association

American Meat Institute
American Mental Health Counselors
Association
American Moving & Storage Association
American Optometric Association
American Pharmacists Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Physiological Society
American Planning Association
American Probation and Parole
Association
American Prosthodontic Society
American Psychological Association
American Public Gas Association
American Public Human Services
Association
American Purchasing Society
American Rehabilitation Counseling
Association
American Rental Association
American Road and Transportation
Builders Association
American School Counselor Association
American School Health Association
American Society for Clinical Laboratory
Science
American Society for Engineering
Education
American Society for Engineering
Management
American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Quality
American Society for Training and
Development
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Association
Executives
American Society of Certified Engineering
Technicians
American Society of Interior Designers
American Society of Professional
Estimators
American Society of Radiologic
Technologists
American Society of Sanitary Engineering
American Society of Travel Agents
American Sociological Association
American Subcontractors Association
American Therapeutic Recreation
Association
American Watchmakers-Clockmakers
Institute
American Water Works Association
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
America’s Health Insurance Plans
Animal Behavior Society

Appraisal Institute
Appraisers Association of America
Architectural Engineering Institute of the
American Society of Civil Engineers
Associated Bodywork and Massage
Professionals
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors of
America
Associated Locksmiths of America
Associated Specialty Contractors
Association for Career and Technical
Education
Association for Career and Technical
Education Research
Association for Childhood Education
International
Association for Commuter Transportation
Association for Continuing Higher
Education
Association for Financial Professionals
Association for Healthcare
Documentation Integrity
Association for Library and Information
Science Education
Association for Library Collections and
Technical Services
Association for Professionals in Infection
Control and Epidemiology
Association for the Advancement of Cost
Engineering
Association of Business Support Services
International
Association of Consulting Foresters of
America, Inc.
Association of Credit and Collection
Professionals
Association of Energy Engineers
Association of Environmental Engineering
and Science Professors
Association of Equipment Management
Professionals
Association of Executive and
Administrative Professionals
Association of Information Technology
Professionals
Association of Management Consulting
Firms
Association of Master of Business
Administration Executives
Association of Minority Health
Professions Schools
Association of Oncology Social Work
Association of Sales and Marketing
Companies
Association of School Business Officials
International

Association of Schools of Allied Health
Professions
Association of Surgical Technologists
Association of the Wall and Ceiling
Industry
Association of Women in the Metal
Industries
Association of Women Soil Scientists
Automotive Maintenance and Repair
Association

b-h
Belt Association
Biomedical Engineering Society
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Blow-in-Blanket Contractors Association
Bread Bakers Guild of America
Brotherhood of Shoe and Allied
Craftsmen
Business Marketing Association
Business Professionals of America
California Fashion Association
Ceilings and Interior Systems
Construction Association
Center for Book Arts
Ceramic Tile Institute of America
Chamber of Shipping of America
Chartered Property Casualty
Underwriters Society
Commercial Vehicle Training Association
Community Transportation Association of
America
CompTIA
Construction Management Association of
America
Consumer Electronics Association
Contact Lens Manufacturers Association
Council for American Private Education
Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Industrial Boiler Owners
Council of Supply Chain Management
Professionals
Crane Certification Association of
America
Crop Science Society of America
Custom Electronic Design and Installation
Association
Dangerous Goods Advisory Council
Deck Industry Association
Dietary Managers Association
Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry
Association
Edison Welding Institute
Editorial Freelancers Association
Electronics Technicians Association
International

Employee Benefit Research Institute
Energy Council of the Northeast
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association
International
Federal Resource Center for Special
Education
Federation of Tax Administrators
Flexographic Technical Association
Floor Covering Installation Contractors
Association
Foodservice Consultants Society
International
Forest Resources Association
Forging Industry Association
Gases and Welding Distributors
Association
Graphic Artists Guild
Group Underwriters Association of
America
Healthcare Distribution Management
Association
Home Care Aide Association of America
Home Healthcare Nurses Association
Hospice Association of America
Hospitality Business Alliance

i-k
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers)
IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems
Society
IEEE Computer Society
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and
Biology Society
IEEE Engineering Management Society
Independent Automotive Damage
Appraisers Association
Industrial Designers Society of America
Information Systems Audit and Control
Association
Information Technology Association of
America
Inland Marine Underwriters Association
Institute for Certification of Computing
Professionals
Institute for Operations Research and the
Management Sciences
Institute for Supply Management
Institute of Environmental Sciences and
Technology
Institute of Industrial Engineers
Institute of Management Accountants
Institute of Management Consultants
USA
Institute of Packaging Professionals

Insurance Information Institute
International Association for Computer
Information Systems
International Association of Administrative
Professionals
International Association of Arson
Investigators
International Association of Asian Studies
International Association of Campus Law
Enforcement Administrators
International Association of Fire Chiefs
International Association of Foundation
Drilling
International Association of Workforce
Professionals
International Disk Drive Equipment and
Materials Association
International Economic Development
Council
International Executive Housekeeping
Association
International Federation of Professional
and Technical Engineers
International Fire Marshals Association
International Interior Design Association
International Maintenance Institute
International Masonry Institute
International Plant Propagators’ Society
International Public Management
Association for Human Resources
International Ticketing Association
International Union of Bakers and
Bakers-Confectioners
International Union of Bricklayers and
Allied Craftworkers
International Union of Painters and Allied
Trades
International Union of Police Associations
International Warehouse Logistics
Association
Ironworker Management Progressive
Action Cooperative Trust
Irrigation Association
Jewelers of America
Jewelry Information Center
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers
Association

m-n
Machinery Dealers National Association
Manufactured Housing Institute
Marine Technology Society
Marketing Research Association
Mason Contractors Association of
America

Material Handling Equipment Distributors
Association
Metals Service Center Institute
Metropolitan Burglar and Fire Alarm
Association
Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society
Modular Building Institute
NALS
National Academy of Opticianry
National Academy of Sciences
National Alliance of Business
National Association for Business
Economics
National Association for Equal
Opportunity in Higher Education
National Association for Girls and Women
in Sport
National Association for Home Care and
Hospice
National Association for Practical Nurse
Education and Service
National Association for Printing
Leadership
National Association for Sport and
Physical Education
National Association of African American
Studies
National Association of Child Care
Professionals
National Association of Child Care
Resource and Referral Agencies
National Association of Construction
Boilermaker Employers
National Association of Counties
National Association of County Surveyors
National Association of Emergency
Medical Technicians
National Association of Environmental
Professionals
National Association of Geoscience
Teachers
National Association of Health
Underwriters
National Association of Hispanic and
Latino Studies
National Association of Independent
Insurance Adjusters
National Association of Independent
Publishers
National Association of Legal Assistants
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Native American
Studies
National Association of Professional
Employer Organizations
National Association of Sales and
Marketing Agencies

m-n
Machinery Dealers National Association
Manufactured Housing Institute
Marine Technology Society
Marketing Research Association
Mason Contractors Association of
America

Mailing to POC with Questionnaire Packets for
Selected Employees
• RTI Letter to POC to Accompany Questionnaire
• Example POC Memo to Employees

RTI Letter to POC to Accompany Questionnaires

IN T E RN \ TIQ

3040Comwa"i~ Road

POBox ] 194·

e~ea rch Triangle Pilrk, NC2770 ·2 194 . USA

[DATE]
[NAME OF POC]
[COMPANY NAME]
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME OF POC]:
As we recently discussed on the telephone, enclosed are the questionnaire packets for the
employees who were sampled to participate in the O*NET®Data Collection Program. Please
distribute the packets to the appropriate employees as soon as possible.
Note that the label affixed to each envelope includes the occupation, line number and
initials of the employee (optional) from the roster you created for each occupation. Please use the
roster as a guide to ensure that each employee receives the correct envelope.
To encourage a high level of response from the employees, we have prepared the
attached example memorandum that you can send to each employee to show your support for the
Program. We hope you will consider modifying this memorandum as you wish and distributing it
along with the questionnaire packets. Call me at the number below if you would like me to send
an electronic copy of the memo to you.
We sincerely appreciate your company's support of this important program and hope that
our sincere thanks is communicated to each employee receiving a packet. We realize that their
participation is completely voluntary and that their time is valuable.
Finally, as a token of our appreciation for your efforts, we have enclosed a Certificate of
Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor in your name. Also enclosed is a frame for the
certificate. Your personal efforts in support of this important national data collection program are
recognized and sincerely appreciated by the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the entire
O*NET Project Team.
We will contact you again in the near future to see if you need any additional support. In
the meantime, feel free to contact me toll free at 1-877-233-7348, ext. [BL EXTENSION], any
time I can be of assistance.
Sincerely,

[NAME OF BL]
Business Liaison
Enclosure

Example POC Memo to Employees

Company Letterhead
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:

