Q: How are the careers on the Career and Pathways list determined?

A: The career list is based on the results of the assessment (or in some cases, the combined results of multiple assessments). For example, if an individual completes the Personality assessment, the career list will be based upon the identified personality type and the results of the career interest survey taken as part of the assessment. The career interest survey asks individuals to rate their interest in various career clusters. These ratings are used to identify, in conjunction with their personality type, which careers are highest in the career list. When additional assessments are taken, a combined list of careers is available that considers the results of all the assessments taken. 

Q: Why am I seeing careers that don't interest me?

A: The career list is based on the results of the assessments, and are just one lens to view potential future careers. The individual might have interests or abilities that have not been captured through the assessment(s) and should still be considered while exploring careers. For example, an individual might see careers at the top of the list that don't require a high level of education, yet they plan to pursue a postsecondary degree and are not interested in those careers that do not require that level of education. The career list can easily be filtered based on the needs of the individual; in this case, applying the Education filter would eliminate those careers that are not of interest. 

Q: What if the career I'm interested in doesn't show up in the suggested career list?

A: The resulting career list from any career assessment should be treated as a starting point for exploration rather than a limitation for future plans. Individuals can always search the full career database for an specific career and then review the information available on that career.  If the individual has completed the Intelligences or Skills assessment, then the Compared to you feature can be used to better understand how that individual might be successful or challenged in that career. Research suggests that individuals in careers that match their personality type tend to experience higher job satisfaction, lower stress levels, and increased job performance. However, we encourage individuals to consider many factors when exploring careers, and personality type is just one lens through which to view future careers.