Metadata
Title
Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment
Category
international
UUID
39269bd3eadf4fbe9b95a922f4ac08d0
Source URL
https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/explore-your-interests-self-asse...
Parent URL
https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/international-students/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T04:37:57+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment

**Source**: https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/explore-your-interests-self-assessment/
**Parent**: https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/international-students/

### Discovering Your Path at Harvard

Career exploration is one of the most frequently discussed topics during advising appointments at the Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS). Exploration, curiosity, and building a broad intellectual foundation are at the core of the Harvard experience. 

 Whether you’re just starting to explore your interests or considering a change in direction, you are not alone. MCS is here to support you with tools, resources, networks, and one-on-one advising tailored to your goals. 

### Still Exploring Community

 Within the **Still** **Exploring Community**, you’ll find curated resources to help you: 

- Engage in self-discovery
- Explore a wide range of careers and interests
- Design a Harvard experience that reflects your goals and values
- Develop transferable skills
- Make informed academic and career decisions

### Career Development Is a Lifelong Journey

Career paths are rarely linear. Your interests, goals, and values will evolve over time — and that’s expected. In fact, the average American changes careers **3 to 7 times** over their lifetime. 

Start by learning about yourself and how you want to make an impact in the world.  

### Reflect as You Explore

#### Explore Your Academic Goals

- Consider how your academic interests might shape or support future career directions.
- Think about your concentration and how it aligns with your personal and professional aspirations.

#### Reflect on Past Experiences

- What have you enjoyed most in your coursework, internships, research, teaching, student organizations, or community service?
- Which moments have made you feel most energized and focused?

#### Understand Your Preferences

- What kinds of work environments and values resonate with you?
- How do your skills, interests, and personality influence the types of roles you might enjoy?

**Harvard Career Exploration Tools** 

Scroll down for a curated list of career exploration tools, including:

- [StrengthsProfile](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/strengthsprofile/): Discover your individual realized and unrealized strengths
- [SparkPath Career Discovery Digital Challenge Cards](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/sparkpath-career-discovery-digital-challenge-cards/): An interactive career exploration tool designed to help discover career paths
- [O\*NET Resource Center](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/onet-resource-center/): Occupational information sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Labor
- [CareerOneStop](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/careeronestop/): Find career, training, and job search resources just for you
- [16 Personalities](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/16-personalities/): Discover your personality type, and gain insight into your traits
- [Design Your Career](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/design-your-career/): Navigate uncertainty, explore possibilities, and make intentional decisions about your life and career
- and more!

## More Career Exploration Tailored to You:

## Harvard College First-Year Students

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/career-exploration-for-first-years/)

## Harvard College Sophomores

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/career-exploration-for-sophomores/)

## Harvard College Juniors

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/career-exploration-for-juniors/)

## Harvard College Seniors

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/career-exploration-for-seniors/)

## Harvard Extension School Students

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-extension-school-explore-your-interests/)

## Harvard Griffin GSAS Students

[Read More](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-griffin-gsas-explore-your-interests/)

## Harvard College Resources

### [StrengthsProfile](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/strengthsprofile/)

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Discover Your Potential with StrengthsProfile

**StrengthsProfile** is an assessment tool designed to identify and enhance an individual’s strengths and talents. …

### [Harvard College Mignone Center for Career Success: Tools & Resources Guide](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/making-the-most-of-mcs/)

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The Mignone Center for Career Success offers numerous tools and resources to help you connect to all kinds of opportunities.

### [Harvard College Guide to Working in Arts & Culture](https://cdn-careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2025/07/Arts-booklet.pdf)

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Use this guide to understand the resources available for working in Arts & Culture.

### [Harvard College Guide to the Nonprofit Job Search](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/ocs-guide-to-nonprofit-job-search/)

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If you’re interested in helping to further a mission or cause that seeks to make a positive impact in the …

### [16 Personalities](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/16-personalities/)

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Take a 10-minute quiz to discover your personality type, and gain insight into your traits, career paths, personal growth, and …

### [My Next Move](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/my-next-move/)

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What do you want to do for a living? This resource will help you brainstorm the possibilities.

My Next Move …

[View All Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/?stag%5B0%5D=student&stag[]=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Resources

### [StrengthsProfile](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/strengthsprofile/)

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Discover Your Potential with StrengthsProfile

**StrengthsProfile** is an assessment tool designed to identify and enhance an individual’s strengths and talents. …

### [Imagine PhD](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/imagine-phd/)

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Imagine PhD is an online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and alumni in the humanities and social …

### [myIDP](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/myidp/)

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[myIDP](http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/) is a unique, web-based career-planning tool tailored to meet the needs of PhD students and postdocs in the sciences.  …

### [16 Personalities](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/16-personalities/)

- Share This:
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Take a 10-minute quiz to discover your personality type, and gain insight into your traits, career paths, personal growth, and …

### [My Next Move](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/my-next-move/)

- Share This:
- Copy Link

What do you want to do for a living? This resource will help you brainstorm the possibilities.

My Next Move …

### [O\*NET Resource Center](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/onet-resource-center/)

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The O\*NET Program is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. The data have proven vital in helping people find the …

[View All Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/?stag%5B0%5D=gsas-students&stag[]=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Harvard Extension Resources

### [StrengthsProfile](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/strengthsprofile/)

- Share This:
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Discover Your Potential with StrengthsProfile

**StrengthsProfile** is an assessment tool designed to identify and enhance an individual’s strengths and talents. …

### [HES Self-Assessment Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/hes-self-assessment-resources/)

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There are a wide variety of resources available to help you identify your values, interests, personality and skills and to …

### [16 Personalities](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/16-personalities/)

- Share This:
- Copy Link

Take a 10-minute quiz to discover your personality type, and gain insight into your traits, career paths, personal growth, and …

### [My Next Move](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/my-next-move/)

- Share This:
- Copy Link

What do you want to do for a living? This resource will help you brainstorm the possibilities.

