Congratulations on completing your career test and receiving your personalized results report! (If you haven't taken the Career Clarifier test and received your results report, click here.)

You now have up to 20 career recommendations based on your preferred work activities, bringing you one step closer to finding the right career.

Choosing the ideal career doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With the right approach, the process becomes an insightful journey of self-discovery. In this section, we will introduce you to three strategies to help you evaluate your recommended career options and choose the one that best fits you.

Strategy 1: Review & Reflect

This strategy provides a straightforward way to evaluate your recommended careers, beginning with an overview of key factors like job titles, matching work activities, and compensation. It encourages you to combine rational assessment with intuitive judgment, helping you make a balanced, thoughtful career choice.

Strategy 2: Preferred Work Activities Analysis

In this strategy, you will analyze and prioritize your favorite work activities using a simple scoring system to rate and rank career options. By focusing on the work activities that bring you the most enjoyment and align with your strengths, you can identify careers that are more likely to provide lasting professional satisfaction and success.

Strategy 3: Career Fit Research

This strategy goes deeper, helping you evaluate each career option based on aspects like personal traits, work-life balance, professional growth, work environment, educational requirements, career stability, and personal interests or passions. The recommended resources will guide you in gathering the information needed to make a well-informed decision about which career best fits you.

Let's dive into Strategy 1: Review & Reflect.

Strategy 1: Review & Reflect

This section will guide you through a simple method to evaluate each of the careers recommended for you.

Step 1: Quick Rank Recommended Careers

In your results report, you will find a section titled Matching Careers Overview, which includes a blue Career Evaluation Card for each recommended career.

Each card presents a few key details about the career, including the job title, salary range, and matching work activities - these are the work activities you identified as preferred in your Career Clarifier assessment.

The cards will also help you track your ratings and rankings from the different research strategies you use to assess each career option.

To start your evaluation, let’s group the recommended careers into three categories: More Interesting, Neutral, and Less Interesting. This initial sorting will help you focus on the careers that are most likely to appeal to you, making your research more efficient.

Follow these steps to categorize the recommended careers:

• Review the career titles and take note of your initial thoughts and feelings about them.
• Examine the number of matching work activities - this shows how many of your preferred work activities align with each career. A higher number suggests a stronger potential fit. (Here's an article on what you should know about the number of matching work activities.)
• Review the compensation information, considering both early career salary and potential salary growth.
• Categorize each career based on your quick assessment of the title, compensation, and number of matching work activities, placing each career into one of the following groups:

• More Interesting: Careers that immediately catch your interest and are worth exploring further.
• Neutral: Careers you are unsure about but may want to investigate.
• Less Interesting: Careers that do not initially appeal to you.

You can record your ratings on the Quick Review Rating line found in the Career Evaluation Card for each recommended career.

Step 2: Review the Career Profiles

Start with the career you rated as More Interesting that has the highest number of matching work activities. Click on the Link to Career Profile (found on its blue Career Evaluation Card) to learn more about the role. The profile provides an overview of key aspects of the career, including primary responsibilities, job availability score, preferred majors, and links to sample job postings.

Step 3: Complete the Preliminary Career Evaluation Form

While reviewing the career profile, answer the questions on the Preliminary Career Evaluation Form. These questions are designed to help you quickly assess whether the career is a good match for you. You can download it below.

Step 4: Rate the Career

We encourage you to rate each career based on both your rational thinking and intuition.

Rational analysis helps you evaluate the practical aspects of a career, while intuition (sometimes called gut feelings) can provide valuable insights into your preferences that may not be captured through logic alone.

Studies show that for complex decisions, such as choosing a career path, combining intuition with rational analysis results in more balanced and thoughtful choices.

Here’s how you can do this:

• Take a moment to relax, as intuition works best when you are at ease and stress-free.
• Review your answers on the Preliminary Career Evaluation Form and ask yourself: How do I truly view this career idea?
• Pay attention to your thoughts about how the career aligns with your interests, abilities, goals, and preferences.
• Notice your immediate emotional reactions when reflecting on your answers, such as feelings of excitement, curiosity, indifference, or lack of interest.
• Observe any physical sensations, like a sense of ease or tension, as you reflect on the career.

