What are Career Insights in my score report?
We know that discovering a career is a driving force as you make decisions about your future. And as you think about your career goals and what you’ll do after high school, you’ll begin uncovering what you like, your skills, the opportunities available to you, and the steps you need to take to reach your goals. To help with that, we’ve included Career Insights on your score report—a snapshot of in-demand jobs in your state that can get you thinking about what you may like to do in the future.
The jobs listed are not the only jobs available in your state or the only ones you should consider for yourself, but use them as a starting point to explore what interests you most.
Each job on your score report:
- are fast-growing careers in your state.
- vary widely to reflect careers across interest areas (Doers, Thinkers, Creators, Helpers, Persuaders, and Organizers).
- requires some form of education after high school.
- pays a living wage.
To learn more about careers , and see careers based on your interests, you can find resources on BigFuture. The site offers a free career quiz—a 10-minute quiz that helps match your likes, dislikes, and interests to a list of 30 career options to explore.
Find time to talk with your school counselor or a teacher who can help support you through the exploration process and answer questions about the career information on your score report or general questions about planning for your life after high school.
FAQ
What are Career Insights in my PSAT score report?
We know that discovering a career is a driving force as you make decisions about your future. And as you think about your career goals and what you’ll do after high school, you’ll begin uncovering what you like, your skills, the opportunities available to you, and the steps you need to take to reach your goals. To help with that, we’ve included Career Insights on your PSAT score report—a snapshot of in-demand jobs in your state that can get you thinking about what you may like to do in the future. The careers listed are not the only ones available in your state or the only ones you should consider for yourself, but use them as a starting point to explore what interests you most. Each job on your score report:
- are fast-growing careers in your state.
- vary widely to reflect careers across interest areas (Doers, Thinkers, Creators, Helpers, Persuaders, and Organizers).
- requires some form of education after high school.
- pays a living wage.
To learn more about careers, and see careers based on your interests, you can find resources on BigFuture. The site offers a free career quiz—a 10-minute quiz that helps match your likes, dislikes, and interests to a list of 30 career options to explore.
Find time to talk with your school counselor or a teacher who can help support you through the exploration process and answer questions about the career information on your score report or general questions about planning for your life after high school.
Sample Career Insights:
Are my interests and major preferences factored into the career information being shown on the score report?
The careers on your score report are growing opportunities in your state, but are not personalized to your interests. We understand that showing a small sample of career opportunities in your state doesn’t cover the world of possibilities in front of you, but it’s a starting point. You may be inspired to explore something you didn’t know existed or interested in discovering other careers. For personalized career options that match your interests and academic skills—including what’s measured on the PSAT™ 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT® - check out BigFuture.
What are interest areas?
Most people have a combination of interests, and most careers represent a mix of two or three interest areas. The career information in your score report intentionally shows careers that vary based on what your interest areas may be. These interest areas are from the Holland framework—the most well-known and widely used tool in career advising—which includes six dimensions that are mapped to work environments (see the table below for an overview). To find out more about yourself and get a personalized list of careers that align with your interest areas, take the BigFuture career quiz.
| Interest Areas in Score Report | Holland Framework | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Doers | Realistic | Good for students who like to do and make things and enjoy being outdoors |
| Thinkers | Investigative | Good for students who like to analyze and solve problems |
| Creators | Artistic | Good for students who enjoy using their imagination and being creative |
| Helpers | Social | Good for students who want to help other people in some way |
| Persuaders | Enterprising | Good for students who enjoy leading others, growing a business, and making financial gains |
| Organizers | Conventional | Good for students who are meticulous and enjoy math and compiling information |
What does median yearly income represent?
Income refers to the amount of money an employee receives for their work. On the score report, the median yearly income column represents the median salary (middle point) you can expect to earn for each your specific state. All of the careers shown on your score report have a median yearly income that meets living wage standards.
What does “number of jobs” and “job growth” tell me?
The number of jobs refers to the expected number of new job openings that will be available in your state five years from now. Job growth refers to the percent by which the job is expected to have new openings in the next five years. All the careers shown on your score report are growing in your state.
What does “most common level of education” mean?
Most common level of education refers to the education level most often needed to enter an occupation. Some jobs will require a bachelor’s degree while others may require a certificate or an associate degree. The careers on your score report show a variety of different education requirements. We selected jobs that require some form of education after high school as most jobs in the coming years will require some education or skills training beyond high school. Below are examples of different education opportunities you can take after high school:
- Certificate
- Some college
- Associate degree
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s or Professional degree
- Doctoral degree or more
You can explore colleges, including four-year, community colleges, and technical colleges in BigFuture’s College Search tool.
Where did the career salary, growth, and common level of education information come from?
We used the occupational listings from the U.S. Department of Labor’s to source the careers you see on your score report. Labor market information like salary, job growth projections, and common level of education came from our partners at Lightcast.
Where can I find careers that match my skills?
BigFuture Career Insights provides a snapshot of how your Math and Reading & Writing skills based on your latest PSAT/SAT score aligns with skills required for various careers. With this information, you can understand where your academic skills are today and what you can do in order to prepare for the careers you’re interested in.
What is BigFuture?
BigFuture is a free online resource that helps students take the best first step after high school. We help you explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college. Whether you’re interested in a four-year university, community college, or career training, BigFuture has what you need to start planning your future, your way.