[SELECTED EMPLOYEE]

FROM:

[POINT OF CONTACT]

SUBJECT:

Occupational Information Network (O*NET®) Data Collection Program

Our company has been invited by the U.S. Department of Labor to participate in an
important national project called the O*NET Data Collection Program. The purpose of
this study is to collect information on the knowledge, skills, and competencies required
for individuals in various occupations. Results of this data collection effort will be used to
update a national database on occupations called the Occupational Information Network
(O*NET), our nation’s primary source of information on jobs.
You have been randomly identified to participate in this program as part of a national
sample. Your responses to the enclosed questionnaire are very important because they
will represent many other employees nationwide who also work in your occupation. I
encourage you to complete the questionnaire and return it as soon as you can.
However, your participation is completely voluntary and will in no way affect your
employment.
Also, please be assured that your responses will be kept strictly private and your name
will not be associated with your individual responses. As you will note from the
instructions provided in the questionnaire packet, your completed questionnaire should
be returned directly to RTI, the survey organization collecting the data. An addressed,
postage-paid envelope is enclosed in the packet of materials for this purpose. Neither I,
nor anyone else in the company, will ever see or have access to your answers.
Thank you very much for attending to this request. I hope you will complete the
questionnaire and return it to RTI in the next few days. If you have questions about it,
please contact me.

Selected Employee Package
 RTI Letter to Accompany Questionnaire (With $10 Incentive)
 RTI Letter to Accompany Questionnaire (Without $10
Incentive)
 O*NET Brochure
 Instructions for Completing the Web Version of the O*NET
Questionnaire
 Web Option Reminder Post-It
 Employee Questionnaire Packet Envelope
 Postage-paid Return Envelope

RTI Letter to Accompany Questionnaire
(With $10 Incentive)

RTI Letter to Accompany Questionnaire
(Without $10 Incentive)

O*NET Brochure

beyond

information .

intelligence.

More
O*NE

descrip

Hire intelligence.

busine

compr

* Rapidly changing world markets and vast technological
innovation. Increasing competition at home and abroad.
Rising customer expectations. For employers and job

D
I

seekers alike, staying competitive in today’s demanding

workplace means making smart choices in all employment

decisions.

* At the same time, occupational information

is everywhere—in books, newspapers, websites,

magazines, and elsewhere. But most sources only give

Tools

Wheth

part of the picture. Without standardization in the business

or just

of employment, compiling, customizing, and maintaining

solutio

occupational data can be a cumbersome, ongoing process.

Fortunately, the business of
employment just got smarter.
O*NET ®is a unique, powerful source for continually

WHO USES O * NET?
HR personnel
Training facilitators

updated occupational information and labor market

Students

research. By using a contemporary, interactive skills-

Workforce researchers

O*NET helps workforce professionals:

S O * NET?

Tools you can use.
Whether it’s finding and retaining the right people, developing more effective job descriptions,

O*NET is your complete
solution for keeping up with today’s rapidly changing world of work. O*NET offers:

or just getting the most recent occupational information available,

ators

Tools to build accurate job descriptions.

earchers

Crosswalks to other classification systems and links to placement
and labor market resources.

ors

rts

Accommodation information to use as a disability counseling tool.

counselors

opers

kers

asters

sts

l levels

l consultants

O NET helps employers by giving them
very current information to help in the designing
of organizational, recruiting, training, and
compensation systems.

—Michael D. Bass,
Sears Roebuck & Co.

m
esigning
nd

the

power of
O*NET

BUSINESSES AND
HR PROFESSIONALS

JOB SEEKERS

USE O*NET TO FIND—AND KEEP:
QUALIFIED JOB CANDIDATES

A QUALITY JOB

Expand the pool of quality
candidates for open positions.

Find out which jobs fit with their
interests, skills, and experience.

Develop effective job descriptions
quickly and easily.

Explore growth career profiles
using the latest available labor
market data.

What you’re

Research what it takes to get their
dream job.
Maximize earning potential and
job satisfaction.
Know what it takes to be
successful in their field and in
related occupations.

looking for.

O*NET ORGANIZES ITS WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT
EACH OCCUPATION INTO SEVEN, INTERRELATED AREAS:
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

describe the education, training, skills, licensing, and
experience required for entry and advancement.

OCCUPATION REQUIREMENTS

outline the typical tasks associated with each occupation or
group of occupations, including specific physical, social, or
structural demands on workers.

WORKER REQUIREMENTS

include individual performance factors, such as skills and
knowledge, including basic skills and cross-functional skills.

WORKER CHARACTERISTICS
WORKFORCE CHARACTERISTICS
OCCUPATION SPECIFIC INFORMATION
RELATED OCCUPATIONS

O*NET in it
O*NET in it. Some of the most sophisticated occupational systems in
*theGet
world contain one powerful, unique ingredient: O NET. Software and system

developers can meet your specific needs by customizing
flexible data to your own organization’s applications.

O*NET ’s powerful,
O*NET was developed

by some of the nation’s top occupational researchers and analysts. They
have collected and classified occupational information to guarantee that

O*NET intelligence is accurate, current, consistent, and comprehensive.
Look for the seal. All software applications and other resources
powered by

O*NET data will now display the official “O*NET in*it”

seal on their packaging. Look for it to find the most dynamic
intelligence on today’s U.S. labor market.

O NET will help us keep our internal job descriptions,
appraisals, and training up-to-date. Rather than spend
our time collecting data, we will have more time to focus
on developing our workforce.

—James B. McGregor,
Morgal Machine Tool Company

Instructions for Completing the Web Version

lnstructions for Gompleting the Web Version
of the O*NET@ Questionnaire
Username: [Username]
Password: [Password]
You can complete the questionnaires online if you prefer.
Just follow these simple steps.

1.
Step 2.
Step

Step

Go to the web address http://onet.rti.org.
Click on the Login link to gain access to the
questionnaires.
Enter your username and password. This information
can be found above or in the upper-right corner of the
front cover of any one of the questionnaire booklets
that you received.
Click on OK. Once you are logged in, you will receive
further instructions on completing the questionnaires'

Please be assured that your online responses are completely secure and
are protected by the same technology used by businesses to secure
credit card transactions.
lf you have any problems accessing the web site, please call 1-877-2337348, ext. 100. Technical assistance is available through this toll free
number Monday through Friday between 8:30AM and 5:00PM Eastern
Time. You can also email your technical questions to onethelp@rti.org.
lf you have any other questions about the survey, please call Ms. Sarah
Harris at RTI toll free at 1-800-334-8571, exl.2-7486 from Monday
through Friday between 8:30AM and 5:00PM Eastern Time. lf you
prefer, you can email her at harris@rti.org.

Thank you again for your participation in the
O*NET Data Collection Program!
0=848377 C=191 926 8=501 69

Web Option Reminder Label

Employee Questionnaire Packet Envelope

Postage-Paid Return Envelope

O*NET Toolkit for Business
• RTI Letter to Accompany Toolkit
• Toolkit Contents

RTI Letter to Accompany the
O*NET Toolkit for Business

[RTI LETTER TO POC TO ACCOMPANY TOOLKIT]
[DATE]
[NAME OF POC]
[COMPANY NAME]
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME OF POC]:
Your interest and support of the O*NET Data Collection effort is very important to the success of the
program. With that in mind, I am sending you this O*NET Toolkit for Business, in the hope that it will become a
valuable aid to you and your organization. This is a free gift to your company from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The O*NET Toolkit for Business was created specifically for organizations like yours to help them use
the information available through O*NET to simplify tasks such as writing job descriptions and planning for
future human resource needs. The following pieces are included in the toolkit:
§

The Quick Reference Guide to O*NET: an executive summary of O*NET information.

The OnLine Guided Tour: an introduction to the O*NET OnLine application.

The Content Model Reference Card: an overview of the conceptual foundation for O*NET occupational
information.

O*NET At Work: Writing Job Descriptions: step-by-step guide to writing job descriptions using O*NET
OnLine.

O*NET At Work: HR Planning and Employee Retention & Reskilling: step-by-step guide to doing
human resource planning or solving employee retention/reskilling problems using O*NET OnLine.

The compact disc: provides full copies of the O*NET questionnaires in both MS Word and WordPerfect for
in-house use, such as job analysis.

