Start or Further a Career

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Teaching others how to do something.

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.