Defining Your Strengths
How to identify careers based on your interests, skills, values, and personality.
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TL;DR
- Evaluating your professional and educational experience is an essential first step in identifying the interests, skills, and values important to you in a job
- Many free resources, including trusted friends and family, can provide career suggestions, but most career paths develop through trial and error
- It’s less risky to pursue a career you are passionate about because you will be willing to put in the effort needed for success, and you can apply skills developed during this pursuit to other roles
People who frequently use their natural skills and abilities at work are happier and healthier. But how can you determine which jobs will play to your strengths if you have yet to enter the workforce?
Understanding what you enjoy—and what you’re good at—is the first step in exploring careers. “If you don’t know what you want to do, the question is, ‘What do you like to learn about?’” says Steve Schneider, a school counselor at Sheboygan South High School. “If you really like science, what do you enjoy about it—the lab work, the research?”
Think about the classes which were easiest to learn in high school. Were these classes easier because you found them interesting, or did you possess skills that made it easier to succeed? Perhaps you found the values of the course or teacher engaging. Take note of when your interests or skills could translate to other subjects. For example, if you enjoy an English class because it serves as a creative outlet, you might enjoy different careers in the arts. If you excel in a history class because of your ability to retain information, you can transfer this skill to any data-driven profession. In any case, evaluating the work you’ve had to do is an essential first step in identifying the work you want to do.
Online resources
To start exploring your options, search for careers based on high school subjects on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration site. Next, search for careers based on your interests, skills, and values by visiting Career One Stop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s website for career exploration, training resources, and finding employment. Career One Stop aims to help Americans at any point in their career, including high school students that have yet to enter the workforce.
As you explore different career options, refer to the site’s Occupational Profile tool to learn more about specific jobs. Every occupational profile includes a job description, growth outlook, and employment statistics such as median annual wages.
Each profile also includes the education, experience, and licenses typically needed for the job. You can download results and search by related occupations.
Bookmark the profiles of occupations you find interesting for future reference.
Strengths