Considering both your rational analysis and intuition, rate the career in one of the following categories:

• Highly Appealing: Both your rational analysis and intuition indicate that this career is a good fit for you.
• Mixed Appeal: Either your rational analysis or intuition is positive, but the other is neutral or unappealing. This suggests there might be aspects of the career that appeal to you, but there are also potential concerns or misalignments.
• Not Appealing: Both your rational analysis and intuition suggest that this career is not a good fit for you.

Record this rating on the Review & Reflect Rating line in the relevant Career Evaluation Card within the Matching Careers Overview section.

Step 5: Continue Evaluation

Now, go back and repeat Steps 2 through 4 for each career idea you rated as More Interesting and, optionally, Neutral in Step 1: Quick Rank Recommended Careers. Begin with the career rated More Interesting that has the highest number of matching work activities and work your way down to the one with the fewest.

Ready to Choose or Keep Researching?

For some, the ideal career will be clear. If you are one of them, congratulations! If further research is needed to choose the right career for you, proceed to Research Strategy 2.

Strategy 2: Preferred Work Activities Analysis

Work activities are the responsibilities you perform as part of your career and play a crucial role in your professional satisfaction and success.

In the previous Review & Reflect strategy, you examined how many of your preferred work activities matched each recommended career. That strategy assigned equal weight to each of your preferred work activities.

However, focusing on the work activities you enjoy most - and are skilled at or can develop - can help you identify the careers that offer increased professional satisfaction and success.

Use the Preferred Work Activities Scorecard on to help you evaluate and prioritize your preferences. You can the scorecard download it below.

Here’s how to use the scorecard:

• List Preferred Work Activities: In your results report, you will find a section titled Your Preferred Work Activities, which contains two lists. The first list, Matching Work Activities, highlights the work activities you prefer most, based on your Career Clarifier test answers. Each work activity is sequentially numbered for easy reference. List these numbers in column 1 of the Preferred Work Activities Scorecard and create a brief, memorable name for each activity to make identification easier.
• Evaluate Your Preferred Activities: Click on the first Work Activity Description link on the Matching Work Activities page to learn more about it. Then, rate the activity on the Preferred Work Activities Scorecard using the following criteria:

• Ability: Building a career around your strengths can lead to greater satisfaction and success. Evaluate whether you currently possess the skills and abilities needed to perform this work activity, or if you can realistically develop them through education or training. Rate your current or potential ability to perform the work activity on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = weak, 5 = strong), and record this rating in the second column.
• Emotional Response: Choosing a career that engages and satisfies you is important. Read the work activity description and note your emotions - such as excitement, curiosity, or indifference - and any physical sensations, like ease or tension. Rate your emotional response on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = negative, 5 = very positive) and record this rating in the third column.
• Frequency: By evaluating how often you want to engage in specific work activities, you can better identify roles that align with you. Consider how often and for how long you would like to perform the work activity and rate it on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = rarely, 5 = very often). Record this in the fourth column.

3.      Total the Scores: Add the scores for Ability, Emotional Response, and Frequency to calculate a Total Score. Enter this total in the fifth column.

4.      Analyze & Rate Each Work Activity: Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each of the work activities listed in the Matching Work Activities page.

5.      Rank Your Work Activities: Work activities with the highest Total Score are likely your most preferred ones. Rank your work activities into three tiers based on their Total Score: top-tier, mid-tier, and lower-tier. Label them accordingly in the last column on the scorecard.

6.      Highlighting Your Top Work Activities: For each activity rated top-tier, circle the number in column 1. For each mid-tier activity, underline the number. Then, record these numbers on the appropriate lines at the bottom of the Preferred Work Activities Scorecard.

