Career Exploration Resources

Free tools to help you explore, compare, and choose a career.

5 Steps to Choosing a Career

Get clear on your goals. Let yourself dream first. Think about lifestyle, family, travel, health, and money. These all affect the pay and location you'll need.
List what you have to work with. Your strengths, financial support, local training programs, and your target job zone (how much school or training you're willing to do).
Explore your interests and jobs. Use CA Career Zone, O*NET, or My Next Move to match your interests, values, and income needs to real jobs.
Narrow it down. Keep a simple list or spreadsheet of jobs you're thinking about, including ones you ruled out and why. Pick your top 3 and compare the costs and benefits.
Make a realistic plan and stick to it. Stay motivated. If the plan isn't working, check in with a case manager or career professional.

Fill it out on your computer, or print it and write your answers.

CA Career Zone (opens in a new tab)

Take free quizzes about your interests, motivations, and budget. Then see jobs that match. Shows California pay and job growth. Note: this site will be retired soon.
California Career Surfer (opens in a new tab)

A phone app to explore more than 900 jobs. It has a quick interest quiz. A good choice if you don't have a computer.
My Next Move (opens in a new tab)

Take a 5 to 10 minute interest quiz. Then search or browse careers by keyword, industry, or job zone.
Local Job Projections (opens in a new tab)

See which jobs and industries are expected to grow near you. Filter by education needed, job, industry, and area.
O*NET Job Explorer (opens in a new tab)

The most detailed source for researching one job: what the work involves and how to stand out.
O*NET Green Topics (opens in a new tab)

Browse 72 kinds of “green” careers if you're interested in environmental work.
Greater Sacramento Pathway Profiles (opens in a new tab)

Pick an industry to see local job demand, pay, and the skills employers want.