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Choosing a career starts with understanding who you are. Before selecting a major, certificate, or training program, students should explore their interests, strengths, values, personality, and skills. All resources below are free and can be used independently or with a counselor, teacher, or family member. These tools help identify what motivates you and what types of work environments may be a good fit.
Chapter 1 focuses on understanding interests, strengths, values, and skills as the foundation for making informed career decisions. The resources below are designed to help students explore who they are, identify potential career directions, and begin connecting personal strengths to practical options.
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Personality & Work Style
Understanding personality can help explain why some careers feel like a good fit and others do not.
O*NET Interest Profiler
https://onetinterestprofiler.org/
Explore career areas based on activities you enjoy.
16Personalities – Free Personality Test
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
Identifies personality type and preferred work environments.
CareerOneStop Work Values Matcher
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/work-values-matcher.aspx
Matches careers to workplace values such as teamwork or independence.
Truity Career Personality Profiler
https://www.truity.com/test/career-personality-profiler-test
Offers free personality and career tests with basic results available at no cost; users have the option to purchase more detailed reports if they choose.
These resources help students understand required skills and typical training timelines.
My Next Move (O*NET)
https://www.mynextmove.orgl
My Next Move is a free career exploration tool that helps students and job seekers learn about different occupations, discover careers that match their interests, and access information on skills, tasks, and training options. ore careers by interest, education level, and training length.
CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles
https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/explore-careers.aspx
View job duties, education requirements, pay, and outlook.
Illinois WorkNet – Career Exploration
https://www.illinoisworknet.com/explore
Illinois-specific career pathways, training options, and labor market information.
O*NET Skills Database
https://www.onetonline.org/skills/
Review skills commonly used across different careers.
These tools combine interests, skills, and values to suggest career options.
CareerOneStop Interest Assessment
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/interest-assessment.aspx/www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/interest-assessment.aspxspx
Free online career interest tool that helps users identify their interests and match them to suitable careers
SkillsYouNeed – Self-Assessment Tools
Skills Tools on CareerOneStop
Free online resource with practical guides on communication, leadership, study, employability, and personal skills needed for work and life
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No single assessment provides “the answer.” Look for patterns across tools.
Interests and goals change over time; revisit assessments regularly.
Use results as a starting point, not a final decision.
Pair assessment results with research and real-world conversations.