We hope you find this Toolkit useful. If you have any comments or questions, please contact me at 1-877233-7348, ext. [BL EXTENSION], or the Operations Center Manager at 1-877-233-7348, ext 100.
Sincerely,
[NAME OF BL]
Business Liaison
Enclosure

Toolkit Contents

Disclaimer:
This O*NET ® Toolkit for Business has
been produced by compiling information
and documentation provided by various
sources. The examples are provided as
illustrative uses of O*NET and, as such,
this Toolkit is provided “AS-IS” without
expressed or implied warranties.
Copyright Notice:
© 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008,
2011 U.S. Department of Labor, Employment
and Training Administration. All rights
reserved.
This Toolkit has been developed and
produced by Reingold, Inc. for the Center for
Employment Security Education and
Research (CESER) and the National O*NET
Consortium, with funding from the
Employment and Training Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor. No license is
required to obtain, copy, use, or distribute
this product. Materials produced from this
publication must be appropriately cited;
suggested citation is O*NET®: Toolkit for
Business, U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration
(DOL/ETA).

Any modifications to the training materials
which imply that O*NET can be used for
additional purposes not cited in the DOL
source materials, for which its validity and
reliability have not been established, must
be clearly labeled and identified in and on
the product as additions made to the
original DOL/ETA materials.
O*NET is a DOL/ETA trademarked product.
For any use of the O*NET mark, please
contact the National Center for O*NET
Development at http://www.onetcenter.org
or National Center for O*NET Development,
North Carolina Employment Security
Commission, P.O. Box 27625, Raleigh, NC
27611 for appropriate procedures and
requirements.
Inquiries and comments can be addressed
to the National Center for O*NET
Development by using the contact
information below.

O*NET® Toolkit for Business

Contents
Employers’ Quick Reference Guide to O*NET
Why Should You Use O*NET? ........................................1
How Can You Use O*NET? ............................................2
OnLine Guided Tour
About the O*NET Database and O*NET OnLine ........1
Using O*NET OnLine ......................................................2
Getting Oriented to O*NET OnLine..............................3
My Next Move..................................................................3
Green Occupations..........................................................3
Using Find Occupations ..................................................5
Understanding Summary, Details, and
Custom Reports ..........................................................6
Performing a Skills Search ..............................................9
Using O*NET Crosswalks ..............................................10
Search Tools and Technology ......................................10
O*NET at Work: Writing Job Descriptions
The Employer’s Challenge ..............................................1
Writing an Effective Job Description ............................1

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

Benefits to the Employer ................................................5

Acknowledgements:

O*NET at Work: HR Planning, Employee Reskilling

Sample Job Description..................................................6

The Employment and Training Administration
(ETA) wishes to acknowledge the following
organizations and offices for their
contributions to the O*NET® Toolkit for
Business:

The Employer’s Challenge ..............................................1

National Center for O*NET Development

Example 1: Human Resource Planning ..........................1

Ron Page, Ph.D.

Example 2: Employee Reskilling and Retention ..........5

The National O*NET Consortium,
comprised of the North Carolina
Employment Security Commission;
Center for Employment Security
Education and Research; and ETA’s
Office of Workforce Investment and the
Skills Assessment Team.

and Retention

Benefits to the Employer ................................................6
Content Model
O*NET Mini CD

toolkit for business

Employers’

Quick Reference Guide to O*NET

toolkit for business

Why should you use O*NET?
O*NET is a free, easy-to-use occupational information system that can help
your company save time and effort by leveraging its human resource
capabilities. From start-up to Fortune 500, every business faces challenges
in defining job requirements, developing accurate job descriptions, and
implementing effective personnel development strategies. In a technologydriven, highly competitive, and rapidly evolving marketplace, human
resource professionals, line managers, and decision-makers all need current,
accurate occupational intelligence.

Key O*NET business benefits
Time savings: Developing job descriptions can be time- and labor-intensive. O*NET OnLine puts current,
searchable information on hundreds of occupations at your fingertips, including education and experience,
apprenticeable specialties, work activities and typical tasks, as well as knowledge, skills, and abilities. You can easily
copy O*NET information and tailor it to your company’s specific needs—letting you develop quality job descriptions
in a fraction of the time.
Efficiency: O*NET data is easy to find, easy to search, and easy to understand—giving you meaningful occupational
information and analytical support instantly. This means that you can address a wider range of human resources issues
in less time, with less effort.
Consistency: O*NET standardized
occupational descriptors make it much
easier to compare work across a broad
range of functions and levels.
1

Effectiveness: O*NET provides
comprehensive and current information
for a wide range of occupations. This
translates into better targeted recruiting
efforts, more effective training, and
better defined career paths.
Added Value: O*NET standardized
descriptors create a common language
that is an applicable tool for a mobile
and rapidly changing world of work.
O*NET descriptions are based on
rigorous research and the input of
industry experts.
Cost Savings: Tracking down all the
information you need for Human
Resource planning can be expensive.
O*NET OnLine brings together
occupational information with links to
additional resources, such as
employment outlook, wages, and other
labor market information. All the data is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, with no fee for use.

To take advantage of O*NET information, use the quick reference
information on the next few pages—or see the O*NET OnLine
Guided Tour for more in-depth information, tips, and techniques for
getting the most from O*NET OnLine. For a more detailed
description of the O*NET information, see the Content Model
Reference Card.

How Can You Use O*NET?
Log onto O*NET OnLine
Just visit http://www.onetonline.org to check out O*NET,
run a search, or link to dozens of valuable resources for
occupational and career-related information.

Use O*NET OnLine
O*NET OnLine is a web-based application
that provides access to information in the
O*NET database of occupational information.

The O*NET Database provides occupational information within the following catetgories:

Worker Characteristics: Abilities, Interests, Work Values and Work Styles

Worker Requirements: Skills, Knowledge and Education

Experience Requirements: Experience, Training, Skills and Licensing Requirements

Occupation Specific Information: Tasks, Tools and Technology

Occupation Requirements: Work Activities, Detailed Work Activities and Work Context

Workforce Characteristics: Links to labor market information, occupational outlook and wage information

O*NET OnLine Search Options

Find Occupations allows you to search for occupations by
entering a title, phrase or code into the Keyword Search box, or by
using one of the “Browse by” options: Bright Outlook, Career
Cluster, Green Economy Sector, Industry, Job Family, Job Zone,
and STEM Discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics disciplines).

Advanced Search lets you “Browse by” O*NET Data; lets you
use Skills to find Occupations matching the skills you have or plan
to acquire; lets you use specific Tools or Technology to find high
demand occupations.

Crosswalk lets you search for an O*NET-SOC occupation using
codes or titles from other classification systems such as: the
Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), the Military Occupational
Classification (MOC), the Registered Apprenticeship Partners
Information Data System (RAPIDS), the Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC), the Classification of Instructional Programs
(CIP), and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).

Green lets you search for Green occupations that are part of the
green economy.

Valuable Related Links
O*NET OnLine offers a wide variety of
links to other valuable occupationrelated sites. Each Summary, Details,
or Custom Report includes the option
of linking directly to Wages and
Employment Outlook Information for
that occupation on CareerOneStop.
There are also links to the U.S.
Department
of
Labor,
other
government agencies, as well as links
to
information
on
disability,
accommodations, and workplace
issues.

Summary, Details, and Custom Reports
O*NET OnLine provides information at several levels. Summary information is designed to provide a quick
overview, focusing on the most important information on the occupation. Details information gives more
comprehensive information. Custom information allows users to create their own customized reports.

Downloading the O*NET Database

At the upper right of the O*NET OnLine home
page, Click on O*NET Sites then click on the link to
the Resource Center (http://www.onetcenter.org).

Click the Developers heading on the Left of the
page, then select Production Database.

Download the O*NET Database
The O*NET Database may be
downloaded free, for importing into
other systems. The O*NET database
includes
all
the
occupational
information in O*NET OnLine. This
information can be used to facilitate
career
exploration,
vocational
counseling, and a variety of human
resource functions, such as developing
job orders, position descriptions, and
aligning training with current workplace
needs.

O*NET Center Home Page
For more information about using
O*NET, or about O*NET products or
technical
reports,
please
see
www.onetcenter.org.

O*NET is brought to you by:

O*NET Project
USDOL/ETA/OWI/DWSS
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4231
Washington, DC 20210
www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

toolkit for business

O*NET OnLine

Guided Tour

This Guided Tour is designed to help you use O*NET® OnLine
more efficiently. While O*NET OnLine has a friendly, easy-touse interface, this guide and reference tool may speed the
learning curve for site navigation and search strategy.

About the O*NET Database and O*NET OnLine
1

O*NET (the Occupational Information Network) OnLine is a centralized online resource that enables you to access
occupational information in the O*NET database. O*NET OnLine offers links to other valuable online occupational
resources, including federal agencies and programs.
The O*NET database is the nation’s primary source for occupational information. It offers:
•

A common language and consistent descriptors for both worker and occupational information. Because
O*NET information is regularly updated and is based on careful research and analysis of “real world”
occupational data, it is a useful tool for a wide array of management and human resource activities.

•

A unique approach to organizing and presenting occupational information. The O*NET “Content Model”
gives employers convenient ways to hone in on information specific to a particular occupation, yet also lets
them compare occupations using common skills, job attributes, and worker attributes.

•

A helpful analysis and decision support system for many key business functions. Human resource
professionals, business forecasters, industry analysts, organizational consultants, and line managers find
O*NET information valuable in achieving objectives such as:
◆

Efficiently developing accurate job descriptions

◆

Developing more targeted and effective employee development programs

◆

Aligning organizational development initiatives with identified workplace needs

◆

Defining recruitment goals

◆

Expanding the pool of quality candidates for open positions

toolkit for business

Using O*NET OnLine
The O*NET database houses the occupational descriptors and data that
can be accessed through O*NET OnLine. O*NET OnLine is a convenient
and easy-to-use interface to the O*NET database.

Logging onto O*NET OnLine
This guided tour is most helpful if you log onto O*NET OnLine at
http://www.onetonline.org and follow this map to get familiar with
its functions and features. Or you may select O*NET OnLine from
the O*NET Home Page (http://www.onetcenter.org/) to reach
O*NET OnLine.

toolkit for business

Getting Oriented to O*NET OnLine
O*NET OnLine is designed to be intuitive. It’s easy to navigate through the web site and easy to search the
database. But because there are several different levels and types of information provided, it’s helpful to get a sense
of what each category of information is and how it can be used.

O*NET OnLine home page overview
This home page is largely dedicated to O*NET
OnLine’s search options. The other key
information available here includes:

OnLine Help: Assistance for
navigating, searching, and retrieving
information from O*NET
What’s New: Link to other O*NET
products and tools
What is O*NET: Link to information
about O*NET data, applications,
and research
My Next Move: A web-based
interactive tool for new job seekers,
students, and other career explorers
to learn more about their career
options. Provides the O*NET Interest
Profiler, a tool that offers customized
career suggestions based on a
person’s interests and level of
education and work experience.
Green Occupations: Discover
important information about green
occupations and the green
economy.
An email link for your comments
and suggestions for O*NET

About O*NET OnLine search options

Occupation Quick Search
provides quick access to
finding occupations by
keyword or code.

O*NET OnLine
offers four easy
search functions.

Find Occupations allows you to
search for occupations by entering a
title, phrase or code into the Keyword
search box, or by using one of the
“Browse by” options: Bright Outlook,
Career Cluster, Green Economy
Sector, Industry, Job Family, Job Zone,
and STEM Discipline (Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics disciplines).

Advanced Search lets you “Browse
by” O*NET Data; lets you find
Occupations using Skills you have or
plan to acquire; lets you use specific
Tools or Technology to find high
demand occupations.

Crosswalks lets you
search for an O*NETSOC occupation by
entering a code from
one of several other
occupational
classification
systems.

toolkit for business

Using Find Occupations

Users can search for occupations by:
Keyword or O*NET-SOC code
Browsing by Bright Outlook
Browsing by Career Cluster
Browsing by Green Economy Sector
Browsing by Industry
Browsing a list of Job Families
Browsing by Job Zone levels
Browsing by STEM educational area
(Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics)

Results for a Quick search
are listed in a rank order that
is calculated on the
relevance of the
occupational title, alternate
titles, description, tasks, and
detailed work activities
associated with the word or
words you entered.

Clicking on Relevance Score shows
where in the O*NET Database your
search word(s) found matches.

Understanding Summary, Details, and Custom Reports

When you search for occupational information, O*NET lets you review information at a variety of
levels. The sections below illustrate these different options by showing a sample of O*NET data
retrieved for a search of the occupational title “Art Director.”

Summary
Summary Reports are displayed when first selecting an occupational. They provide up to ten
descriptors rated 50% or higher on the Importance scale for each occupational and worker
characteristic.
6

Summary Example:
For Art Director, two
Interests categories
received high importance
ratings.

Details
The Details Reports option provides complete information, including ratings of relative
importance, on all the occupational and worker descriptors. This information is useful for indepth analysis and for comparing occupations.

Details Example:
Details reports on all six
Interests categories,
including importance
ratings.

toolkit for business

Custom
Custom allows the user to select the descriptors of interest as well as the scale (Importance or
Level of expertise) and minimum ratings desired for a customized report.
•

Importance ranks the relative importance of an attribute for a particular
occupation.

•

Level is an indicator of the relative level of expertise required for a skill,
knowledge area, or ability.

While the same skill can be important to a number of different occupations, the skill level
needed for each occupation may be different. For example, critical thinking ranks as
Important for both Art Directors and Craft Artists. But the Level rating for critical thinking
for Art Directors (57 on the Level scale) is higher than for Craft Artists (46 on the Level
scale).

O*NET Rating Scales
7

O*NET descriptors are
rated on several different
numeric rating scales, which
all range from 0 to 100.
The Importance and Level
scales are applied to Skills,
Knowledge, Ability, and
Work Activities descriptors.
In some domains additional
scales are also used.
Users can also choose to
include the scale anchors
used in the O*NET
Questionnaires, as well as
Detailed Work Activities
that are finer subsets of
Work Activities.

For Example:
Checking Skills at a minimum Level of expertise of 60 and Work Activities at
a minimum Importance rating of 90, along with scale anchors and Detailed
Work Activities, generates the report on the next page.

Custom Report Example

Related Occupations
At the bottom of Summary and Details
reports is a list of Related Occupations.
In Custom reports, under Other
Information, you may choose to view
Related Occupations as well as
occupations that Crosswalk with the
selected occupation.
Related Occupations for Art Director

toolkit for business

Wages and Employment Information
O*NET OnLine provides national wage and
employment information at the bottom of each
Summary or Details Report. In addition, the user
can select to be taken to CareerOneStop for
futher career resources.

Performing a Skills Search
Skills Search lets a user identify occupations that utilize specific skills. This search strategy could help
employees locate other positions within an organization or help an HR professional develop career ladders
within a company. When you select Skills Search, a screen displays definitions for six broad skill categories:

Basic Skills

Complex Problem
Solving Skills

Resource Management
Skills

Social Skills

Systems Skills

Technical Skills

Under each skill category, you can select any number
of the more specific skills listed. Then click Go at the
bottom of the page. The Skills Search Results page
will display a list of occupations that match the
selected skills, along with a count of the skills
matched.

Using O*NET Crosswalks
Crosswalk Search lets you search for
related O*NET-SOC
occupations using codes or titles
from other classification systems:

Apprenticeship – Registered
Apprenticeship Partners
information Data System
(RAPIDS)

DOT – Dictionary of
Occupational Titles

Education – Classification of
Instructional Programs (CIP)

Military – Military
Occupational Classification
(MOC)

SOC – Standard
Occupational Classification

Search Tools &
Technology
The user of the Tools & Technology
Search enters the name of a specific tool
or software product to find occupations
which may use that tool. For example,
the following is a partial list of the results
for “Tax software”

Saving O*NET Information
You can print and save any information retrieved from O*NET
Details and Custom Reports.

See Save Table and click on XLS or CSV at the top of any table
of information.

These links let you view or download the data as an XLS
(Excel) or CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file.

13-2011.01 Accountants

13-2021.01 Assessors

13-2082.00 Tax Preparers

O*NET is brought to you by:

O*NET Project
USDOL/ETA/OWI/DWSS
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4231
Washington, DC 20210
www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

toolkit for business

O*NET at Work:

Writing Job Descriptions

Describing jobs within an organization is
a common task that can consume large
amounts of time and resources. This
example application demonstrates how
human resource personnel can use
O*NET® to develop job descriptions
faster, better, and cheaper.

The Employer’s Challenge
Vitality, Inc. is a mid-size professional
services company with a growing
information technology (IT) department. To
better meet internal demand for technical
support, the company needed to create
several technical support or “help desk”
positions, and to develop a new position
description for computer support. Bob
Garcia, the Human Resource (HR) Manager,
turned to O*NET information to help
identify job requirements for computer
support work.

Writing an Effective Job Description
Job descriptions provide information to guide many human resource
applications. The amount of detail required depends on the intended use.
The more detail provided, the greater the breadth and depth of human
resource applications that may be addressed. The HR Manager determined
that O*NET information could provide a starting point for developing job
descriptions more efficiently.

Step 1:

Identify Job Tasks, Responsibilities, and
Work Context factors that will be part of
the newly created positions.

The HR Manager accessed the internet and typed in
http://www.onetonline.org. At the O*NET OnLine home page, he
selected Find Occupations. From the Find Occupations screen, he
was able to access the database of information describing work for
computer support occupations.
Using Keyword search, the HR Manager typed in “computer support”
and clicked GO.
The first match listed on the resulting screen was “Computer Support
Specialists.” The HR Manager selected this occupation and a Summary
Report was displayed.
The HR Manager then selected Custom reports, which provides
options for what information the user wants displayed on the
occupation.

toolkit for business

On the Find Occupations screen,
the user typed “computer support”
in the Keyword search box.
The user then clicked on the
Go button.

toolkit for business

Next, the HR Manager decided what
information describing the work of
Computer Support Specialists he wanted
to see.
The user selected the Tasks, Work
Activities, and Work Context check
boxes.

