How to Explore Careers in High School When You Have More Than One Interest
Start with two experiences you liked, name the tasks you enjoyed in each, and try a small project that tests one of those tasks. You can learn a lot about the work you might want before choosing a major or a job title.
Say you like biology and drawing. Start by asking which part of each you come back to. Do you like observing something closely? Explaining what you see? Working on a drawing until someone else understands it? The answers point to different work, even when the interests are the same.
Start with what you actually do
Pick two experiences from the past month. One can come from class. The other could be a shift, a hobby, a home responsibility, or a project you started yourself.
| Question | Example answer |
|---|---|
| What did I do? | I drew how a cell divides for a biology assignment. I also helped a friend understand the diagram. |
| What did I want to keep doing? | I liked turning the steps into a sequence someone could follow. |
| What did I want less of? | I enjoyed the explanation more than memorizing all the vocabulary. |
| What can I save? | My first sketch, the revised drawing, and a note about the question my friend asked. |
This example is hypothetical. Your own answer may change after a second project. A few entries give you something to compare when that happens.
Find the task that shows up twice
A repeated task is more useful than a broad label. Drawing a biology diagram and making a quick instruction card for a coworker might both involve making confusing information easier to follow. That gives you something to explore across different settings.
Ask yourself which part you chose and which part someone needed you to do. You can be good at a task and still want it to take up less of your day. If you need ideas for experiences to compare, browse the Everyday Experience Example Bank.
Compare three paths before choosing one to try
For the biology and drawing example, a student might explore scientific illustration, science communication, and instructional design for science learning. These are starting points. The titles alone tell you less than the tasks, settings, and training involved.
- Find one example of work someone in each area has produced. Look for an illustration, a public explainer, or a lesson.
- Write down which parts you would want to do yourself and which parts you would rather skip.
- Compare what the paths ask of beginners. Check program prerequisites with the school or training provider. For occupations it covers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook can help you research typical duties, work settings, and training.
An interest tool can also introduce unfamiliar options. Use its results to generate questions you can test against experience. Try the O*NET Interest Profiler.
Run one small experiment this week
Pick one task you can try using what you already have. For the biology and drawing example, make a one-page visual explaining how a seed germinates. Use a reliable source, show the diagram to someone unfamiliar with the process, and ask them to explain it back to you. Revise the part they found confusing.
Insight. You might learn that you enjoy making a complex process visible, or that you prefer drawing to explaining.
Why this counts. The first draft and revision show how you responded to feedback. That can give you a project to describe in an application, portfolio, or interview.
What to add to your profile. Save both versions of the diagram, your source, and one sentence about what you changed.
A sentence you can keep. I drew the stages of seed germination and revised the diagram after a reader missed the first step.
Suggested next. Ask a science or art teacher which course would let you do more of the part you enjoyed. If that course is unavailable, try one more visual explainer on a topic you choose.
How BRiDDG helps
BRiDDG starts with Portfolio Entries. As you add experiences, Signals & Patterns can help you notice interests and ways of working that recur. You can use those clues to explore college and career options and investigate why they were suggested. See how BRiDDG works.
Frequently asked questions
What if I have no idea what career I want?
Start with a task you would do again. Try it in a second setting and compare what you liked. You can make your next decision with that information while keeping other options open.
Do I need an internship to explore a career?
A small project, a conversation with someone in the field, or a school course can help you learn about the work. An internship is one possible next step when it is available and fits your schedule.
What should I save from a career exploration project?
Save what you made, one detail about how you worked, and what you would try next. Keep a brief note if you have no artifact.
About the author
Sara Bavar is the Executive Co-Founder of BRiDDG. She holds a Master’s in Social Change and Innovation from the University of Southern California (USC). Her background is in social change and brand building, focused on making tools that reach the students who are usually left out.
Read more from Sara on Substack. Follow BRiDDG on LinkedIn for new guides.
This guide follows our editorial policy. Student examples are hypothetical and are not testimonials or admissions outcomes. Sources checked November 9, 2026. Spot an error or an outdated policy? Email briddg@briddg.com and we will review it.
