Understanding Your Career Matches

Need help navigating or interpreting the Career Matches tool?

How do I narrow down my Career Matches?

• By Using Subject Area (Career Cluster) View: Subject areas listed towards the top show where you have a high concentration of strong matches whereas subject areas listed towards the bottom tend to be a weaker fit for you. Keep in mind, a strong career match does not necessarily mean you would be “good” at that job, or currently have the skills you would need to succeed in that role. A strong match means that you are likely to find meaning and fulfillment in that career pathway, because it aligns with your unique profile of traits. This a great place to start if you don’t yet have a solidified idea of what you want you want to study in school or pursue in the future. For more information on the subject areas (career clusters) we have in the platform, see below.
• By Using Filters: To see a list of your match strength to all possible professions, switch over to the All Careers view. PathwayU calculates your fit to nearly 1,000 occupational paths, so be sure to use the filtering tools to narrow down your results. Use the filters to tailor your career matches to integrate your unique skill set and passions. You may come across careers that you’ve never even heard of before.
• By Using the Search Bar: You might use the search bar to check out your match strength to something that you really wanted when you were kid. You might just be a good fit for it after all. Maybe you are a few months away from earning your degree in Business with a minor in Computer Science, but you’ve always wanted to make a positive impact in the realm of education.

How do I keep track of the careers I am interested in?
Be sure to add it to your Favorites so you can easily revisit it later. As you continue this explorative process, get creative with your filtering strategies and pay attention to themes across your career matches throughout different industries and subject areas.

I found a career that I’m interested in, now what?
When you find an occupation that stands out, click on the tile and spend some time looking through the career information provided. By looking into daily job activities, average salary information, educational requirements, and more, you can get a better understanding of whether or not this is something you would really consider pursuing in the future.

Subject Areas (Career Clusters) in PathwayU:

Science, Engineering & Mathematics

This subject area includes opportunities related to engineering and technology, as well as science and mathematics. Examples of careers within this subject area include aerospace engineers, nanosystems engineers, energy engineers, bioinformatics scientists, survey researchers, and atmospheric and space scientists.

Health Science

This subject area includes opportunities related to biotechnology research and development; diagnostic services; health informatics; support services; and therapeutic services. Examples of careers within this subject area include cytogenic technologists, surgical assistants, acupuncturists, chiropractors, dentists, occupational therapists, and veterinarians.

IT & Computer Science

This subject area includes opportunities related to information support and services; network systems; programming and software development; and web and digital communications. Examples of careers within this subject area include computer systems architects, video game designers, database administrators, computer programmers, and web developers.

Arts, Media, & Communication

This subject area includes opportunities related to journalism and broadcasting; performing arts; printing technology; telecommunications; and visual arts. Examples of careers within this subject area include audio and video equipment technicians, broadcast news analysts, sound engineering technicians; writers and authors, producers, music directors, craft artists, and graphic designers.

Manufacturing & Manual Operations

This subject area includes opportunities related to maintenance, installation and repair; manufacturing production process development; production; and quality assurance. Examples of careers within this subject area include radio mechanics, medical equipment repairers, mechanical engineering technicians, and chemical plant and systems operator.

Architecture & Construction

This subject area includes opportunities related to construction; design and pre-construction; and maintenance and operations. Examples of careers within this subject area include carpenters, electricians, solar energy installation managers, architectural and civil drafters, and electric power-line installers.

Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

This subject area includes opportunities related to agribusiness systems; animal systems; environmental service systems; food products and processing systems; natural resources systems; plant systems; and power, structural and technical systems. Examples of careers within this subject area include farm and ranch managers, environmental engineers, food scientists, natural sciences managers, and water resources specialists.

Education

This subject area includes opportunities related to administration and administrative support; professional support services; and teaching and training. Examples of careers within this subject area include distance learning coordinators, library technicians, chemistry teachers, physical education specialists, secondary school teachers, and special education teachers.

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

This subject area includes opportunities related to transportation operations; infrastructure planning, management, and regulation; sales and services; logistics planning; and facility and mobile equipment maintenance. Examples of careers within this subject area include avionic technicians, logistics analysts, storage and distribution managers, and air traffic controllers.

Law & Public Safety

This subject area includes opportunities related to correction services; emergency and fire management services; law enforcement services; legal services; and security and protective services. Examples of careers within this subject area include correctional officers, firefighters, criminal investigators, lawyers, and protective service workers.

Human Services

This subject area includes opportunities related to consumer services; counseling and mental health services; early childhood development and services; family and community services; and personal care services. Examples of careers within this subject area include clinical psychologists, rehabilitation counselors, childcare workers, fitness trainers, and personal care aides.

Government, Military, & Public Administration

This subject area includes opportunities related to governance; national security; planning; public management and administration; regulation; and revenue and taxation. Examples of careers within this subject area include compliance officers, legislators special forces, emergency management directors, and tax examiners and collectors.

Marketing & Sales

This subject area includes opportunities related to marketing communications; marketing management; marketing research; merchandising ;and professional sales. Examples of careers within this subject area include real estate brokers, sales managers, advertising and promotions managers, and public relation specialists.

Finance

This subject area includes opportunities related to accounting; banking services; insurance; and securities and investments. Examples of careers within this subject area include accountants, credit analysts, financial managers, insurance appraisers, and personal financial advisors.

Business Management & Administration

This subject area includes opportunities related to administrative support; business information management; general management; human resources management; and operations management. Examples of careers within this subject area include executive secretaries, patient representatives, chief executives, general and operations managers, and training and development specialists.

Hospitality & Tourism

This subject area includes opportunities related to lodging; recreation, amusement and attractions; restaurants and food/beverage services; and travel and tourism. Examples of careers within this subject area include concierges, lodging managers, recreation workers, chefs and head cooks, food service managers, and travel agents.