Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment

Exploring your career interests is an important process that involves self-reflection, research, and experimentation. Here are some steps you can take to explore your career interests effectively:

1. Self-Assessment: Start by reflecting on your interests, values, strengths, and skills. Consider what activities or subjects you enjoy, what values are important to you in a career, and what you excel at. Self-assessment tools such as personality assessments, skills inventories, and interest surveys can help you gain insights into your preferences and strengths. You can take the Focus 2 to begin this process and meet with an ACES team member to discuss your results.
2. Research Careers: Conduct thorough research into various career options that align with your interests, values, and skills. Explore different industries, job roles, and career paths to gain a better understanding of the opportunities available. Use resources like What can I do what my Major, O*Net Online, industry publications, informational interviews, and job shadowing experiences to gather information about different careers.
3. Set Goals: Establish clear goals for your career exploration process. Determine what you hope to achieve, such as identifying potential career paths, gaining insight into specific industries, or developing new skills. Setting goals can help you stay focused and motivated throughout the exploration process.
4. Experiment and Gain Experience: Experiment with different activities, internships, volunteer opportunities, or part-time jobs related to your areas of interest. Hands-on experience can provide valuable insights into the day-to-day realities of various careers and help you determine whether they are a good fit for you.
5. Seek Advice and Guidance: Reach out to professionals working in fields that interest you and ask for informational interviews or mentorship opportunities. Seek advice from career counselors, mentors, teachers, and experienced professionals who can provide guidance, share their experiences, and offer valuable insights into different career paths.
6. Take Courses and Attend Workshops: Explore your interests further by taking courses, workshops, or seminars related to areas you want to explore. This can help you gain new skills, expand your knowledge, and make informed decisions about your career path.
7. Evaluate and Reflect: Continuously evaluate and reflect on your career exploration journey. Pay attention to what aspects of your experiences resonate with you the most and what areas you find less engaging. Reflect on your strengths, interests, values, and goals to refine your career interests and narrow down your options.
8. Stay Open-Minded and Flexible: Keep an open mind throughout the career exploration process and be willing to explore unexpected opportunities. Stay flexible and adaptable as you gather new information and insights that may influence your career decisions.
9. Network: Build relationships with professionals in industries or roles that interest you. Networking can provide valuable insights, opportunities for mentorship, and potential connections to job opportunities in the future.
10. Make Decisions and Take Action: Based on your research, experiences, and reflections, make informed decisions about your career path and take proactive steps to pursue your goals. Remember that career exploration is an ongoing process, and it’s okay to adjust your course as you learn more about yourself and the opportunities available to you.

Meet with an ACES team member to learn more or check out our career resources on Handshake!