Choose the right career path

Feel better and perform at your best

Choose the right career path by finding academic and career well-being. Identify jobs and education programs where you will like what you do and study each day.

Research shows career well-being is the secret to lifelong job satisfaction, higher income, and happiness.

When you know how to act, feel better and “find your people” at work or in school - you do better.

Depending on your journey point (high school, college, adult in the workforce), we’ve got the right self-reflection activity and career assessments for you.

 
Career Key career test

Explore your thriving and promising education programs and careers based on your unique needs

Holland’s Theory of Career Choice and exploration done right

Our personality and career interest inventory Career Key Discovery includes features you can’t find anywhere else,

  • No 3-letter codes! We show you Thriving, Promising and Challenging careers and programs.

  • Postsecondary, graduate and postgraduate education programs - not just 4-year bachelor’s degrees

  • More diverse education duration/award filters finely tune your search

  • Valuable non-degree awards and credentials

  • Unique, practical content - pros/cons of different award types, good alternatives to degrees

  • Job application tips for when you’re ready to apply for jobs

Each education program contains Pros/Cons like this one, things to consider when comparing award types

Two online versions of Career Key assessments and activities

Student (8th grade, high school, early college)

Transitions (graduating college, adults continuing education or in career transition)

30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked


Online Career Key Discovery® - Student

10 minutes, invite friend or family to complete

  • explore and match to best-fit careers and college majors, postsecondary programs (not just 4-year options!)

  • get better grades, higher GPA

  • stick with your choice of major, program

  • improve chance of on-time graduation

  • boost confidence and clarity

  • 10 minutes

    Scientifically valid interest inventory, supported by published research

    Teaches person-environment fit and Holland’s Theory of Career Choice

    Includes 1 retake

    Exclusive to Career Key platform

  • Identifies your Thriving, Promising and Challenging work and academic environments (no 3 letter codes!)

    Browse and save best-fit careers and postsecondary programs from unique, intuitive groups like Engineering Technology and Visual Arts

    Tailor your exploration to fit your unique needs like duration and type of program: choose from 400+ careers and 1400+ postsecondary programs

    Generate smart ideas with our recommended alternatives and pros/cons for different education programs

    ACIP 4 step decision making tool with video and downloads

  • View results

    Download Profile PDF Reports

    Invite other students, reassign unused products

    Purchase more as you need them

Online Career Key Student Guide to Academic and Career Well-Being

15 minutes, invite friend or family to complete

Everything in Discovery - Student PLUS

  • learn how career well-being impacts your happiness

  • save time, focus on what you need most to be happier

  • identify what’s holding you back and how to get help

  • 5-minute snapshot of where you are on your career decision journey

    EdTech Cool Tool Award Finalist

    Scientifically valid career decision readiness inventory, supported by published research

    Identifies career decision needs and resources to help

    PDF Report you can share

    Includes 2 retakes

    Exclusive to Career Key platform

  • Shows how career well-being fits in with other elements of happiness

    Recommends practical next steps to put research into practice to feel better overall

Online Student-Parent Deluxe Package

15 minutes, invite friend or family to complete

Everything in Career Key Student Bundle PLUS

4 popular PDF eBooks by Dr. Lawrence K. Jones, NCC, a nationally recognized counseling psychologist

  • Parents’ Guide for High School: supporting career well-being

  • Parents’ Guide to College: supporting career well-being

  • Choosing a Major Based on Your Personality: what does the research say?

  • Match Up! Personality to Majors 2023

Online Career Key Discovery® - Transitions

  • explore best fit career and continuing education options

  • perform better at work and in continuing education

  • increase salary and seniority in your career path

  • stick with and complete your choice of education program on time

  • build your capacity to accomplish more, with greater confidence

  • 10 minutes

    Scientifically valid interest inventory, supported by published research

    Teaches person-environment fit and Holland’s Theory of Career Choice

    Includes 1 retake

    Exclusive to Career Key platform

  • Identify alternative job options

    Decide if additional education makes sense, and if so what program

    Identifies your Thriving, Promising and Challenging work and academic environments (no 3 letter codes!)

