An interest assessment can help you identify careers that meet your interests. Interest assessments usually ask you a series of questions about what you like and don't like to do. Then they match your likes and dislikes to careers. When you choose a career that matches your overall interests, you're more likely to enjoy your job. You're also more likely to be successful. Get started with CareerOneStop's Interest Assessment. You'll answer 30 quick questions online. Then you'll get a list of careers that might be a good fit for your interests.
The best career choices are ones that match your values. Values are your beliefs about what is important or desirable. When your values line up with how you live and work, you tend to feel more satisfied and confident. Living or working in ways that contradict your values can lead to dissatisfaction, confusion, and discouragement. So there is good reason to clarify your values, and seek to match your work to them. Ready to learn more about your own work values? Get started with the Work Values Matcher.
Your skills describe what you are good at, whether due to formal training, previous work experience, or other activities. Work-related skills include categories such as sales, data analysis, teaching, operating equipment, caring for patients, writing code, management, speaking a foreign language, and many more. Knowing, and being able to describe your skills allows you to write a clearer, more persuasive resume, and answer important questions at job interviews such as What can you do for my organization? The Skills Matcher will help you: (1) rate your current skill level in 40 areas, (2) create a list of your strongest skills, with skill definitions, and (3) learn which careers match your skills.
O*NET Interest Profiler: The O*NET Interest Profiler can help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. You can find out what you like to do. The O*NET Interest Profiler helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore.
O*NET Work Importance Locator: The O*NET Work Importance Locator (WIL) is a self-assessment career exploration tool that allows clients to pinpoint what is important to them in a job. It helps people identify occupations that they may find satisfying based on the similarity between their work values (such as achievement, independence, and conditions of work) and the characteristics of the occupations.
The California CareerZone website offers an innovative and comprehensive end-to-end career discovery journey. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, users can engage in a thorough exploration process that includes self-assessment modules covering interests, work importance, and skills profiles. The platform also incorporates financial literacy tools such as the widely used "Budget your Life" assessment. With information on over 900 occupations, details about U.S. colleges and certifications, and personalized pathway recommendations based on individual exploration, the website equips users with valuable insights to make informed decisions about their future careers.
The Forage offers free, virtual job simulations designed by leading companies to help students gain real-world experience and build their skills. Through these self-paced programs, students can explore different career paths, complete tasks similar to those they’d encounter on the job, and earn certificates to showcase on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. It’s a great opportunity to boost employability, gain insights into industries like law, finance, marketing, tech, and more, and make informed career decisions—all at no cost.