- I don't know about you, but what I'm interested in can change from month to month or year to year.

One year I'm into space and aviation.

Take me with you!

The next, I'm into programming, video games, and how the inside of a cell phone works.

Is anyone else not getting any signal?

But should I be equating my curiosities with a future job?

Maybe, and then again, maybe not.

So how do you figure out what you wanna do for a career?

That's the rabbit hole we're diving down today.

(bunny boinging) Oh, look at the bunny!

It's so adorable.

Hmm.

Maybe I should become a veterinarian.

Hello, career seekers, and welcome.

I'm Mary Williams, and in this series, we're talking jobs, plain and simple.

Well, accept when it comes time to actually pick a career.

That part is usually not simple.

To be honest though, it's not supposed to be.

To be successful in whatever you choose, inevitably, you'll have to dedicate a lot of time, energy, and yes, money to get whatever training or education it takes for your career.

But right now, right here, you can learn how to explore what you wanna be with me for free.

Let's start with something that can trip us all up, even before you get started: the huge amount of career choices out there.

Just looking at a list of jobs can be overwhelming.

The good news is that there are a handful of ways to clean up this mess and make it more manageable.

In fact, you are the key to getting it done, because one of the most important parts of exploring careers is placing yourself at the center.

That's right, a little me time.

But it's not exactly about relaxation, it's about self-reflection, and as you'll see, there are ways to do this online, on an app, or even off screen to get you outdoors or at least off the couch.

Go touch some grass already.

So let's start with you.

You're the hero of your own story and as the hero, you'll need to know what your skills are, what interests you have, and even your personality type.

This part's all about discovering a career that might be a great fit for who you are and how you work best.

There are a number of different companies and mobile apps that offer these type of self-assessments or quizzes, but not all of them are free.

Your school may also have career guidance software that you have access to.

If they do, give it a try and see what it offers.

Another easy and free way to do these assessments is through the Ohio Means Jobs website.

I've put a link to these in the description below, but to help us all understand their purpose, and not at all because I have an addiction to internet quizzes, maybe I should give them a try.

Right now.

(playful music) Okay, I just need a quick second to check my TikTok.

And I'm done.

Okay.

Okay, so I may fail the Harry Potter quizzes every time, but you can't fail a quiz about yourself.

These surveys show me that my personality and passion point to the career path I'm on right now, which is reassuring, especially for my mom.

I know what you're thinking.

Mary, my skills and interests are one thing, but there are a bunch of other things that will impact my choice of career.

And you're right, like money, like independence, your work schedule, working conditions, and the possibility of career growth.

Yup, these are all important career values that you should consider.

And yes, there's a quiz for this too.

That's because finding alignment between your work values and your job will only make your career more satisfying in the long run.

Okay, are we good on the self-reflect thing?

Cool.

Knowing yourself as you explore careers is super important, but another element is to also get outside of yourself and look around.

This is where the analog approach comes in.

People skills.

To learn about a career, it's helpful if you can see or know someone that is already doing it.

Start by looking to adults in your immediate social circle.

The jobs that your family, relatives, aunts, uncles, and friends have will give you a picture of different careers, as well as someone within your network to learn from and ask questions.

Your family may also know other professionals that they can introduce you to.

I'm not saying you should get a LinkedIn profile just yet, you simply need to understand that tapping into the social capital of your family and friends is a great way to further your own journey.

As you find people in careers you like, request an informational interview, or the opportunity to job shadow or work as an intern.

Of course, another way to look at different careers is by watching videos online, but you already knew that one.

Just remember, actually talking with someone doing the job can be even more eye opening.

So let's bring back that mess of careers we saw earlier.

Um, too messy.

Let me wipe it down real quick.

(bottle spraying) (upbeat music) Am I too late for this trend though?

Just kidding.

Let's get back to those jobs.

The point is that it's really hard to process so many choices.

When a general search creates chaos in our brains, it's best to take a step back.

Oh no, not me, I mean, you.

You take a step back.

There we go.

From hundreds of choices, we've simplified the playing field by looking at industry sectors.

This is how the U.S. government breaks down the working world.

Can you imagine yourself working in any of these fields?

This exercise is great because it allows you to start developing your own occupational identity, which just reflects the jobs you could see yourself in down the road.

For me, I used to see myself as a lawyer.

I mean, I can still make a good argument, just ask my friends.

Some used to be in favor of Marvel over DC, but don't worry, I straighten them out.

But things change.

So now instead of a lawyer, I can see myself working as a journalist or a reporter, a news anchor, graphic designer, or editor, or even a YouTube series host.

Hmm.

Oh, sorry.

But you see what I mean.

We all know that there are tons of jobs out there and maybe you're early in your career exploration, or you already lined up your short list of medical schools.

Regardless, if you take the time to use some of these methods and resources, and stay true to yourself, you'll find a pathway that works for you.

(upbeat music)