Career exploration: find your next direction
By Justin KullaLast updated
Start with what you already know
- The tasks you did best and the ones you would do again.
- The kind of problems, people and pace you want from the next job.
- The pay, location and schedule you need.
Look at the real options
Most next steps fall into four groups: the same role at a different employer, the same function in a different industry, an adjacent role that uses your skills in a new way, or independent work such as consulting. For each, check how many openings there are, what they pay and what they ask for. Our job listings show posted pay and requirements.
Test before you commit
Have a few conversations with people doing the work, try a short project or course, and see whether you still want it. Then pick one or two targets and build the search around them, using a career pivot plan if the move is across fields.
Frequently asked questions
How do I figure out what career to pursue next?
Start from your own history: what you did well and want more of. Then compare the options on openings, pay and requirements, and test the best one or two with conversations or a small project.
Is career exploration only for people changing fields?
No. It is useful anyone who is unsure what to do next, including people staying in the same field but changing employer, level or type of work.
Can AI skills change my options?
They can. Our AI skills data shows which functions ask for them and what those postings pay.
Start with how the market sees you
The free Market Reality Assessment reads your background and shows where it is strongest.
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