You have now identified the work activities you are most drawn to, and you are ready to use this information to further evaluate the recommended careers. Here’s how to proceed:

• Access the Matching Careers Overview: Open your results report to the section titled Matching Careers Overview, which contains the blue Career Evaluation Cards.
• Identify Careers with Top-Tier Work Activities: Cross-reference the top-tier work activity numbers from the bottom of your Preferred Work Activities Scorecard with the Matching Work Activities numbers on each Career Evaluation Card. Circle any matching numbers for easy reference.
• Identify Careers with Mid-Tier Work Activities: Repeat the same process for mid-tier work activities. Underline the Matching Work Activities numbers for visual clarity.
• Look for Patterns: For each recommended career, identify those with the highest number of top-tier (circled) and mid-tier (underlined) preferred work activities. Notice how these work activities combine differently across the careers.
• Identify New Career Contenders: Using this new information, look for careers that could be a good match but don’t yet have a Review & Reflect Rating. For any careers that seem promising, complete Steps 2 through 4 of Strategy 1: Review & Reflect on page ??.
• Identify Top Career Contenders: Based on all the evaluation strategies you have completed, determine which careers have emerged as your favorites. Write Top Career Contender on the Preferred Work Activities Rating line on the relevant Career Evaluation Card.

Clarity or Further Exploration?

For some, the ideal career will now be clear. If that is the case for you, congratulations! If you feel further research is necessary, proceed to Research Strategy 3: Career Fit Research.

Strategy 3: Career Fit Research

Choosing the ideal career is one of the most significant decisions you will make in your life. It affects not only your professional satisfaction and success but also your personal happiness and well-being.

This strategy helps you examine additional aspects of your top career contenders, including personal traits, compensation, work stability, work-life balance, professional growth, work environment, educational preferences, and interests or passions.

You can conduct this research using these recommended resources:

Government Resources:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook: Provides detailed information about various occupations, including job duties, education requirements, salary, and employment outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
• O*NET Online: A comprehensive database of job descriptions, skills, and qualifications, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.onetonline.org/
• My Next Move: An interactive tool for job seekers to learn more about career options, necessary skills, and employment trends. https://www.mynextmove.org/
• CareerOneStop: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site offers tools to explore careers, find training, and search for jobs. https://www.careeronestop.org/

Salary Boards: Websites like Glassdoor (www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/know-your-worth.htm) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries) provide compensation information for a wide range of careers.

Informational Interviews: Informational interviews are an excellent way to gain insights directly from professionals working in specific careers. These conversations can help you understand the day-to-day realities, challenges, and rewards of various roles. For a guide on conducting effective informational interviews, visit www.InformationalInterviewArticles.com.

Instructions for Evaluating Your Top Career Contenders

To complete this research strategy, use the Career Fit Scorecard below.

In column 1 of the scorecard, list the titles of the careers you have identified as top contenders on the blue Career Evaluation Cards.

Using the recommended research resources and the Career Fit Scorecard, you are ready to begin your research.

Personal Traits

When evaluating a potential career, it is important to consider how well it aligns with your personality. Reflect on the following traits to ensure the career you choose feels comfortable and well-suited to you:

• Introversion vs. Extroversion: Think about whether you thrive in social environments, prefer solitary work, or something in between.
• Attention to Detail: Assess whether you have strong attention to detail, prefer focusing on the big picture, or balance both.
• Problem-Solving Approach: Some roles require frequent problem-solving, while others don’t. Reflect on whether you enjoy tackling challenges and finding solutions.
• Adaptability to Change: Some careers require high adaptability and frequent changes, while others are more predictable and routine. Assess your comfort level with change and uncertainty.
• Stress Tolerance: Certain roles demand a high tolerance for stress, while others offer a more relaxed atmosphere. Consider how well you manage stress and high-pressure situations.
• Status: Reflect on the significance of power, prestige, and recognition in your career aspirations.

After considering these traits, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your preferences. Use the following scale and enter your ratings in the Personal Traits column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my personal traits at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my personal traits but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my personal traits, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my personal traits, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my personal traits.

Compensation

When assessing a career, it is important to consider its earning potential. Use the following points to guide this evaluation:

• Personal Financial Goals: Reflect on your personal financial goals and lifestyle aspiration.
• Entry-Level vs. Mid-Level vs. Senior-Level Salaries: Examine the salary ranges for different experience levels within the career.
• Salary Growth: Consider how quickly you can advance in the career and increase your compensation.
• Growth: Assess the projected growth of the career. Careers in growing fields often offer more opportunities for salary increases.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your compensation goals. Use the following scale and enter your ratings in the

Compensation column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not meet my compensation goals at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my compensation goals but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my compensation goals, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my compensation goals, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my compensation goals.

