Finding Your Career Is A Journey
Career exploration isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a process. At UNO, we break it down into three practical stages to help you explore, reflect, and take action with confidence: Information Gathering, Self-Reflection, and Applying & Evaluating. Use the tools and resources below to navigate each stage and design a career path that fits you—with guidance from Career Services at every step.
Information Gathering Stage - Discover what’s out there and learn more about yourself
UNO’s PathwayU platform is a great place to discover your purpose and connect it to college majors and careers. You can take free assessments to gain insights into your interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences. Then, you can explore UNO majors, career paths, and internships align with your purpose and goals.
UNO students are provided with a free PathwayU account. Follow these steps to get started:
- Go to unomaha.pathwayu.com
- Log in with your UNO NetID
- Take the Interests, Values, Personality, and Workforce Preferences Assessments
- View your Career Matches
PathwayU Resources
- Understanding Your Assessment Results
- Career Match Exercise #1
- Career Match Exercise #2
- PathwayU Workbook
This resource is ideal for students who are just getting started and want to explore a wide range of career paths. PathwayU offers personalized insights to help you gather information, spark ideas, and discover options that align with who you are—without boxing you in.
Watch this short video to learn more about PathwayU.
Self-Refelction Stage - Think critically about your strengths, experiences, and what you want
Explore a career path that’s built around you. The Career Design Self-Assessment is a quick, thoughtful tool to help you reflect on your interests, strengths, values, and goals—so you can move forward with purpose.
Why it matters:
Choosing a career isn’t about picking the “right” job—it’s about designing a life that fits who you are. This resource helps you take the first step toward meaningful, informed career decisions.
Try it out:
- Download the Career Design Self-Assessment PDF
- Schedule a Career Exploration Appointment to review your results one-on-one with a career advisor
This resource is ideal for students who already have some ideas and want to reflect more deeply on their experiences, strengths, and goals—so they can create a more intentional career plan.
Applying & Evaluating Stage - Try out your ideas, evaluate your experiences, and move forward
Where are you in your career journey—and where do you want to go next? The Build Your Career Flow Chart helps you visualize the entire process: from self-discovery to active pursuit, with campus resources tailored to each stage.
Why it matters:
Career development isn’t linear. It’s a cycle of learning, trying, refining, and evolving. This chart turns uncertainty into action by connecting your current stage with specific steps and UNO resources.
View the flow chart:
This resource is ideal for students who want to visualize their career journey, understand where they are in the process, and take actionable steps toward their goals—with support from UNO every step of the way.
Additional Career Exploration Exercises
Looking for more ways to explore and map out your professional future? These exercises can help spark insight and inspiration: