Your Career Interest Inventory

Determining your career interests doesn't have to be difficult and it isn't something that you necessarily need to know before going to college. Few people know their major or career for certain before attending school. And while you do not have to make a firm decision on what your major or career will be right now, you can take a Career Interest Assessment, such as the one offered by WiseChoice, to identify your career interests. In the meantime, you may want to explore colleges with broad lists of programs to satisfy your interests.

Determine What You Like and Dislike to Find Your Career

Start by asking yourself what you don't want to do and which activities you don't like doing. Narrow your list by checking off the ones you don't like. When planning your career, recognizing what you dislike is equally as important as knowing what you do like. (After all, who wants to be miserable in a career?)

Next, determine your strengths, natural talents and what you really enjoy doing. Start brainstorming and write down all your interests, or take the WiseChoice Career Assessment. Don't forget to ask your friends and family what they think you are passionate about. Often others see your real interests better than you can see for yourself.

Once you have your likes, dislikes and interests, visit your high school's career center or use the WiseChoice career exploration tools to find out which careers may suit you and which fields you can eliminate. For example, you know you love math, but where would that lead you in terms of a career? Similarly, if you hate math, eliminate career paths that may not be the best option for you (such as engineering).

Research Your Career Interests

If there is a career you think you may be interested in, research it! Just remember you’ll have more time to explore careers in the future; you don’t have to know just yet, and you will probably want to continue exploring careers during college.

• Find a part-time job or internship over the summer. If you love working with animals, you may want to work in a vet's office and learn the various career choices within this field.
• Schedule informational interviews and ask if you can "job shadow" someone for a day. If you find law interesting and think you would be great at it because you excel on the debate team, schedule an appointment with an attorney. Perhaps your family or friends could refer you to someone they know. Observe his/her day and ask questions about the profession.
• Research careers you are considering online in the Occupational Information Network from the Department of Labor or on WiseChoice. These resources have a lot of information on different careers, such as earning potential, studying/training involved, and the future demand of the job (i.e., job forecast).

By determining your interests now, you can start to explore various career fields and get a head-start on outlining your career plan.