The user clicked Go to create the
Custom Report.

For selected O*NET Descriptors on
the Custom Report Menu, users can
choose the minimum score for the
items displayed and the type of
scale, such as Importance or Level.

The HR Manager copied the brief occupation
description to the job description document he is
creating (see page 6).
A sample of job titles obtained from incumbents is
provided.
Users can download the tables for selected O*NET
descriptors by clicking on either XLS or CSV by Save
Table.
Activities are listed in descending order of
importance.

The HR Manager printed the Custom Report and asked the IT Manager to highlight Tasks, Work Activities, and Work
Context information relevant for the position. Once the IT Manager highlighted the important information about the
work of Computer Support Specialists, the information was copied to the draft job description (see page 6).
Next, the IT Manager added information to customize the job description
to the needs of Vitality, Inc. The HR Manager gave the Work Context
Questionnaire* to employees in the information technology department
to complete. This gave him information about social and physical factors
in the workplace. Social factors include supervision, responsibility and
customer service interaction. Physical factors include aspects of the
environment that affect the employee’s physical comfort. This information
was also added to the draft job description.

Step 2:

Information from the Work Context
Questionnaire* can be used to
describe the working conditions in
which work is performed, and adds
greater detail to a job description.

Identify the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities that are
important for performing the identified tasks.

Returning to the Custom Report Menu
in O*NET, the HR Manager created
another Custom Report to access
information on Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities. Working with the IT Manager,
the HR Manager copied the
appropriate language from the O*NET
Custom Report for Computer Support
Specialists to the draft job description.

The user chose to examine Knowledge
and Skills by Level rather than
Importance.

Information about Abilities was copied
from O*NET in the same manner as
Knowledge and Skills.

* The Work Context Questionnaire is included in the O*NET Questionnaires on the enclosed mini CD.

toolkit for business

Once the information was gathered using O*NET OnLine, the HR Manager and
the IT Manager completed a draft of a job description. They presented this
draft to people in information technology functions within the company for final
revisions.
The job description that the HR Manager and IT Manager developed using
O*NET information is shown to the right. The language for the job description
was taken from O*NET OnLine. The red text was contributed by the staff.

Benefits to the Employer
The employer realized the following benefits:

The time invested in developing the job description was reduced from an
average of 24 hours to 8 hours.

The cost to the employer was reduced dramatically from approximately
$1,440 to approximately $480.

The job description was created using a standardized and common
language.

The standardized language used made it much easier to compare work
across functions and levels.

The new O*NET based description was of much higher quality than the less
specific descriptions used in the past.

Through O*NET OnLine links, the employer accessed additional
information on the Internet, such as current U.S. salaries, current and
projected employment, and related training.

Sample Job Description:

Computer Help Desk Specialist
Summary of Work Activities and Responsibilities: Provides technical assistance to internal computer system users for word
processing, electronic mail, spread sheet, database, and project management applications. Answers questions and resolves
computer problems for system users in person or over the telephone. Prepares and conducts evaluations of software and hardware
and makes recommendations to management for review. Monitors software, hardware, and peripheral equipment to detect errors,
evaluate effectiveness, and resolve problems. Installs software, hardware, and peripheral equipment and performs minor repairs.
May be required to prepare and conduct training for system users. Help Desk Specialists are results oriented, capable of working
on their own and making decisions. Work is performed from a central, well equipped technology center or at user stations. (This

summary is a compilation of information found in the O*NET Custom Report for Computer Support Specialists.)

Typical Tasks:
1)

Installs and performs minor repairs to hardware, software, and peripheral equipment in a system using [insert required
software] following design or installation specifications.

Confers daily with staff, users, and management to determine requirements for new systems or modifications.

Reads technical manuals, confers with users, and conducts computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems and
provide technical assistance.

Enters commands and observes system functioning to verify correct operations and detect errors.

Refers major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service.

Maintains record of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial action taken, and installation activities.

Conducts office automation feasibility studies, including workflow analysis, space design, and cost comparison analysis.

Reads trade magazines and technical manuals, and attends conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of hardware
and software.

Inspects equipment and reads order sheets to prepare for delivery to users.
(from the Tasks section of the Custom Report)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Must have knowledge of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware
and software, including applications and programming. Must understand the principles and processes for providing customer
services. Knowledge of instructional methods is helpful but not required. (from the Knowledge section of the Custom Report) Must
be able to determine what is causing operating problems and decide how to solve them using active listening and critical thinking
skills. (from the Skills section of the Custom Report) Must have the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and
use deductive and mathematical reasoning to detect, diagnose, and solve computer and system related problems. (from the

Abilities section of the Custom Report)
Education and Experience Requirements: People in this position must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information
Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related computer field, and two years of experience in computer support
and service. Must have experience with [insert required software]. (from the Job Zone - Education section of the Custom Report)

O*NET is brought to you by:

O*NET Project
USDOL/ETA/PWI/DWSS
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4231
Washington, DC 20210
www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

toolkit for business

HR Planning,
Employee Reskilling and Retention

O*NET at Work:

Two important challenges in today’s
workplace are 1) how to keep up with
the changing skills requirements of jobs
and 2) how to retain employees with the
proper skills. This example application
shows how Reliant Bank used O*NET® to
help address these challenges.

The Employer’s Challenge
Reliant Bank, a medium-sized financial services company, has
had difficulty ensuring that it has employees with the right skills to
handle its computer and information technology applications.
With changes in hardware and software technology, as well as
user requirements, the company has needed to continuously
work on reskilling its workforce.
The President of Reliant Bank feels that it has had too much
turnover from its computer and information technology (IT) jobs.
Exit interviews have indicated that a primary reason for turnover
is that employees want to upgrade their skills and be positioned
for career advancement opportunities.

The bank has not had a framework for addressing these issues.
Sharon Rogers, the Human Resources (HR) Manager, determined
that the O*NET system provides the framework and tools to help
address these challenges. The following examples show how the
HR manager addressed 1) Human Resource Planning — the
identification of future skills requirements and how to position the
organization for fulfilling these requirements, and 2) Employee
Retention — facilitating the development of employees and
positioning them for career advancement opportunities when
they become available.

Example 1

Human Resource Planning

Human Resource Planning addresses the organization’s future employee
needs by providing a systematic process for determining current versus
future knowledge and skill requirements. It requires identifying the types of
knowledge, skills, and abilities needed at a future point in time and then
comparing this to what is currently available. The difference, or gap, may then
be addressed.
Work analysis information, as provided by O*NET, can be a critical
component of an effective HR Planning process. The Reliant HR Manager
decided to use O*NET to help address the organization’s HR Planning and
employee reskilling and retention issues.
The HR Manager also determined that the greatest need was in the area of
information technology. Specifically, the needs were in hardware and
software application support. She took these steps:

Occupation Quick Search enables
the user to search for occupations by
keyword or code. It can be accessed
in the header of each O*NET OnLine
screen or by selecting Find
Occupations on the home page.

toolkit for business

Step 1:

Identify future staff needs.

The HR Manager met with line managers to identify future staff needs. They
decided to concentrate on defining needs two years in the future. The strategic
business plan for the next two years was reviewed. To accomplish its business plan,
Reliant Bank needed approximately an eight percent (8%) increase in staff for
computer hardware and software support.

Step 2:

Define Work and Worker Requirements
of future staff needs

The HR Manager reviewed information in O*NET OnLine. She accessed the
Internet and typed in http://www.onetonline.org.

toolkit for business

More information was needed on the nature of
work in computer maintenance and support.
The user went to the Find Occupations screen
and selected Computer and Mathematical under
Job Family.
The user then selected Go.

On the Job Family list screen the user selected “Computer
Support Specialists.” The Summary Report for this
occupation was displayed. However, the HR Manager wished
to customize the report and so she chose Custom on the
View Report line.
Next, the user chose to investigate
Tasks, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
by checking the appropriate boxes
within the Custom Report Menu.

For selected O*NET Descriptors on the Custom
Report Menu, users can choose the minimum
score for the items displayed and the type of
scale.
The user selected the Level scale for
Knowledge and Skills.
The user then selected Go.
The user reviewed the key tasks of Computer
Support Specialists. The list of tasks in O*NET
provides clarity about the application of
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Tasks are listed here.

Next, the user
Knowledge areas.

reviewed

the

Users can download the tables for
selected O*NET descriptors by
clicking on the “save table” link.