Work-Life Balance

Achieving the right balance between professional responsibilities and personal life can significantly impact your overall satisfaction and well-being. Consider the following aspects when evaluating a career's work-life balance:

• Work Hours: Some careers follow a standard 9-to-5 schedule, while others require longer or irregular hours. Consider what work hours are acceptable to you.
• Remote & Hybrid Work Options: For some people, remote or hybrid work, whether full-time or part-time, can enhance work-life balance. Assess how important these options are for you.
• Paid Time Off: Consider how much vacation and paid time off would meet your preferences.
• Travel Requirements: Examine how often travel is required, the duration of trips, and how this might impact your personal life.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your preferences. Use the following scale for each career and enter your ratings in the Work-Life Balance column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my work-life balance preferences at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my work-life balance preferences but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my work-life balance preferences, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my work-life balance preferences, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my work-life balance preferences.

Professional Growth

Assessing the potential for professional growth is important to ensure long-term satisfaction. Consider the following factors when evaluating a career's potential for professional advancement:

• Career Ladder: Investigate the typical career ladder, understanding the hierarchy and the positions you can advance to over time.
• Advancement Criteria: Learn about the criteria for promotions, which may include performance metrics, additional education, certifications, or tenure.
• Timeframe: Consider how long it typically takes to advance from one level to the next.
• Employment Trends: Growing fields often provide more opportunities for advancement. Examine employment trends and future growth projections for the career.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your preferences. Use the following scale and enter your ratings in the Professional Growth column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my preferences for professional growth at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my preferences for professional growth but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my preferences for professional growth, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my preferences for professional growth, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my preferences for professional growth.

Preferred Education

Understanding the education preferred by employers for a career can help you get started and advance within the field. Consider the following factors when evaluating the education preferred by employers for a career:

• Level of Education: Determine the minimum education level typically preferred by employers for the career. This is often a bachelor’s degree, but it could also be an associate degree or an advanced degree such as a master's.
• Fields of Study: Understand the specific majors that employers typically prefer for the career.
• ·Courses or Certifications: Identify any professional certifications, training programs, or specialized coursework that are beneficial or recommended for the career.
• Licensing: Consider if the career requires specific licenses, which involves passing exams and completing continuing education.
• Ongoing Training: Evaluate whether ongoing education is helpful or necessary in the career.
• Time and Financial Investment: Assess the time commitment and financial investment needed to acquire the preferred education.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your educational qualifications and preferences. Use the following scale and enter your ratings in the Educational Preferences column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The preferred education does not align with my current education at all, and I am not willing to pursue the preferred education.

2: Fair Fit – The preferred education aligns with some of my current education, but the career requires additional education that I would prefer to avoid.

3: Good Fit – The preferred education mostly aligns with my current education, though some additional education may be needed, which I am open to pursuing.

4: Very Good Fit – The preferred education aligns well with my current education, requiring only minor additional education, which I am willing to pursue.

5: Excellent Fit – The preferred education aligns strongly with my current education, or I am fully willing to pursue the preferred education.

Interests & Passions

A career that aligns with your interests or passions can lead to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment, as well as increased career satisfaction.

However, many people are unaware of the variety of employers that align with their interests or passions, beyond the most recognized or high-profile industries.

Be sure to review the Potential Work Settings section of your results report, which provides an excellent starting point for exploring the types of employers that align with the interests you identified in your assessment.

Here are factors to consider regarding your interests or passions:

• Engagement: Consider if the career provides opportunities to work in industries you enjoy or care about.
• Personal Fulfillment: Evaluate how the career contributes to your sense of personal fulfillment and purpose.
• Impact and Contribution: Reflect on whether the career provides opportunities for you to make an impact in ways that you value.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your personal interests or passions. Use the following scale and enter your ratings in the Interests & Passions column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my interests or passions at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my interests or passions but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my interests or passions, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my interests or passions, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit –The career strongly aligns with my interests or passions.

