Finding the right career starts with understanding yourself.
In Career Milestone 1, you’ll:
- Explore careers that match your interests and strengths
- Reflect on your values and personality
- Identify a career goal that fits your future
Steps to Create Your Career Goal
Before you can make career choices, it’s important to know what matters most to you.
✅ Figure out your career needs by completing PART 1 in the Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet.
Save a copy of your Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet for future reference.
PathwayU is a tool that helps you find careers that match your values, interests, personality, and work style, so you can choose a career path that truly fits you.
✅ Take the 4 assessments in PathwayU and explore your career matches.
✅ Choose 1-3 occupations to research further and add them to your “Favorites.”
✅ Go back to your Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet. In PART 2, note what you learned about each occupation, and rate how well it matches your career needs from PART 1.
Now that you’ve explored your traits and career options, setting a SMART career goal gives you direction. It helps you stay focused and take the right steps toward landing your dream job.
Use the SMART Career Goal Worksheet or AI Quick Guide to create your career goal. If you use the AI Quick Guide, copy and paste the AI’s responses into the worksheet once you’re done to save your goal!
See more details about each resource below.
- Fast and simple (10-15 min) – Get instant, personalized feedback.
- AI does the research – Requires less effort and personal input.
- Simple goal setting – Great for setting a goal without deep reflection.
- Guided walthrough (20-30 min) – Follow clear steps to create your goal.
- You do the thinking – Requires more thought and personal input.
- Reflective goal setting – Great for thinking deeply about your goal.
Save a copy of your worksheet so you can remember your career goal and stay focused.
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
LinkedIn Learning
Watch “Informational vs. Job Interviews” to learn more about informational interviews.
WGU LinkedIn Alumni Tool
Find professionals with industry experience using LinkedIn!
Learn More About You
Learn more about your personal attributes by completing extra self-assessments.
Informational Interview Questions
Use this list of questions to help you during your informational interviews and conversations.
Employer Research Guide
Use this guide as a research tool for exploring and research employer organizations within your desired field or industry.
Explore More Career Options
Find additional occupations related to your major by viewing WGU Career Guides.
What Can I Do With This Major?
Explore 106 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities.
Career Research
Dive deeper into career data using O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