Knowledge areas are listed in
descending order by Level.

The user then reviewed the Skills.

Skill areas are presented in
descending order for Computer
Support Specialists.

The user then reviewed the Abilities.
4

Abilities are listed in descending
order of Importance.

Step 3:

For gaps,
define Knowledge, Skills,
and Abilities required.
The HR Manager compiled the
O*NET information into a listing for
the target job. This was reviewed by
the IT manager and selected
members of the IT staff. They
reported that the information was an
excellent framework for the “job of
the future.” They added additional
information that was specific to
Reliant Bank’s hardware and software
environment and completed the
effort within an hour.

Step 4:
toolkit for business

Create a master plan for acquiring or
repositioning employees to address future
needs.

The HR Manager then worked with line managers to develop a concrete plan
of action for developing and acquiring employees with the required skills. A
description of the jobs and job requirements was posted for current
employees.

Example 2

Employee Reskilling and Retention

The second issue that the HR Manager addressed was employee reskilling and retention. What skills are required
in the future? How can employees assure that they have the skills that will enable them to advance in their career?
When employees feel that they have advancement opportunities, they are more inclined to stay with the
organization.

Step 1:

Identify future Knowledge, Skill, and Ability needs.

The Knowledge, Skill, and Ability requirements that were defined in Example 1 were used. In addition, the HR
Manager printed out the Summary Report for Computer Support Specialists.

The Summary Report displays
the most important variables
within each available category
for the occupation of interest.

Step 2:

Identify current Knowledge, Skill,
and Ability levels.

Selected employees completed O*NET Knowledge, Skill, and Ability
questionnaires. These questionnaires were included in the O*NET Toolkit for
Business that Reliant Bank received. An analysis of this information identified
current knowledge, skill, and ability levels.

Step 3:

Identify gaps and development opportunities.

The current Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities levels were compared to the
future needs. Where gaps were identified, the employer took steps to
supplement current training in preparation for future requirements.

Step 4:

Communicate career opportunities and
development requirements.

Reliant Bank communicated to its employees about its future requirements
and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed. Where employees identified
gaps, they initiated efforts to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, or
abilities. This positioned them for future job opportunities within the
organization.

As a result of these actions employee turnover was reduced.

Benefits to the Employer
The employer realized a number of benefits by using O*NET, including:

Creating a concrete strategy for
addressing its future employee
needs.

Saving time by leveraging
O*NET technology and
information.

Reducing employee turnover in
mission critical jobs.

Incurring no additional expense
and remaining within existing
budgets.

Developing consistent and
thorough job descriptions.

Adopting a framework for
defining jobs and work and
ensuring that the organization
had a thorough and systematic
means of defining jobs and
worker requirements across the
organization.

O*NET is brought to you by:

O*NET Project
USDOL/ETA/OWI/DWSS
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4231
Washington, DC 20210
www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

toolkit for business

The O*NET® Content Model is the
conceptual framework underlying
the database. It identifies the
structure and types of information
contained

the

O*NET

Database. The O*NET Content
Model provides data categories that
allow you to review information from
the standpoint of occupations (via
job-oriented descriptors) and people
(via worker-oriented descriptors).

Reference Card
the O*NET Content

Model

O*NET’s Content Model clusters information into six broad categories, called domains:

Worker Characteristics: enduring characteristics such as abilities, interests, and work styles, that might influence both a
worker’s performance and the capacity to acquire knowledge and skills required for effective work performance.

Worker Requirements: work-related attributes acquired and/or developed through experience and education related to
the occupation. Knowledge refers to acquired facts and principles pertinent to a job. Skills are the application of knowledge
in a work setting and may be divided into basic skills (such as reading, which facilitates the acquisition of new knowledge)
and cross-functional skills (such as problem solving, which extends across several domains of activities).

Experience Requirements: qualities related to previous activities and specific types of work activities. This category
includes information about the typical experiential backgrounds of workers in an occupation or group of occupations, as
well as certification, licensure, and training.

Occupational Requirements: O*NET identifies generalized work activities and detailed work activities that may be performed within multiple occupations. Using this framework, a single set of descriptors can be used to describe many occupations. Work context descriptors (the physical, social, or structural context of work) that may impose specific demands on
workers are also included in this category.

Occupation-Specific Information: descriptors that apply to a single occupation or a narrowly defined job family. This
information includes occupation-specific tasks and machines, tools and software—referred to as Tools and
Technology. This category is particularly important for specific human resource applications, such as training, developing job descriptions, or redefining jobs.

Workforce Characteristics: general characteristics of occupations that may influence occupational requirements,
including the occupation’s social and economic contexts. Labor market information defined by industry or occupation also falls within this category. O*NET provides this information through links from O*NET OnLine to statistical
labor market information including compensation and wage data, employment outlook, and industry size information.
Much of this information is collected outside of O*NET by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the Census Bureau. An
interactive version of the O*NET Content Model is available from the O*NET Resource Center home page at
http://www.onetcenter.org/

O*NET is brought to you by:

O*NET Project
USDOL/ETA/OWI/DWSS
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S4231
Washington, DC 20210
www.doleta.gov/programs/onet

National Center for O*NET Development
P.O. Box 27625
Raleigh, NC 27611
www.onetcenter.org

A closer look at the
Content Model.
Each information category
(or domain) in the O*NET
Content Model contains
subcategories or subdomains, which further
define each category.
For example, the Worker
Characteristics domain
includes additional subdomains: Abilities, Interests,
and Work Styles.

Level 1: Worker Characteristics
Level 2: Abilities
Level 3: Cognitive
Physical
Sensory
Psychomotor
Level 2: Interests
Level 3: Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional
Level 2: Work Styles
Level 3: Achievement Orientation
Social Influence
Interpersonal Orientation
Adjustment
Conscientiousness
Independence
Practical Intelligence

Thank You/Reminder Postcard to Employee

Dear Madam or Sir:

I recently mailed you a questionnaire and asked for your help to update and expand the National
Occupational Information Network (O*NET@) database. If you have completed and returned it to us, please accept
my sincere thanks. As one of the randomly sampled respondents from across the country, your answers are critical
to keeping the O*NET database accurate and up-to-date.

If you have not yet completed and returned the questionnaire, please do so today. Your answers will ensure
'that the O*NET database remains a useful tool for business, educators, and individuals seeking career information.
If you have access to the Internet, you may complete the questionnaire on our web site at http://onet.rti.org.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,

\E **.q uJ

Michael F. Weeks
O*NET Project Director

P.S. Ifyou have any questions about this research project, please call Mrs. Sarah Harris at RTI at l-800-334-8571,
extension 2-7486.

THANKYOT]!
QClet.
\--qlrrr.

Avoider Letters
•
•
•
•
•

RTI Avoider Letter for Verification
RTI Avoider Letter for Screening
DOL Avoider Letter for Recruiting
DOL Avoider Letter for Sampling
DOL Avoider Letter for Follow-Up Calling

RTI Avoider Letter for Verification

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IRTI AVOIDER LETTER FOR VERIFICATION]
RTI lefterhead

IDATE]
INAME OF POCI
ICOMPANY NAME]
ICOMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME]:

RTI, a non-profit research organization, is assisting the United States Department of
Laboi in an initiative to build and mainlain an occupational database known as the
Occupational Information Network (O'rNEf). As a replacement for the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles, the O*NET@ project represents a vital component ofthe
Department ofLabor's effort to developjob related information that workers can use to
prepare themselves with the requisite skills to ensure success in the workplace.
Your establishment has been randomly selected to pafiicipate in this important program.
Over the past seveml weeks, I have telephoned your company seveml times, but have
been rmsuccessful in identirying someone to help us. I only need to ask a few short
questions about occupations perfomed in your organization to determine your eligibility
to panicipate in the O*NET@ Data Collection Program. This call should take only about
5 minutes ofyour time.
There is not much time left in the data collection schedule, so it is important that we talk
with a representative of your organization as soon as possible. Therefore, I would greatly
appreciate your calling me, hopefully within the next few days, toll ftee, at l-877-2337348, exl. IBL EXTENSTON]. You may call any time between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,
Eastem Time. Monday through Friday.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience, and thank you. in
advance, for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

lName

ofBLl

O*NET Business Liaison

RTI Avoider Letter for Screening

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[RTl AVOIDER LETT.ERIOR SCREENING]

IDATE]
INAME OF POCI
ICOMPANY NAME]
ICOMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear INAME OF POC]:

