Preference-Based Career Test

The test below is designed to help you explore careers based on the kinds of activities you actually enjoy.

INSTRUCTIONS: Each choice gives you two activities. Pick the one that appeals to you more. Don’t worry about whether you have the right qualifications or skills. Imagine that you could do either activity equally well and simply choose the one you would enjoy more.

After you complete the test, you’ll get a score for five different career areas. The areas where you score highest are likely to match your strongest preferences. You can then use the table below to find specific career ideas.

You may also want to try our other career test.

Choice 1:

working with materials such as wood, metal, or fabric
selling, marketing, or advertising

Choice 2:

forestry or gardening
typing or data entry

Choice 3:

caring for sick people
computer programming

Choice 4:

caring for or raising animals
coaching people in areas such as careers, sports, health, or business

Choice 5:

checking the quality of graphic design work such as posters, illustrations, or postcards
caring for plants

Choice 6:

reviewing scientific papers or research
reviewing books, movies, concerts, music, or other creative work

Choice 7:

drawing
driving or operating machinery

Choice 8:

caring for animals
maintaining and improving mechanical equipment

Choice 9:

studying art
studying microscopic organisms

Choice 10:

advising or assisting people by phone, or working in travel services
working on film or theater productions, including set or visual design

Choice 11:

conflict resolution or police work
working with tables, charts, or technical drawings

Choice 12:

repairing or overhauling equipment
editing written or visual material

Choice 13:

business, financial, court, or news reporting; journalism
writing fiction

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Choice 14:

maintaining and improving medical equipment
working in an emergency department or providing first aid

Choice 15:

plant breeding
creating or manufacturing products

Choice 16:

interior decorating or creating designs on glass, wood, or metal
installing or assembling furniture and equipment

Choice 17:

laboratory testing
working as a general practitioner or family doctor

Choice 18:

planning and organizing tours
acting, singing, stand-up comedy, or other stage performance

Choice 19:

treating sick animals
working with numbers

Choice 20:

sewing clothes, constructing buildings, or manufacturing products
architectural or technical drawing, including maps

Your results will be displayed below.

Nature & Outdoors Type I	Technical & Mechanical Type II	People & Service Type III	Numbers & Information Type IV	Art & Design Type V
geologist	mechanical engineer	salesperson	software developer	animator
zookeeper	electrical engineer	marketing manager	web developer	graphic designer
fish and game warden	civil engineer	doctor	computer scientist	architect
ornithologist	power plant technician	teacher	database administrator	art teacher
botanist	petroleum engineer	counselor	accountant	illustrator
organic farmer	pilot	tour guide	statistician	photographer
landscape architect	railroad worker	coach	economist	makeup artist
veterinarian	mariner	nurse	actuary	cartoonist
nature and wildlife photographer	flight instructor	public relations manager	meteorologist	fashion designer
ecologist	aircraft or ship mechanic	restaurant manager	financial planner	jewelry designer
Careers involving nature, wildlife, animals, and the outdoors.	Careers involving building, maintaining, repairing, improving, or operating machinery and equipment.	Careers centered on working with and helping people.	Careers involving numbers, data, information, and symbols.	Creative and artistic careers.

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