Career Discovery

Discover your career options

One of the biggest benefits of a college education is that it can help you get the career you want. In this section, see which careers might be right for you and the education you’ll need to get those careers. The good news is that you don’t have to have everything figured out right now. Pursuing a career takes time and you always have the option to change directions or find a new passion.
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Explore your options

Being sure of your interests is the first step to exploring different career paths. Here are some questions to ask yourself about what you’re interested in:

Do you like to build things?

Perhaps a career as an architect, engineer or contractor is in your future.

Do you have a passion for helping people?

A career in social work, counseling or nonprofit management might be for you.

Do you enjoy working with your hands?

A career as a construction worker, an electrician, a chef or an auto technician or mechanic may be a good fit for you.

Is science your thing?

A career in pharmacy, research or chemical engineering might be a good fit for you.

Are you a people person?

Research careers in event planning, fundraising, sales, public relations or realty.

Do you like sports?

Consider a career in sports management, coaching, equipment sales or personal training.

Do you enjoy music and the arts?

Musicians, actors and artists often work for design firms, advertising agencies, production companies and recording studios.

Do you like health and wellness?

There are lots of jobs in the healthcare sector, such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists and nutritionists.

Do you care about your community?

Law enforcement, fire safety, and community center/parks management are good opportunities to give back.

Do you like working with children?

Consider a career as an elementary school teacher, a pediatric nurse, a daycare worker or a speech therapist.

Are you a math whiz?

A career as a financial advisor, an actuary, an insurance underwriter or an accountant will have you working with numbers.

Do you like working with animals?

Look into careers as a veterinary technician or veterinarian, a groomer, an animal behaviorist, a zoologist or a biologist.

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Discover your interests

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There are lots of different types of people who will be best suited for different types of jobs. You may have friends who think the same way you do, or you may know people who solve problems in a completely different way.

Visit Indiana Career Explorer to discover a variety of careers in Indiana and take an assessment to see how your interests might match up to careers. Another way to explore careers is to better understand how what you do well and like to do fits with the work activities that take place on the job.

You can learn more about your personality with the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator. There are also free versions online you can take, including this one or this one.

Remember: Personality tests can help you narrow down the wide array of career options, but no test can tell you exactly what you should do with your life.

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Discover your path

Visit Indiana Career Explorer to access more resources like skills assessments, interest surveys and more. Just create your profile to get started!

Take the career interests survey.

In this survey, you can narrow down some career options by ranking the activities you like to do. When you’re finished, your highest ranked interests will match you with careers you may enjoy.

Take the skills assessment.

Everyone is good at something. Some people are better with numbers. Some people can combine colors and textures in unique ways. Some people enjoy working with their hands and being active. During this assessment, you’ll just mark how confident you feel while completing certain activities, and the results will list careers that require the skills you’re the best at.

Take the work values assessment.

How do you want your work-life balance to look? Do you want to work a more traditional “9-5” job? Maybe you see yourself working in a very hands-on role. How much money do you want to make? These are all important things to consider. This assessment will help you find out what matters most to you in your career and in your lifestyle.

Take the Agile Work Profiler.

You have things you like to do and are good at doing. Take the Agile Work Profiler to find out how your interests translate into skills employers value and words to use that describe the value you bring.

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What kind of jobs are out there & how can I find them?

It’s a good idea to look for careers that are hiring people, so you can put your hard-earned degree to work for you. Depending on where you want to work, some jobs are more in-demand than others.

Here in Indiana, some of the fastest-growing careers include registered nurses, teachers, welders and machinists. Visit INDemand Jobs to see an overview of these careers, along with average salaries and degree requirements.

What kind of education do I need for the career I want?

Each career requires a different type of degree. Some may require specialized training in a specific field or earning an associate degree. Others may require many years of advanced study — like doctorate degrees. Some careers require special accreditation or a degree from an accredited college. You may also consider adding a minor. For example, foreign language minors can help a business degree stand out when you start your job search.

Take some time to explore the degrees that the jobs you like require. Then once you start your college search make sure the colleges you apply to offer those degrees or a path to get you there.

Find out more about the different types of degrees. Or, learn more about majors and careers at BigFuture.

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