Start with yourself. Before researching any career, take a moment to notice what already pulls your attention. There are no wrong answers — these reflections become the raw material for everything else.
"Act as a career exploration coach. Ask me one question at a time to help me identify possible career areas based on my interests, strengths, and values. Wait for my answer before asking the next question."
Look back at your Step 1 responses. Patterns are usually hiding in plain sight. Try to spot themes that show up more than once.
- I notice I'm drawn to working with people (teaching, helping, leading)
- I notice I'm drawn to working with ideas (analyzing, writing, researching)
- I notice I'm drawn to working with things (building, designing, fixing)
- I notice I'm drawn to working with data (numbers, patterns, technology)
- I notice I'm drawn to creating (art, writing, music, design)
- I notice I'm drawn to solving problems or making things better
"Here are my answers about my interests, strengths, and values: [paste your Step 1 answers]. Help me identify three or four patterns or themes you see across them, and suggest career areas those patterns might point toward."
Click on any career areas that spark interest. You can choose as many as you want — these are starting points, not commitments.
For each area you selected, dig a little deeper. The goal is not to memorize facts — it's to see if the day-to-day work appeals to you.
For each career area, find out:
- What 3–5 specific jobs exist in this area?
- What does a typical workday look like?
- What education or training is required?
- What high school courses or activities help prepare for it?
- What are realistic project ideas I could try as a student?
"Help me research the career area of [insert career area]. Explain common careers within it, required education, useful high school preparation, what a typical workday looks like, and three project ideas a high school student could try."
Pick your top three career areas and put them side by side. Comparison helps your gut tell you which one feels right.
"Help me compare three career areas — [Area 1], [Area 2], and [Area 3] — based on my interests, strengths, values, and preferred work style. For each, list pros, cons, day-to-day reality, and how well it fits a student who [describe yourself in a sentence]."
Reading about a career is not the same as doing something connected to it. Pick one small action this week — small enough that it actually happens.
- Watch a "day in the life" video for someone in this career
- Read one in-depth article or interview with a professional
- Talk to one adult who works in or near this field
- Try a small project (write, build, design, analyze something)
- Take a free intro online course or tutorial in this area
- Shadow, volunteer, or attend an event related to this field
Turn your exploration into evidence. Pick one of these to create — it can become part of your FIA Career Project or college portfolio.
- A career comparison chart (use your Step 5 grid)
- A short career reflection (1–2 pages)
- A list of possible college majors and why
- A project idea connected to one career area
- A career hypothesis statement
- A possible FIA Career Project direction
"Help me draft a one-page career reflection for high school. I'm exploring [career area]. My interests are [list]. My strengths are [list]. My values are [list]. Write a thoughtful first-person reflection I can revise."
What you'd actually do
You work through a Universal Prompt Pack — 10 prompts (0–9) you run one at a time, in order. Each prompt builds on the last, helping you go from "I'm curious about this career" to a polished body of evidence. You don't run them all in one sitting — you run a prompt, do real work, save it, then come back for the next one.
What you'd submit at the end
- A 12–15 minute Proof-of-Learning Video — a narrated screen-share where you walk through your work
- An Evidence Folder with artifacts, drafts, research notes, sources, AI-use disclosure, and a self-assessment
Time commitment
Typical pace: 8–12 weeks at 2–4 hours/week (~20–40 hours total).
Faster pace: 4–6 weeks at 4–6 hours/week with a smaller scope.
Why students take it on
- It produces authentic evidence — usable in college essays, interviews, and portfolios
- It tests whether you actually like the day-to-day work of a career, not just the idea of it
- It builds a real artifact (not just a paper) that shows initiative and career readiness
- It's the natural next step if your exploration above sparked real curiosity
Is this right for you right now?
Use these self-checks to gauge readiness:
- I have at least one career area I'm genuinely curious about (not just "interested-ish")
- I'm willing to commit ~2–4 hours/week for several weeks
- I'm okay with iterating — drafts, revisions, and learning from mistakes
- I'm comfortable using AI as a thinking partner (not a shortcut)
- I want something I can show — to colleges, to family, to my future self
"I'm considering taking on the FIA Career Project — a 1-credit project where I'd practice 3–4 authentic responsibilities of someone in [insert career area] and produce a 12–15 minute proof-of-learning video and evidence folder. Here's what I know about myself: [paste your Step 1 + Step 2 reflections]. Help me decide whether I'm ready, what a realistic scope would look like for me, and what 3–4 role responsibilities I might pick to practice."