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.
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:
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Academic requirements
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Level of education needed
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Basic and social skills needed
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Verbal and problem solving abilities needed
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Personality traits suited for the job
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Software and technology will be used in the job
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Prediction of future job openings
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
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The median annual salary students can expect to make within two years and five years after earning their certificate or degree.
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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).
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:
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Realistic
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Investigative
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Artistic
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Social
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Enterprising
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Conventional
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
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:
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Job search workshops
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Resource rooms with computers, telephones, and fax machines
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Training and support services
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Labor market information
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Job fairs
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Specialized recruitments
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Laid off worker services
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Staff assisted services
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Job club information and referrals
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Senior, veterans, and youth employment services
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Customized services for those with special needs
Locations and Phone Numbers
18 West Beach Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
2045 40th Avenue
Capitola, CA 95010
Goodwill Main Office
350 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
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:
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Cabrillo students may sign up at the career counseling office for short drop-in appointments or 60 minute counseling sessions.
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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.
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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:
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How to choose a major
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Taking career assessments
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Developing a resume
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Improving interview skills
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Learning about internships
Locations and Phone Numbers
Aptos
Building 100, 6500 Soquel Dr.
Aptos CA
(831) 479-6274 ex 1
Watsonville
Room A120, 318 Union Street
Watsonville CA