My Next Move …

### [O\*NET Resource Center](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/onet-resource-center/)

- Share This:
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The O\*NET Program is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. The data have proven vital in helping people find the …

### [Vault Guide to Defense Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-defense-jobs/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

[View All Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/?stag%5B0%5D=hes-students&stag[]=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Firsthand Vault Guides

### [Vault Guide to Defense Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-defense-jobs/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

### [Vault Guide to Investment Banking Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-investment-banking-jobs/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

### [Vault Guide to Investment Management](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-investment-management/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

### [Vault Guide to Hedge Fund Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-hedge-fund-jobs/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

### [Vault Guide to Mathematics and Physics Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-mathematics-and-physics-jobs/)

- Share This:
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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

### [Vault Guide to Automotive Manufacturing Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/vault-guide-to-automotive-manufacturing-jobs/)

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The **Vault Guides to Jobs** series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

[View All Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/?shared_category=explore-your-interests-self-assessment&ctag[]=firsthand-vault-guides)

## Videos & Recorded Webinars

[### Concentration to Career](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/videos/concentration-to-career/)

[### How to MCS](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/videos/how-to-mcs/)

[### How to Find the Right Career](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/videos/how-to-find-the-right-career/)

[View All Videos](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/videos/?shared_category=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Featured Articles

[#### Exploring Concentrations and Careers: Things to Consider ​](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/2026/03/17/exploring-concentrations-and-careers-things-to-consider/)

[#### First-Year and Sophomore Summer Opportunities 2026 (Check back – updated every Friday!)](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/2026/03/16/first-year-and-sophomore-summer-opportunities-2026-check-back-list-gets-updated-regularly/)

[#### Why Career Success is Negotiated, Not Just Earned](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/2026/01/25/why-career-success-is-negotiated-not-just-earned/)

[View All](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/?stag%5B%5D=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Job Market InsightsIn partnership with

**Find a career that aligns with your career interests, see current salary projects, and identify skills you need to apply for that next job or internship.**

There are two ways to use this tool below:

1. **By Keyword:** Search for the name of the occupation you’re interested in.
2. **By Industry:** Not sure what job you’d like? Search by desired industry and see available occupations.

Find career data by selecting keywords
Keyword Search

or, by filtering for industry and occupation
Industry Search

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Select an industry

Select an occupation

Nationwide
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

All Counties

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Nationwide
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

All Counties

Toggle charts

- Occupation Description
- Employment Trends
- Top Employers
- Education Levels
- Annual Earnings
- Technical Skills
- Core Competencies
- Job Titles

Occupation DescriptionEmployment TrendsTop EmployersEducation LevelsAnnual EarningsTechnical SkillsCore CompetenciesJob Titles

## Occupation Description

## Employment Trends

The number of jobs in the career for the past two years, the current year, and projections for the next 10 years. Job counts include both employed and self-employed persons, and do not distinguish between full- and part-time jobs. Sources include Emsi industry data, staffing patterns, and OES data.\
\

## Top Employers

These companies are currently hiring for .

## Education Levels

The educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold Bachelor’s Degrees vs. Associate Degrees). Educational attainment levels are provided by O\*NET.

## Annual Earnings

Earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

## Technical Skills

A list of hard skills associated with a given career ordered by the number of unique job postings which ask for those skills.

## Core Competencies

The skills for the career. The "importance" is how relevant the ability is to the occupation: scale of 1-5. The "level" is the proficiency required by the occupation: scale of 0-100. Results are sorted by importance first, then level.

## Job Titles

A list of job titles for all unique postings in a given career, sorted by frequency.

[Explore all Job Market Insights.](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/labor-market-insights/)

## 

[#### Leveraging Your PhD: Why Employers Value Your Skills](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/2026/03/16/leveraging-your-phd-why-employers-value-your-skills-2/)

[View All](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/category/graduate-spotlights/)

## Skill Building Courses

[### Discover & Communicate Personal Values

Henna Inam

Inspirational leaders can create transformation within themselves and their teams, in the form of pursuing services and missions that matter.…](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/classes/discover-communicate-personal-values/)

[### Successful Goal Setting

Careercake

Even your loftiest goals are possible if you approach them strategically. In this course, join Aimee Bateman as she shares…](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/classes/successful-goal-setting/)

[View All Classes](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/classes/?stag[]=explore-your-interests-self-assessment)

## Contact & Location

:   617-495-2595

:   [mcs@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:mcs@fas.harvard.edu)

:   Harvard University\
    54 Dunster Street\
    Cambridge, MA 02138

## MCS Hours

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| --- | --- |
|  | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
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|  | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
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**[Blogs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog) | [Employers](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/companies) | [Events](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/events) | [Jobs](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/jobs) | [Resources](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources) | [Videos](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/videos) | [Meet the Team](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/mignone-staff/) | [Maps & Directions](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/visiting-the-mignone-center-for-career-success/)**

The Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) is committed to ensuring access to a broad range of information and opportunities across all sectors. Our website contains external content that may be useful to our learners. The inclusion of external content does not necessarily constitute endorsement, recommendation, or agreement with the information.

[**Give A Gift**](https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/give-a-gift-to-help-students-explore-their-interests/)