Like writing a paper, planning for your future takes time and research.
You have lots of things to look forward to! When it comes to your career trajectory, there are plenty of things to consider, and you’ll want to do research on career fields, industries and roles to ensure your next step is right for you.
| Industries | Career fields | Occupations | Jobs at specific organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking, healthcare, education, manufacturing | Finance, nursing, teaching, supply chain | Loan officer, pediatric nurse, elementary teacher, financial analyst | Youth Director at YMCA; Engineer at Ecolab |
The most effective way to research careers is through a combination of online resources and in-person resources, such as informational interviewing, job shadowing, or an internship in the field.
We have a guide on conducting informational interviews, but before you start reaching out to people do some online research so you can be prepared with thoughtful questions to ask!
For hundreds of different types of jobs -- such as engineer, financial analyst, lawyer, and teacher -- the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you the training and education needed, earnings expected, job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.
This resource features thousands of informational video interviews with industry professionals. They talk about what they love about their job and what its challenges are, along with how you can best prepare for a career like theirs.
The Career and Education Explorer lets you explore a wide range of occupations and related education in a single easy-to-use online tool.
CAREERwise supplies specific career information for Minnesota including assessments, job seeker services, Minnesota schools for continuing education, and employment statistics.
Provides job descriptions, profiles, and requirements, employment outlook, and salary information for a variety of careers.
Explore different career pathways that make the most sense for your unique interests and values. Prepare for your future by learning about your gifts and the type of environment you need to succeed. PathwayU helps connect your results to careers and majors! Complete your 4 assessments (Interests, Values, Personality, and Workplace Preferences) in 20 - 25 minutes. Available to students and alumni for no cost!