Career Information

Students need to be proactive about figuring out what career is best for them. Complete career assessments and research careers using the following websites:

1. Use the My Next Move website to learn more about your career of interest or to begin searching for a career that interests you.

2. Use the following websites:

3. Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics website to research different careers and answer the questions below in finding out more about them.

  • How does the occupation fit your skills and interests?
  • What will you be doing in the occupation?
  • What is the necessary education and/or training?
  • How many jobs are there in the occupation currently?
  • Is the occupation projected to grow, decline or remain unchanged? Why?
  • How much does this occupation pay? What do the top 10 percent earn? The bottom 10 percent?

4. Find someone with a job in the occupation you are interested in, and interview him or her. The interviewer should find out:

  • What kind of work the person does.
  • What the person likes and dislikes about the job.
  • What advice the person would give to someone interested in a career in this field.

5. Review the tables below to find out about fast growing industries, hottest careers for college graduates, and more.

Industries with the Fastest and Biggest Growth

Wondering where the jobs of the future will be? Government economists forecast which industries will provide the most new wage and salary jobs between 2019 (UPDATE?) and 2029. They also predict which industries will most likely have the fastest employment growth.

Industries with the Most New Jobs

IndustryNew Jobs 2019-2029
Management occupations505,000
Business and financial operations occupations476,200
Computer and mathematical occupations587,400
Architecture and engineering occupations74,000
Life, physical, and social science occupations68,200
Community and social service occupations348,000
Legal occupations67,000
Educational instruction and library occupations441,000
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations74,000
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations833,000

Industries with the Fastest Employment Growth

IndustryPercent Change in New Jobs 2019–2029
Wind turbine service technicians60.7%
Nurse practitioners52.4%
Solar photovoltaic installers50.5%
Occupational therapy assistants34.6%
Statisticians34.6%
Home health and personal care aides33.7%
Physical therapist assistants32.6%
Medical and health services managers31.5%
Physician assistants31.3%
Information security analysts31.2%

Hottest Careers for College Graduates

Government economists predict which occupations will have the most job openings between 2019 and 2029. Openings occur because new jobs are created and because workers retire or leave the field for other reasons.

Check out these top 10 lists of occupations:

Occupations with the Most Job Openings:

OccupationTotal Job Openings 2019–2029
Home health and personal care aides1,159,000
Software developers, software quality assurance analysts and testers316,000
Registered nurses221,000
General and operations managers143,000
Medical assistants139,000
Medical and health services managers133,000
Market research analysts and marketing specialists130,000
Nursing assistants116,000
Nurse practitioners110,000
Financial managers108,000

Exploring Careers Step-by-Step

Which Jobs Are Right for You?

Deciding what career you want to pursue is exciting. But because there are so many career paths it can be hard to choose. You might read about a court case in the news and want to be a trial lawyer. Then, after you watch a wildlife documentary, becoming a marine biologist might seem like a good idea.

How do you decide which to choose, or even where to start? Here’s an activity that can help you explore the possibilities. You’ll gain more than a better understanding of various jobs; you’ll also learn something new about yourself.

Step 1: Think about what interests you.

Divide a page into four columns. Label the first two columns “Interests” and “Job Ideas.” In the first column, list your interests, such as children or sports. Then in the second column, list jobs that have something to do with each interest.

Need help? Think about people you’ve read about or met who have interesting jobs, or use the career quizzes that are available in your counselor’s office or online.

Step 2: Consider how to get there.

Label the third column “Requirements.” No, you don’t have to plan your whole life right now, but it’s good to know what skills, classes and degrees different jobs require.

You might discover that you don’t like any of the courses needed to complete a college major that would prepare you for one of the jobs on your list. To get information about education requirements for different jobs, use Major and Career Search.

Step 3: Try it out.

Label the last column “Things I Can Do Now” and list ways of getting a feel for what one of the jobs on your list is really like. You can choose some of these ideas or come up with your own:

  • Volunteer where you’re likely to meet someone who has one of the jobs you’re interested in.
  • Look into paid or unpaid internships.
  • Accompany someone working in that field to see what a day on the job is like.
  • Conduct research at the library or on the internet.
  • Find a mentor who can give you perspective and advice.
  • Talk to family members and friends who work in those careers or who can introduce you to those who do.

Once you’ve gotten a better feel for a career, decide whether you still want to keep it on your list. Even if you decide to cross it off, you’ll have gained valuable insight into what you might like to do.

5 Reasons to be Flexible about Your Career Plans

1 — People change.

While a certain career may seem like a good fit for you now, think about how different you may be in 5, 10 or 20 years. As you get older, have more experiences and learn new things, your feelings about what you want to do may change.

2 — The world changes.

Webmasters didn’t exist a generation ago. The world changes so fast that new careers appear all the time, while others become less common. Pay attention both to the changes in your interests and to developments in the career world.

3 — There’s no one perfect career.

When choosing a career, you’ll try to match your skills and interests with work in certain areas. There won’t be one perfect match — even jobs that sound ideal will probably involve some things you dislike. But many jobs will suit you and allow you to use your talents.

4 — You can only plan so far ahead.

Did you ever hear someone say something like, “I fell into my career”? That’s because as important as planning and research are, chance still plays a role. Keep an open mind, learn to tolerate some degree of uncertainty and watch for opportunity.

5 — Satisfaction is key.

Many people feel pulled to a job that’s familiar, popular or profitable. In the long run, however, people are generally happier and more successful if they choose a career that matches their interests and strengths. Take the time to develop your interests and then look for a career that will satisfy and fulfill you.