Career Stability

Understanding the factors that influence career stability can help you choose a role that aligns with your preferences. Consider the following aspects when assessing stability:

• Industry Stability: Some industries are more vulnerable to economic downturns. If career security is a priority, determine whether the career can be pursued within a stable industry.
• Employment Trends: Examine employment trends for the career, including current demand and future growth projections. Careers in growing fields are more likely to offer stable employment.
• Technology Impact: Understand how technological advancements might affect the career. Some roles may become obsolete due to artificial intelligence or automation, while others might evolve and grow.
• Skill Relevance: Evaluate how transferable the career’s skills are. Versatile skills provide more security, as they allow for easier transitions between roles or industries.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your preferences. Use the following scale for each career and enter your ratings in the Career Stability column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my preferences for career stability at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my preferences for career stability but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my preferences for career stability, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my preferences for career stability, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my preferences for career stability.

Work Environment

The work environment can significantly impact your day-to-day experience and your overall career satisfaction. While work environments can vary greatly between companies for the same type of role, here are factors to consider when evaluating a career's work environment:

• Work Culture: Evaluate the typical work culture and consider whether it aligns with your values.
• Physical Work Setting: Reflect on the type of work environment you prefer, considering factors such as the physical workspace and noise levels.
• Management Style: Consider whether you prefer a more hierarchical work environment or one that is more collaborative and flatter.
• Support Systems: Evaluate the level of support available, such as access to mentorship, training programs, or professional development opportunities.

After considering these aspects, rate each of your top career contenders based on how well they align with your preferences. Use the following scale for each career and enter your ratings in the Work Environment column on your Career Fit Scorecard:

1: Poor Fit – The career does not align with my work environment preferences at all.

2: Fair Fit – The career aligns with some of my work environment preferences but has significant shortcomings.

3: Good Fit – The career mostly aligns with my work environment preferences, with a few areas of concern.

4: Very Good Fit – The career aligns well with my work environment preferences, with only minor mismatches.

5: Excellent Fit – The career strongly aligns with my work environment preferences.

Next Steps

• Score Your Careers: Total the scores for each top career contender and identify which ones have the highest overall scores.
• Reflect on Priorities: Think about which aspects on the Career Fit Scorecard are most important to you and how they weigh against each other. A lower score in one aspect might be balanced by a higher score in another that holds greater value for you. Conversely, a low score in a very important aspect might cause you to rule out the career altogether.
• Rate the Careers: Based on your total scores and reflections, categorize your top contender careers into three levels: Best Fit, Adequate Fit, and Unacceptable Fit. Record these ratings in the final column of the Career Fit Scorecard and on the Career Fit Rating line in the Career Evaluation Cards.

Choose the Ideal Career for You

Throughout this process, you have gained a deeper understanding of your preferences and career options. Now, it is time to bring everything together and make an informed decision. Follow these steps to identify the ideal career for you:

1. Review Your Ratings: Begin by reviewing the information on the blue Career Evaluation Cards. Compare the careers side by side, focusing on the following factors:

• Number of Matching Work Activities: Review how many of your preferred work activities align with each career. The higher the number, the stronger the potential fit.
• Typical Base Salary Range: Consider whether the salary range aligns with your financial goals.
• Top-Tier and Mid-Tier Work Activities: Look at the work activities you rated as top-tier (circled) and mid-tier (underlined) to see how well each career incorporates the work activities you would be good at and enjoy most. Focus on careers that incorporate a higher number of top-tier rated activities, as these are more likely to lead to greater long-term success and satisfaction. While work activities rated as mid-tier are also worth considering, prioritize roles that best align with your top-tier preferences.
• Career Fit Rating: Take note of the careers rated as 'Best Fit,' as this indicates a strong overall alignment with your personal traits and preferences in areas such as career stability, work-life balance, work environment, professional growth, education, and interests.

2. Reflect on Priorities: Choosing the ideal career is not just about numbers or scores. It is also about reflecting on what matters most to you:

• Which career stands out as the best fit when considering multiple factors?
• If more than one career stands out, which factors are the most and least important to you?
• Consider whether a career with a lower score in one factor might still be the best option if it excels in areas that are especially meaningful to you.
• Which factors, if any, are non-negotiable for you in a career?
• What trade-offs are you willing to accept?

3.  Make a Confident Decision: After reviewing and comparing your options, it is time to make your decision. Based on your ratings, analysis, and insights, choose the career that is the best overall fit for you.

Best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter of your life!