RTI, a non-profit research organization, is assisting the United States Department of
Labor in an initiative to build and maintain an occupalional database known as the
occupational lnformation Network (O*NE I@). As a replacement for the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles, the O*NET@ project represents a vital component ofthe
Department ofLabor's effort to provide currentjob-related information that workers can
use to prepare themselves with the requisite skills to ensure success in the workplace.
Your establishment was randomly selected to participate in this important program.
Several weeks ago, I spoke with someone who identified you as someone who could
answer a few short questions about the occupations performed in your organization. The
pupose is to determine whether your company is eligible to participate in the O*NET@
Data Collection Prognm. Over the past few weeks I have tried several times, although
unsuccessfully, to reach you by telephone.
Since there is not much time left in the data colleclion schedule, I would greatly
appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about the OrNET@ Program at your earliest
convenience - hopefully within the next few days. The call should take only about 5
minutes ofyour time.

toll free,

l-877-233-7348. ext. [BL EXTENSION] any time between
^t
p.m.,
9:00 a.m. and 5:00
Eastem Time, Monday through Friday.
Please call me,

Again, it is important that I speak with you as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing
from you, and thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

lName of BL]
O+NET Business Liaison

DOL Avoider Letter for Recruiting

u.s. Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

[DATE]
[NAME OF POC]
[COMPANY NAME]
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME OF POC]:
As you may recall, the U.S. Department of Labor is sponsoring an important data collection
project for the Occupational Information Network (O*NET®). Some weeks ago, our
representatives at RTI, a non-profit research organization, sent a package of materials to you
describing the O*NET® project and a desk clock. The clock is our gift to you just for taking a
few minutes to talk with us.
[COMPANY NAME] is one of a relatively small sample of companies in your industry that has
been randomly selected to participate in the O*NET® Data Collection Program, so it is very
important that we receive some critical follow-up information from you. Since our initial
conversation, we have tried several times, although unsuccessfully, to follow-up by phone.
The purpose of our call is to verify that you received the package and to obtain additional
information about tbe occupations within your company (as a representative of your industry) that
is not available elsewhere.
The enclosed brochure provides more information about the O*NET® Data Collection Program
and the level of participation we are requesting from your company. AdditionaIO*NET®
information is available on the Internet at http://www.onetcenter.org.
It is very important that our RTI representative speak with you within the next few days, as this
phase ofthe data collection is coming to a close. Please contact [NAME OF BL] as soon as
possible, toll-free, at 1-877-233-7348, ext. [BL EXTENSION], to discuss your company's
participation in this program. You may call any time between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday. The call should take only a few minutes of your time.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Zcv(-t~

Pamela Frugoli
O*NET/SKILL Assessment Team Lead
Office of Workforce Investment

Enclosure

DOL Avoider Letter for Sampling

DOL Avoider Letter for Follow Up Calling

u.s. Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

[DATE]
[NAME OF POC]
[COMPANY NAME]
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME OF POC]:
Thank you for your assistance with the Occupational Information Network (O*NET®) Data
Collection Program. The information your employees provide about their occupations will guide
workers in developing the requisite skills to ensure future worker and business success.
I am writing to ask your help in finalizing our data collection activities. Our project records show
that some of the questionnaires we sent to your business have not yet been returned to RTI. [BL
Name], our project representative at RTI, has attempted to contact you several times to follow up,
but as yet has been unable to speak with you directly. This phase ofthe O*NET® Data
Collection Program is nearly complete, and we have only a short time to obtain this important
occupational information from the randomly sampled employees at your business.
It is very important that we speak with you within the next few days to learn the status of these
missing questionnaires and to determine if for any reason, any of the sampled employees will be
unable to meet our request. The deadline for this phase of the data collection program is near.
Please call [Name of BL] tolI-free at 1-877-233-7348, ext. [BL EXTENSION], at your earliest
convenience so that we may finalize our activities for your company. You may call any time
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. The call should take
only a few minutes of your time.
Thanks again for your continued assistance with this important program.
Sincerely,

Pamela Frugoli
O*NET/SKILL Assessment Team Lead
Office of Workforce Investment

Occupation Expert Method Materials
• Letter to Occupation Expert from U.S. Department of
Labor
• RTI Letter to Occupation Expert to Accompany
Questionnaire (with $40 Incentive)
• RTI Letter to Occupation Expert to Accompany
Questionnaire (without $40 Incentive)
• Occupation Expert Questionnaire Sequence Labels
• Occupation Expert Method Who What & How Brochure
• Association Endorsement List
• Instructions for Completing Occupation Expert Web
Version
• Thank You / Reminder Postcard to Occupation Expert
• Occupation Expert Avoider Letters

Letter to Occupation Expert from
U.S. Department Of Labor

(DATE)
(OE NAME)
(ADDRESS)
(ADDRESS)
(ADDRESS)
Dear (OE NAME):
You recently received a phone call from RTI about an important program called the
Occupational Information Network (O*NET®). As the caller explained, the U.S.
Department of Labor is requesting your assistance with the O*NET program. The
program serves employers, human resource professionals, job seekers, trainers, and labor
market analysts nationwide who depend on occupational information to perform their
daily work. Individuals who are exploring and planning careers also use O*NET
information. We would like your help to keep this information current.
You have been identified as an occupation expert for the occupation of (occupation
name). As a participating expert, you will be asked to complete O*NET questionnaires
on the knowledge areas, work activities, work context factors, and tasks common to the
occupation; we also ask for some background information about you. To express our
appreciation for your expert contribution to this effort, you will receive a payment of $40
and a framed Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor. These
items will be included when we mail the questionnaires to you. You can either complete
the paper questionnaires and mail them back to RTI in the postage-paid envelope they
will provide, or you may complete the questionnaires online using unique login
credentials provided on each questionnaire cover.
Your participation in this effort is voluntary, yet participation by you and other
occupation experts is vital to the success of this important program. A member of the
RTI O*NET team will call you in a few days to provide additional details and answer any
questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

Pamela Frugoli
O*NET/SKILL Assessment Team Lead
Office of Workforce Investment

RTI Letter to Occupation Expert to Accompany
Questionnaire (with $40 Incentive)

RTI Letter to Occupation Expert to Accompany
Questionnaire (without $40 Incentive)

Occupation Expert
Questionnaire Sequence Labels

Occupation Expert Method
Who What & How Brochure

Your Participation in O*NET Involves Only

Three Simple Steps
Step 1: Ensure all O*NET questionnaires on the packing
list are enclosed within the box.
Review the materials in the box you receive to ensure all of the O*NET
questionnaires are enclosed. The covers for the questionnaires are different
colors and are labeled according to their content and the order in which they
should be completed.

Step 2: Complete the O*NET questionnaires.
Please complete the O*NET questionnaires in the order indicated on the
labels on the cover of the questionnaires. In order to maximize the quality
of the data, we have pre-assigned the order of the questionnaires. Please
complete the questionnaires in that order. Work at your own pace, in as
many sittings as your schedule requires. You may wish to complete the
questionnaires online at http://onet.rti.org. Your unique login credentials are
printed in the upper-right corner of each printed questionnaire cover.

Step 3: Return the O*NET questionnaires in the
enclosed postage-paid return envelope.
After completing the O*NET questionnaires, please return them in the
postage-paid return envelope. Before sealing the envelope, please review the
checklist located on the back of the return envelope.

Form: OE 03/2012
Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

O*NET Data
Collection Program:
Occupation Expert
Who, What & How
An Introduction to the
Occupational Information
Network

How will I personally benefit?
As our way of saying thanks for completing and
returning the O*NET questionnaires, we will send
you $40 in cash and a framed Certificate of
Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Labor (If
you wish, you may decline the gifts). These items
will arrive in a package with the O*NET
questionnaires. In addition, you will benefit from the
improvement in the O*NET database. Millions of
people nationwide will better understand the
occupation with the up-to-date, accurate information
that you provide.

Who will contact me?
You will be called by one of O*NET's professionallytrained Business Liaisons, who will walk you through
the data collection process and be available to address
your questions and concerns. Because we are committed
to providing you with the highest quality of service,
O*NET supervisors may monitor a sample of these calls.
If you have questions, you can call toll-free:
1-877-233-7348, ext. 100, and the O*NET Operations
Center Manager, will assist you.

Is information on the O*NET Program
available on the World Wide Web?
Yes. General information on many O*NET programs
and resources can be found at the O*NET Resource
Center website: http://www.onetcenter.org.
Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

Will the information that I provide be kept
private?
Absolutely! No identifying information about you
will be published or released in any form to anyone
outside the research team. We do not use names in
our results. Your data will be combined with data
from other occupation experts in order to develop a
more complete and comprehensive database.

Am I required by law to participate?
Your participation is voluntary. However, you are a
critical link in this data collection program. This is an
opportunity to provide direct input to the United
States Department of Labor by providing
occupational information.

Are you selling me something?
Absolutely NOT! This is not a market study and we
are not selling anything. O*NET information is
available at no cost by downloading the O*NET
Database or by viewing the O*NET data using
O*NET Online (http://online.onetcenter.org).

Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

What is O*NET®?
The O*NET® acronym stands for “Occupational
Information Network.” It is an automated database
that replaces the Dictionary of Occupational Titles
(DOT) as the nation’s primary source of occupational
information. O*NET information is available as a
timely, easy-to-use database designed to help millions
of employers, workers, educators, and students make
informed decisions about education, training, career
choices, and work.

What is the O*NET Data
Collection Program?
The O*NET Data Collection Program is an ongoing
effort to develop and maintain this unique database on
the detailed characteristics of workers and
occupations. The information is primarily collected
from
employees
working
within
selected
organizations. Occupation experts are providing
information for some occupations. The collection of
this information is designed to provide data that are
valid, reliable, and current. The O*NET Data
Collection Program is a critical step in the full
development of O*NET.

Who is funding this program?
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) funds
the O*NET Data Collection Program. You may
verify this information by checking the DOL website:
http://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet.
Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

Who is conducting the O*NET
Data Collection?
RTI International is working with the United States
Department of Labor (DOL) to collect these data.
RTI International is an independent, not-for-profit
research organization located in Research Triangle
Park, NC. RTI is affiliated with Duke University, the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and
North Carolina State University.

What is an occupation expert?
An occupation expert is a person who has several
years of experience and training in an occupation. He
or she has the expert knowledge required to respond
to questions about the skills, knowledge and activities
required for work in the occupation.

How did you get my name?
Occupation experts are identified by contacting
professional associations and educational institutions
related to the occupation.

What kinds of questions will I be asked?
The questionnaires consist of objective questions about
the activities, work context, training, and other aspects
of work within an occupation.

Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

Why should I participate?
Your participation is important because your
responses, combined with the responses of other
experts, will describe your occupation to millions of
job seekers, educators, career counselors, human
resource professionals, and labor market analysts.

What are you asking me to do?
The “Three Simple Steps” on the last page of this
brochure summarizes your participation. Briefly, we
will ask you to carefully complete several
questionnaires in a certain order and return them to
RTI in the postage-paid return envelope provided. If
you have access to the Internet, you may wish to
complete the questionnaires on our Web site. In your
questionnaire packet, we will enclose instructions for
responding online. It should take you approximately
90 minutes to complete the questionnaires.

Can I complete the questionnaires online?
Absolutely. Each of the paper questionnaires sent to
you is also available via our secure Web site,
http://onet.rti.org. As an identified occupation expert,
you will be issued login credentials to allow you to
access Web versions of the questionnaires. These
unique credentials (username and password) are
printed on the cover of each paper questionnaire for
ease of reference.

Find out more at http://onet.rti.org.

Association Endorsement List

m-n
Machinery Dealers National Association
Manufactured Housing Institute
Marine Technology Society
Marketing Research Association
Mason Contractors Association of
America

Instructions for Completing Occupation Expert
Web Version

lnstructions for Gompleting O*NET@
Occupation Expert Questionnaires Online

Username:
Password:

[Respondent Specific]
[Respondent Specific]

You can complete the questionnaires online, if you prefer. Just follow these
simple steps.

1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step

Step

Go to the Web address http://onet.rti.orq.
Click on the Login link to gain access to the questionnaires.
Enter your Username and Password. This information can be found
above or in the upper-right corner of the front cover of any one of the
questionnaire booklets that you received.
Click on OK. Once you are logged in, you will receive further
instructions on completing the questionnaires.

Please be assured that your online responses are completely secure and are
protected by the same technology used by businesses to secure credit card
numbers.

lf you have any problems accessing the Web site, please call 1-877-233-7348, ext.
100. Technical assistance is available through this toll free number Monday
through Friday between B:30 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time. You can also email
your technical questions to onethelp@rti.orq.
lf you have any other questions about the survey, please call Ms. Sarah Harris at
RTI toll free at 1-800-334-8571, ext2-7486 from Monday through Friday between
B:30 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time. lf you prefer, you can email her at
harris@rti.orq.

Thank you again for your participation in the
O*NET Data Collection Program!

Thank You / Reminder Postcard
for Occupation Expert

Dear Occupation Expert:
An O*NET questionnaire package was recently mailed to you. If you have completed and returned the questionnaires, please accept
my sincere thanks. Your responses are critical to keeping the occupational information accurate and current.
If you have not yet completed and returned the questionnaires, please do so as soon as possible. You may find it convenient to
complete the questionnaires online; if so, please refer to any of the questionnaire covers for your unique login credentials, and then
visit http://onet.rti.org to participate. Your answers will ensure that O*NET data provide useful information for individuals and
businesses across the nation.
If you have questions, please call the Operations Center Manager toll-free at 877-233-7348, ext. 100.
Sincerely,

Michael F. Weeks
O*NET Project Director
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

O*NET Data Collection Program
Research Triangle Institute
P.O. Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-1294

Affix
stamp
Here

OE Postcard
Affix
Address Label
Here

Occupation Expert Avoider Letters

~RTI

3040 Cornwallis Road.

PO Box 12194 • Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

• USA

INTERNATIONAL

[DATE]

[OENAME]
[OE ADDRESS]
[OE ADDRESS]
Dear [OE NAME]:
RTI, a non-profit research organization, is assisting the United States Department of
Labor in an initiative to build and maintain an occupational database known as the
Occupational Information Network (O*NET®). The O*NET program represents a vital
component of the Department of Labor's effort to develop job-related information that
workers can use to prepare themselves for success in the workplace.
You have been selected to participate in this important program. Over the past several
weeks, I have telephoned you several times but have been unsuccessful in reaching you.
I only need to ask you a few short questions to determine your eligibility to participate as
an occupational expert on the work of [OCCUPATION NAME]. This call should take
only about 5 minutes of your time.
There is not much time left in the data collection schedule, so it is important that I talk
with you as soon as possible. I would greatly appreciate your calling me within the next
few days, toll-free, at 877-233-7348, ext. [BL extension). You may call anytime between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience, and thank you, in
advance, for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

[BLNAME]
Business Liaison

tll r n n~ In 0 'duic;('

lf1 i'} P UU [1(

RTllntemational

is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.

U.S. Department of Labor
[DATE]

Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

[OENAME]
[OE ADDRESS]
[OE ADDRESS]
Dear [OE NAME]
As you may recall, the U.S. Department of Labor is sponsoring an important data
collection program for the Occupational Information Network (O*NET®). Some weeks
ago, our representatives at RTI, a non-profit research organization, sent a package of
materials to you describing the O*NET program. The desk clock included in the package
is our gift to you just for taking a few minutes to talk with us.
You have been selected to participate in the O*NET Data Collection Program as an
occupational expert on the work of [OCCUPATION NAME]. Since our initial
conversation, we have tried several times, although unsuccessfully, to follow up by
phone. The purpose of our call is to verify that you received the package and to talk with
you about your voluntary participation in this very important program.
The enclosed brochure provides more information about the O*NET Data Collection
Program and the level of participation we are requesting from you. Additional O*NET
information is available on the Internet at http://www.onetcenter.org.
It is very important that our RTI representative speak with you within the next few days,
as this phase of the data collection is coming to a close. Please contact [BL NAME] as
soon as possible, toll-free, at 877-233-7348, ext. [BL extension], to discuss your
participation in this program. You may call anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern
time, Monday through Friday. The call should take only a few minutes of your time.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

Pamela L. Frugoli
O*NET/Skill Assessment Team Lead
Office of Workforce Investment
Reference number 891

u.s. Department of Labor
[DATE]

Employment and Training Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

[OENAME]
[OE ADDRESS]
[OE ADDRESS]
Dear [OE NAME]:

Thank you for your assistance with the Occupational Information Network
(O*NET®) Data Collection Program. The information you provide about the occupation
of [OCCUPATION NAME] will guide workers interested in learning about those skills
that are important for success within this occupation.
I am writing to ask your help in finalizing our data collection activities. Our program
records show that the questionnaires we sent you have not yet been returned to RTI. [BL
NAME], our program representative at RTI, has attempted to contact you several times to
follow up, but has not yet been able to speak with you directly. This phase of the O*NET
Data Collection Program is nearly complete, and we have only a short time to obtain this
important occupational information from you.
It is very important that we speak with you within the next few days to learn the status of
your questionnaires. The deadline for this phase ofthe data collection program is near.
Please call [BL NAME], toll-free at 1-877-233-7348, ext. [BL Extension] at your earliest
convenience. You may call anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern time, Monday
through Friday. The call should take only a few minutes of your time.
Thanks again for your continued assistance with this important program.
Sincerely,

Pamela L. Frugoli
O*NET/Skill Assessment Team Lead
Office of Workforce Investment
Reference number 891

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - Appendix Covers 2.doc
File Modified	2012-04-19
File Created	2005-01-20