Explore Careers

Find a career path, explore your interests and more...

We’ve gathered top resources to help you explore careers and find a job you’ll love.

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Research potential careers

If you want a job you love, you need to know what jobs are available. Using My Next Move helps you uncover jobs you might not know about and helps you understand what each job does by providing job duty descriptions. You’ll also find:

Academic requirements
Level of education needed
Basic and social skills needed
Verbal and problem solving abilities needed
Personality traits suited for the job
Software and technology will be used in the job
Prediction of future job openings

Learn more

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SalarySurfer

Find salary information

Salary Surfer lets you research how much you can earn with a certain certificate or degree program. Find your earnings potential in this salary database created by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office

The median annual salary students can expect to make within two years and five years after earning their certificate or degree.
The type of education needed for a job. SalarySurfer can tell you if the job you like requires a certificate (often takes less than four semesters) or an Associate’s Degree (can take four semesters or longer).

See salaries

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Holland Code Quiz

Discover your interests

The Holland Code Quiz can help you explore career options with questions that help you discover what you like to do. After answering questions about who you are, what you can do and or what actions you like to take, you will receive a Holland Code that helps determine what career path(s) might work best for you. Some examples of work personalities include:

Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional

Take quiz

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Santa Cruz County Workforce Development

Think Local

Discover local jobs and salaries with Career Concourse, a jobs resource created by Santa Cruz County Workforce Development. The site provides career information including job opportunities by degree, industry, interest, personal values and military background.

Find out what jobs are in demand

Doing a little research upfront can go a long way in finding a career that’s in demand and has longevity. For example, labor data predicts an increase of 95,000 job openings for medical assistants by 2026 in the U.S. That is a 29.1% increase in 10 years.

Understanding labor market trends for for Santa Cruz County, California and the US can help you identify the best opportunities for you today and years from now. Below you will find information about career types, demographics, wages and other job trends.

SC County Workforce Development

Visit the Career Concourse for local trend information

Visit Career Concourse

CA Employment Development

Visit CA.gov for state trend information

Visit CA.gov

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Visit data.bls.gov for national trend information

Visit Bureau of Labor

Explore career programs and certificates

Interested in learning more about Career Education programs offered locally? Visit the Career page to explore career pathways in more detail.

Get career advice

Career Centers with the Human Services Department, County of Santa Cruz

Did you know the County of Santa Cruz has four local career centers? These centers are open to the public and help community members with their job search with services including:

Job search workshops
Resource rooms with computers, telephones, and fax machines
Training and support services
Labor market information
Job fairs
Specialized recruitments
Laid off worker services
Staff assisted services
Job club information and referrals
Senior, veterans, and youth employment services
Customized services for those with special needs

Locations and Phone Numbers

18 West Beach Street

Watsonville, CA 95076

(831) 763-8700

2045 40th Avenue

Capitola, CA 95010

(831) 464-6286

Goodwill Main Office

350 Encinal Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

(831) 423-8611

Cabrillo College Counseling

Cabrillo College counselors can assist students with transferring to four-year universities and with planning for Cabrillo’s occupational certificates and Associate's degrees.

During advising, you can learn more about your own interests, values, and skills — helping you see the big picture of your personal interests and potential careers. Counselors listen to your dreams, questions, and concerns while providing career discovery tools to help you learn more. Some of the tools are available free or at a discount to students.

How to get counseling services:

Cabrillo students may sign up at the career counseling office for short drop-in appointments or 60 minute counseling sessions.
All students are required to complete their own Education Plan. Education Plan workshops are held several times a week at the beginning of the semester and weekly after that.
Non-Cabrillo students, may visit the Cabrillo Career Services office for a 10-minute drop in appointment. Come into the office and sign up on the list.

Students may attend the many career workshops throughout the year. Topics include:

How to choose a major
Taking career assessments
Developing a resume
Improving interview skills
Learning about internships

Locations and Phone Numbers

Aptos

Building 100, 6500 Soquel Dr.

Aptos CA

(831) 479-6274 ex 1

Map

Watsonville

Room A120, 318 Union Street

Watsonville CA

(831) 486-4734