Interest Inventories can help you get a basic idea of what your interests are. It's basically just choosing what kinds of things and activities that you like and don't like.

By knowing your interests, you can narrow down what job fields or career clusters you may want to research. Your interests can change over time. What you like now could be different next year. That's OK! It's important that you keep exploring no matter how much your interests change. Some things to consider:

• Values: the things that are important, like achievement, money, status, and autonomy

• Interests: what you enjoy doing, i.e., working with people, the environment, animals, being outside, computers

• Personality: a person's traits, motivational drives, needs, and attitudes

• Aptitude: the activities you are good at, such as writing, computer programming, and teaching. They may be natural skills or ones acquired through training and education.

Try one of the Interest Inventories below to get some ideas of what career areas match the things that you love to do!

Try an Interest Inventory

Perhaps you aspire to an associate’s degree, or you’re determined to get a doctorate. Or maybe you have no plans for formal education. Whatever your goal is, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has data by education level that show which occupations are expected to have the most openings over the coming decade.

No formal educational credential

BLS classifies 103 occupations as not typically needing any formal educational credential. Table 1 shows the 10 occupations in this group that are projected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2019 to 2029.

High school diploma or equivalent

There are 322 occupations that typically require a high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)—nearly twice as many occupations as at any other level of education. Table 2 shows occupations at the high school level that are projected to have the most openings annually, on average, from 2019 to 2029.

Associate's degree; postsecondary nondegree award; and some college, no degree

Nearly 100 occupations typically require some education beyond a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree. Most of these occupations typically require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary nondegree award; six typically require some college but no degree. Table 3 shows the 10 occupations at these education levels that are projected to have the largest numbers of openings each year, on average, over the decade. (See table 3.)

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor’s degree is typically required for entry in 169 occupations. Table 4 shows the occupations at this education level projected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2019 to 2029.

Master's, doctoral, and professional degrees

In 36 occupations, a master’s degree is typically required for entry; 63 occupations typically require a doctoral or professional degree. Table 5 shows the 10 occupations at these education levels that are projected to have the most openings annually, on average, from 2019 to 2029.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is the government’s leading career resource about the job market. The OOH provides information that covers most jobs in the economy. It highlights key characteristics of occupations, such as job duties, work environment, wages, number of jobs, job outlook, and the education and training that jobseekers need. Check it out!