Discover Careers & Majors that Fit Me
Navigating your academic and career journey can be one of the most exciting and unexpected parts of your university experience. Think of it like a road trip: you’ll explore what motivates you, discover new possibilities, and connect with guides—advisors, mentors, and professionals—who’ve traveled similar paths. While some careers have specific academic requirements, many paths are flexible, and a variety of majors can lead to the same profession. Choosing a degree aligned with your goals can save time and money, but remember that career journeys often evolve. The key is building core skills and knowledge that prepare you for what’s next.
Ready to begin? Check out the steps below or make an appointment with a Career Coach.
6 Steps to Discovery
Use the chart for Comparing Career Options, and keep updating it as you go through the steps below and potentially adjust your plans. (This is also a good way to think of questions you want to ask later, as you talk with people or look at info online.)
- List the classes, activities, work, or hobbies you have loved. Why did you enjoy or dislike certain parts? What do you like to read or learn about in your free time?
- Consider your strengths, what comes easily to you, what people have told you you’re good at, and what energizes you or drains you?
- What kinds of places would you want to spend 40 hours a week, what kinds of interactions do you want to have, and what kinds of problems would you want to be responsible for? (It’s okay if you don’t know yet, but it’s good to get your brain thinking about this as you start considering options.)
Notice any themes (for example, “I love building things” or “I enjoy helping people”) that point toward certain fields.
Meet with a Career Coach when you want to:
- Explore academic fields and careers that align with your interests, values, and strengths.
- Clarify your long-term career goals to help inform your major decision.
- Learn about career pathways, internships, or job outcomes tied to different majors.
- Use tools like career assessments.
- Talk through the implications of decisions on your career trajectory.
Meet with an Academic Advisor when you want to:
- Understand degree requirements, course planning, or graduation timelines.
- Discuss how switching majors might affect your credits, financial aid, or academic standing.
- Plan your next semester’s schedule or get help with course registration.
- Get referrals to academic support services or explore double majors/minors.
- Learn how to stay on track to graduate while exploring new academic directions.
Pro tip:
*Start with a Career Coach if you’re unsure what you want to do or why you’re considering switching majors. Then, follow up with your Academic Advisor to understand how any changes would work logistically.
They won’t give you all the answers, but they can spark ideas for next steps, clarify what you enjoy and why, and increase your confidence when making decisions.
*Pro tip: When considering the results of an assessment, ask yourself which parts feel true, which parts are surprising, and why.
Interests assessments will show you which majors and careers align with the things you like to spend time doing or find intriguing.
- Strong Interest Inventory: In-depth, research-backed assessment with a full report on occupations and majors that align with your interests. Requires a one-hour appointment with a career coach to receive the results.
- O*Net Interest Profiler, (U.S. Dept. of Labor): Identifies your strongest interest areas through a quick and easy assessment, based on the same theory and framework as the Strong Interest Inventory. Receive immediate results.
Values assessments provide clarity on what is most important to you when making career decisions.
- Life Values Inventory – Clarify the values currently important to you and how to apply them.
- Career OneStop Values – What do you prioritize at work? Rank 20 cards and see matches to careers.
Personality and strengths assessments measure what comes naturally and how your unique tendencies can be leveraged in different settings.
- High5 Strengths – What roles come naturally?
- 16Personalities – Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Suggests strengths, weaknesses, careers, and how you like to engage with the world.
Skills assessments give you insights on what you are good at and where you have room for improvement.
- CareerOneStop Skills Matcher – Rate your skill level across 40 areas, matching strongest skills (technical and soft skills) to careers.
Once you’ve surfaced a few careers that you’re interested in, do some more research.
- Use What Can I Do With this Major? to see a major’s career pathways, types of employers, info about specific jobs (bottom right), and job boards.
- O*Net has details for over 900 jobs, including tasks, pay, hiring forecasts, skills, and similar roles.
- If you took the Interest Profiler assessment above, or Strong Interest Inventory, you can see the jobs for your letter code if you go to the top menu -> O*Net Data tab -> Interests.
- Look up job and internship postings on platforms like Handshake, Indeed, and LinkedIn to learn what degree(s),certificates, skills, and experiences are needed for your desired careers and make a plan in reverse.
- Find professionals on LinkedIn and view their degrees and work experience. Go to University of Montana’s page -> Alumni tab -> sort by major, location, skillset. Or, go to an organization’s page you’d like to work for -> People tab
If interested, use Gen AI such as ChatGPT to help with this process.
Example prompts:
- Browsing with Bing, please create a chart showing job options for someone who wants [INTERESTS, VALUES, SKILLS], and include these factors [pay range, education needed, and how to test out those careers].
- I’m trying to choose between [MAJORS]. What factors are important to consider?
- I’m considering a career as a [ROLE]. Can you guide me on the necessary steps?
- Please show me five current job posts for [ROLE].
- What are the best questions to ask about [ROLE] in an informational interview?
*NOTE: You understand your situation more fully than ChatGPT, so always check whether the results are accurate and helpful. Be careful not to upload any information you’d like to remain private (address, contact info, etc.). Ask it to “browse with Bing” so info is more updated on the free version.
- Professionals in your field(s) of interest can provide insight, opportunities, and connections you hadn’t considered.
- Ask professors, career coaches, and people you know for ideas and introductions, as well as LinkedIn.
- Refer to the Career Conversations Guide for guidance on how to find people, etiquette in reaching out, how to prepare, and more.
- Ask them who else you should talk with, and if they can connect you with their colleagues. These conversations could be helpful later too, as you do projects or research in the field, look for internships, or want a mentor.
Some things can only be learned by being there, in that space, and seeing what it’s really like. Remember: you can change your mind! Many students switch majors and people switch career paths throughout their lives. In fact, research indicates a majority of people change careers at least once in their lifetime. Keep an open mind as you go, and adjust your plans as you learn more.
- Job shadow for a few hours, or a day
- Take a tour and talk with people at a company you’re interested in
- Take introductory courses in fields that interest you
- Join a research project at UM
- Volunteer in a similar role or setting
- Do a micro-internship (short-term, online paid project)
- Try an apprenticeship
- Get an internship or job
- Try a virtual simulation of a type of work through Forage
