Informational interview
A short conversation with someone who does the work.
One action
Ask a teacher, counselor, or family friend to introduce you to one person in the field.
BlackMuse Career Exploration
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out.
Discover what interests you, explore careers that fit your strengths, and choose one small step toward work, training, or school.
This is not a test. You do not need to know your career yet. A small next step counts.
Free to explore. No perfect answers required.
Choose your starting point
Where would you like to begin?
Pick the option that sounds most like you today. You can come back and try another one any time.
Featured tool
Meet CareerQuest
CareerQuest helps you connect what you enjoy, what you are good at, and what matters to you with careers worth exploring.
Launch CareerQuest (opens in a new tab, outside BlackMuse)Opens in a new tab · free to use
Interests
What you enjoy
- creating
- building
- helping
- organizing
- investigating
Strengths
What you are good at
- communication
- problem-solving
- imagination
- focus
- leadership
Values
What matters to you
- stability
- independence
- purpose
- flexibility
- creativity
- growth
Interests + Strengths + Values → Career Possibilities
The exploration pathway
Five stages. Move at your own pace.
Each stage lights up as you scroll. You can enter at any point and revisit earlier stages whenever you want.
- Stage 1:
Discover Yourself
Notice the activities, subjects, problems, and environments that hold your attention.
- Stage 2:
Explore Careers
Find several possibilities instead of trying to choose one perfect answer.
- Stage 3:
Research Options
Compare daily responsibilities, training, wages, job outlook, and work environments.
- Stage 4:
Try the Work
Use projects, volunteering, informational interviews, job shadows, internships, and apprenticeships to test your interests.
- Stage 5:
Prepare and Act
Build your résumé, practice communicating your strengths, and complete one specific next step.
Career worlds
Explore worlds, not just job titles.
Open any world to see what people do, the skills they use, where they work, and how people get started. Pick two or three that interest you — you do not need to choose one.
How to research a career
Six questions build a complete picture.
Answer these for any career you are curious about. Tap or select a question to see why it matters.
- Job titles can hide the real day-to-day. Knowing the tasks tells you if you would enjoy the work.
- Skills show you what you already have and what you can build next.
- Requirements shape how long the path takes and what it might cost.
- Indoors or outdoors, quiet or busy, solo or team — environment affects how you feel every day.
- Pay and demand help you plan realistically and compare options fairly.
- Trying the work, even briefly, teaches you more than reading about it.
Career information changes. Confirm wages, requirements, and openings through the linked official sources.
Career comparison workspace
Compare Two Careers
Put two options side by side. Short notes are fine — you can fill in what you know now and add more later.
Your comparison stays in this browser unless you print, save, or clear it. No account needed.
Ways to experience a career
You Can Explore a Career Before Committing to It.
Low-commitment first, bigger commitments later. Each option shows what it is and one action you can take.
Workplace tour
A visit to see where the work happens.
One action
Ask an employer or program if they offer tours or open-house days.Job shadow
A few hours or a day following a worker through their routine.
One action
Request a job shadow through your school, DVR counselor, or a WorkSource center.Class or workshop
A short course that lets you try the skills.
One action
Look for an introductory class at a library, community college, or community center.Personal project
Something you make or solve on your own that uses the skills.
One action
Pick one small project you can finish in two weeks and add it to your résumé.Volunteer experience
Unpaid help with an organization related to the field.
One action
Offer a few hours to a local organization and ask what tasks match your interests.Internship
A structured, time-limited work experience, sometimes paid.
One action
Ask your school or WorkSource about internship programs for your age group.Pre-apprenticeship
Preparation for a registered apprenticeship, often with basic skills and safety training.
One action
Search Apprenticeship.gov or Career Bridge Washington for pre-apprenticeship programs near you.Registered apprenticeship
Paid on-the-job training combined with classroom learning.
One action
Review the requirements for one apprenticeship and note the next application window.Entry-level employment
A first job in the field that builds experience.
One action
Update your résumé and apply to one entry-level opening this week.
Trusted career resources
Research with sources you can rely on.
BlackMuse tools first, then official public sources. Every link opens in a new tab and takes you outside the BlackMuse website.
- BlackMuse tool
BlackMuse CareerQuest
Connect your interests, strengths, and values to possible career directions.
Discover My Direction (opens in a new tab, outside BlackMuse)Opens outside BlackMuse - BlackMuse tool
BlackMuse Résumé Builder
Build a professional résumé through an accessible, step-by-step process.
Build My Résumé (opens in a new tab, outside BlackMuse)Opens outside BlackMuse
Showing 7 public resources.
- Discover Yourself
My Next Move Interest Profiler
Answer questions about the work you may enjoy and explore matching occupations.
Take the Interest Profiler Opens outside BlackMuse- Research Careers
O*NET Online
Research job responsibilities, skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities across hundreds of occupations.
Research Occupations Opens outside BlackMuse- Research Careers
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Compare career duties, education requirements, wages, and employment outlook using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Compare Wages and Outlook Opens outside BlackMuse- Discover Yourself
CareerOneStop Interest Assessment
Complete a short interest assessment and connect the results to possible careers.
Start the Assessment Opens outside BlackMuse- Find Education and Training
- Find Apprenticeships
- Research Careers
Career Bridge Washington
Explore Washington careers, training programs, job trends, educational costs, and ways to pay for training.
Find Training in Washington Opens outside BlackMuse- Search for Opportunities
- Prepare for Work
WorkSource Washington
Explore careers and wages, build job-search skills, find workshops, and search for employment opportunities.
Search Opportunities Opens outside BlackMuse- Find Apprenticeships
- Search for Opportunities
Apprenticeship.gov
Learn about Registered Apprenticeship and search for paid, work-based training opportunities.
Find an Apprenticeship Opens outside BlackMuse
Turn exploration into a next step
Choose One Small Next Step
Pick one action. Add a few details if you want to. Everything here is optional and stays on your device.
Step 2 · Add details (optional)
Your Future Doesn’t Need a Perfect Beginning.
Begin with what interests you. Explore what is possible. Then take one step.