    Browse and save best-fit careers and postsecondary programs from unique, intuitive groups like Engineering Technology and Visual Arts

    Tailor your exploration to fit your unique needs like duration and type of program: choose from 400+ careers and 1400+ postsecondary programs

    Generate smart ideas with our recommended alternatives and pros/cons for different education programs

    ACIP 4 step decision making tool with video and downloads

  • View results

    Download Profile PDF Reports

    Invite other clients, reassign unused products

    Purchase more as you need them

Online Transitions Bundle

Everything in Discovery - Transitions PLUS

  • take a snapshot of where you are on your career journey and how you feel about it

  • learn how career well-being impacts your happiness

  • save time, focus on what you need most to be happier

  • identify what’s holding you back and how to get help

  • 5-minute snapshot of where you are on your career decision journey

    EdTech Cool Tool Award Finalist

    Scientifically valid career decision readiness inventory, supported by published research

    Identifies career decision needs and resources to help

    PDF Report you can share

    Includes 2 retakes

    Exclusive to Career Key platform

  • Shows how career well-being fits in with other elements of happiness

    Recommends practical next steps to put research into practice to feel better overall

Career Change Deluxe Package

Coming in 2024!

Through our partnership with STEAM in AI, Career Key users get a 10% discount on STEAM in AI programs. Learn more here.

What our customers say about our career assessments

Of all the assessments I have tested, Career Key Discovery is the only one I’ve found to link the results to courses and occupations of interest effectively. It is a key step in the process for people who are searching for the best career path forward.

— Anna Black, Strategic Career Planning

I'm a student at the University of Colorado at Denver and I have been searching for a website like this for soooo long! I love how it is put together and it is actually helpful and straightforward, especially since we all know searching for the right career is such a headache. So I just wanted to say thank you for helping me!

— Carly, university student

Career Key is our favorite tool! The Career Decision Profile gives us the opportunity to show students the value of knowing their own strengths, identifying barriers that may hold them back, and reflecting about their career choices.

— Associate Director of Student Services, Top 20 U.S. undergraduate business school, Alabama

I want to thank you… I am currently unemployed and have limited finances. I am also changing careers and was uncertain in my direction. Your Career Key was a big help to me.

— Career changer

How do I choose a career path?

First, please stop doing these 5 things right now.

  • Stop looking for your one career passion (it’s an experiential journey not a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow)

  • Stop taking more career quizzes – many are inaccurate

  • Stop reading all the generic, copycat career advice

  • Stop with the overwhelm and pressure already!

Start thriving on your academic and career path

Do something practical and meaningful. Take action, make progress.

Career Key helps you focus on the essential things to know about yourself, build personal capacity, and thrive.

 FAQs

  • Yes. Both were authored by nationally recognized counselor educator, Dr. Lawrence K. Jones, NCC. He is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at N.C. State University.

    Peer-reviewed published research supports the reliability and validity of Career Key Discovery and Career Decision Profile. Career Key’s professional manual is available in the Shop as an eBook.

  • No, you pay once for lifetime access. We may sunset your account if there is no activity for a long period of time, but we will contact you first.

  • No, it’s all included. No surprises!

  • Major credit cards via Stripe and PayPal. We accept purchase orders for 10+ students at a school, college or nonprofit. Contact billing@careerkey.org with your invoice request.

  • We offer a 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee.

  • Yes. If you anticipate purchasing for 100+ new students or clients in a year, ask us how to upgrade to our Enterprise products. They include a bulk discount.

  • Yes! Learn more on our IECs resource page and companion knowledge base.

 

Don’t miss our trusted, professional self-help articles

In our Resources library, you’ll find more information to help you make career decisions and strengthen your career well-being and happiness. Browse the whole collection today and find resources you can use throughout your career.

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