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Explore Your Vocation: Career Assessments
Explore Your Vocation: Career Assessments
Use these assessments as a starting point, not a final answer. They may help you recognize strengths and interests you haven't considered before and introduce you to careers you didn't know existed. Then do some research: What does the work actually involve? What education or training is required? What does it pay? And, most importantly, could you see yourself using your particular gifts in that work?
Use these assessments as a starting point, not a final answer. They may help you recognize strengths and interests you haven't considered before and introduce you to careers you didn't know existed. Then do some research: What does the work actually involve? What education or training is required? What does it pay? And, most importantly, could you see yourself using your particular gifts in that work?
O*NET Interest Profiler / My Next Move
Developed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Students answer questions about activities they enjoy and receive career matches.
Uses the RIASEC model: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
Connects results to information on 900+ careers, including education, skills, salary, and job outlook.
CareerOneStop Interest Assessment
Also a U.S. Department of Labor resource.
About 30 questions and gives students a list of careers that match their interests.
I especially like CareerOneStop because students can then explore salary, education requirements, job outlook, skills, and related careers rather than stopping at the quiz.
CareerOneStop Work Values Matcher
This is a particularly good second assessment because it asks students to think about what matters to them in work—things like helping others, independence, achievement, working conditions, etc.
It pairs nicely with an interest assessment because what you enjoy doing and what you value in a career aren't always the same thing. CareerOneStop offers this along with its Interest Assessment and Skills Matcher for free.
Explore a Gap Year
A gap year after high school can be a valuable option for students who need additional time to mature, clarify their goals, gain work experience, improve finances, or recover from academic burnout before committing to college or a career path. For some students, a year spent working, traveling, volunteering, pursuing certifications, or developing practical skills can lead to greater confidence, independence, and motivation when they begin college or enter the workforce. A gap year may also make sense for students who are uncertain about their major or long-term plans and want time to make a more informed decision rather than rushing into an expensive commitment. However, a successful gap year should be intentional and structured, with clear goals and a plan for how the time will be used productively.
https://www.gapyearassociation.org/
https://www.americangap.org/about.html
COST: Scholarships are sometimes available to students wishing to participate in these programs. Students must work with the program coordinator for details and specifics.
Explore Career Outlooks, Requirements, and Salaries.
Take some time to explore the many ways you might put your talents and interests to good use. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and the U.S. Job Market Visualizer are great places to begin.
As you explore, you may discover a career you’ve never considered, or find that a fulfilling and well-paying career does not necessarily require a four-year college degree.
Explore In-Demand Career Pathways in Colorado
My Colorado Journey is your gateway to understanding and accessing the most promising career pathways in Colorado – those leading to in-demand jobs with a bright professional future.
Explore diverse career pathways, understanding required skills, earning potential, education, and advancement opportunities. Browse an extensive catalog of academic programs, from vocational certifications and associate degrees to bachelor's and graduate programs offered by institutions across the state and the nation.
Ready to start your journey?
“Nothing will come of nothing.” – King Lear. Translation? If you want to be successful, do something about it! Nothing will ever happen in your life if you sit around waiting for it to happen. Take action, and live a fulfilling life. A Gap Year can be a great option, but the key is to do SOMETHING, because nothing will come from nothing.
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