Make smart data driven career decisions confidently
Get to know a career thoroughly before investing significant years or money in it. Consider the following factors.
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Does it match the type of work you love doing?
When you do work you love, you will be delighted and satisfied. There are six types of work — what types of work do you love doing?
Hands-on
Hands-on work involves using your hands, is practical, and does not involve a lot of paperwork. Hands-on careers may involve working outdoors. See all hands-on careers.
Research Driven
Research driven work involves working with ideas and requires an extensive amount of thinking, searching for facts and figuring our problems mentally. See all research driven careers.
Imaginative
Imaginative work involves working with forms, designs and patterns. It often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. See all imaginative careers.
Social
Social work frequently involves working with, communicating with, and teaching people. It often involves helping or providing service to others. See all social careers.
Entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurial work frequently involves starting up and carrying out projects. It can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes it requires risk taking and often deals with business. See all entrepreneurial careers.
Methodical
Methodical work frequently involves following set procedures and routines. It can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. See all methodical careers.
Will you be able to use your strongest superpowers?
We all possess 6 superpowers. The level of our superpowers will vary.
Problem Solving
This superpower enables you to use several math skills and logical thinking to solve problems in everyday situations. It involves gathering and sorting through all information related to a problem, making educated guesses about how best to solve the problem, picking a likely way to solve it, and then explaining your decisions.
This superpower is important in such fields as engineering, construction, finance, sales, mathematics, science, and technology. See careers where you can use the problem solving superpower.
Communication
This superpower enables you to understand the meaning of words and use them effectively in good communication when you listen, speak, or write.
This superpower is important in such fields as communications, education, law, literary arts, and sales. See careers where you can use the communication superpower.
Imagination
This superpower enables you to form pictures of objects in your mind. It involves easily understanding how drawings represent real objects and correctly imagining how parts fit together.
This superpower is important in such fields as architecture, carpentry, engineering technology, the visual arts, interior design, and clothing design. See careers where you can use the imagination superpower.
Computation
This superpower enables you to use simple arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve everyday problems involving numbers.
This superpower is important in such fields as engineering, finance, mathematics, science, and technology. See careers where you can use the computation superpower.
Text and Numeric Observation
This superpower enables you to quickly and accurately see differences in detail in written material. The material may be text or numbers on a page, in lists, or in tables. It involves noticing if there are mistakes in the text and numbers, or if there are careless errors in working math problems.
This superpower is important in such fields as administration, claims processing, library services, office machine operation, packaging, and word processing. See careers where you can use the text and numeric observation superpower.
Visual Observation
This superpower enables you to quickly and accurately see details in objects, pictures, or drawings. It involves noticing little differences in shapes of figures, shading, and lengths and widths of lines.
This superpower is important in such fields as craft arts, craft technology, jewelry making, production technology, production work, and quality control. See careers where you can use the visual observation superpower.
How many jobs exist today and what is the future outlook?
It would be wise to invest time and money in careers that have good growth potential. Given the technology advances many careers are on the decline. Consider the projected growth and the projected job openings. Explore careers with good growth potential.
This data is US specific. Please research and find equivalent information for the country you plan to work in. This data may be still be valuable because you could be working remotely for a US-based business.
What are the potential earnings and will they meet your needs?
We all have financial responsibilities and bills to pay. How much will you make if you choose this career? Will it meet your financial needs? It is vital to consider this factor if you want to be financially independent. You can explore the potential earnings here — this data is US specific. Please research and find equivalent information for the country you plan to work in. This data may be still be valuable because you could be working remotely for a US-based business.
What is the level of education required, and what will it ultimately cost you?
There are several aspects to the level of education — higher the level, higher the cost of education and duration. How much time and money are you able to invest for your situation? If considering an education loan, consider the ultimate cost of the loan and the time it will take you to pay it off. Think about when you will be able to start paying off the loan and how well will the potential earning help you pay off the loan and still live a comfortable life?
Postsecondary education, regarded as essential in a competitive global job market, is credited for increasing prosperity for individuals and their communities. Greater numbers of students pursue higher education, but rising costs of college force many to rely on loans. Tuition for attending a public college varies — free in 40 countries like Brazil or Germany and thousands of dollars in the United States and the United Kingdom. The average student loan debt is $37,000 in the United States and $55,000 in the United Kingdom; even students in Sweden, where tuition is free, leave with an average debt of about $20,000. The struggle to fund college is particularly tough for students from rural areas and developing nations. — Student Debt Rising Worldwide | YaleGlobal Online
Consider the University of the People: Tuition-Free, Accredited Online College — it is a quality affordable option and you learn collaboratively with people from around the world — a vital skill for the 21st century. Combine this with gaining practical skills and certifications through sites like edX, and Udemy. Work on practical projects and gain experience.
Is the general area of expertise associated with the career of interest to you? What are the potential earnings in the various areas of expertise?
Below are 16 areas of expertise and potential earnings — this gives you a birds-eye view of the potential in each area.
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
The production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $59,421 | Median Hourly Wages: $29
Architecture & Construction
Careers in designing, planning, managing, building, and maintaining the built environment. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $53,259 | Median Hourly Wages: $26
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $60,664 | Median Hourly Wages: $31
Business Management & Administration
Business Management and Administration careers encompass planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations. Business Management and Administration career opportunities are available in every sector of the economy. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $72,887 | Median Hourly Wages: $35
Education & Training
Planning, managing, and providing education and training services, and related learning support services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $76,882 | Median Hourly Wages: $7
Finance
Planning, services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $75,120 | Median Hourly Wages: $36
Government & Public Administration
Executing governmental functions to include governance; national security; foreign service; planning; revenue and taxation; regulation; and management and administration at the local, state, and federal levels. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $66,883 | Median Hourly Wages: $31
Health Science
Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $88,215 | Median Hourly Wages: $42
Hospitality & Tourism
Hospitality and Tourism encompasses the management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions and recreation events, and travel-related services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $35,221 | Median Hourly Wages: $16
Human Services
Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $50,212 | Median Hourly Wages: $24
Information Technology
Building linkages in IT occupations framework for entry-level, technical, and professional careers related to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $91,120 | Median Hourly Wages: $44
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $65,175 | Median Hourly Wages: $31
Manufacturing
Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance, and manufacturing/process engineering. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $46,083 | Median Hourly Wages: $22
Marketing
Planning, managing, and performing marketing activities to reach organizational objectives. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $66,113 | Median Hourly Wages: $32
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Planning, managing, and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering), including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $96,276 | Median Hourly Wages: $46
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water and related professional and technical support services such as transportation infrastructure planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment, and facility maintenance. Explore careers where you can use this area of expertise.
Median Annual Wages: $55,460 | Median Hourly Wages: $24
