As STEM educators, we know that preparing students for the future isn't just about teaching equations, coding skills, or lab safety. It's also about helping them explore who they are and how their unique interests and abilities align with careers that are shaping our world. To make STEM education truly meaningful, we must integrate self-reflection and career awareness into our curriculum.
Fortunately, there’s a growing number of tech tools that can help students assess their interests and skills and then connect those insights to real-world STEM careers. These platforms not only increase student engagement, but can also help educators personalize learning and make career exploration part of everyday instruction.
Why Career Exploration Matters in STEM Education
According to a 2021 report by the Brookings Institution, early exposure to STEM careers increases the likelihood that students—especially those from underrepresented groups—will pursue STEM pathways in high school and beyond. Seeing themselves in future roles helps students stay motivated, even when the material gets challenging.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM occupations will grow more than twice as fast as non-STEM occupations through 2031. However, many students still lack access to clear, accessible information about what those careers involve—and how they align with their interests.
That’s where tech tools come in—all of them free or offering free student versions, making career exploration more accessible for everyone.
O*NET Interest Profiler by My Next Move (Free)
What it does:
The O*NET Interest Profiler, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a widely-used self-assessment tool. It asks students about their preferences across six interest areas (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional) and then suggests careers that align with their profiles—including many in STEM.
Key benefits of O*NET Interest Profiler:
- Based on a well-established career theory - the Holland Code - which classifies people and work environments into the six basic types of interests described above
- Connects interests to over 900 occupations and provides extensive info on each occupation including typical tasks, necessary skills, education requirements, job outlook, and salary range. It also offers related careers and directs students to training opportunities
- The provided info helps students see not just “what” careers might match for them but the “why” behind those suggestions
How to integrate into your classroom:
- Embed it in a career exploration unit or STEM elective
- Have students compare their results with a classmate’s and research a STEM career from each profile
- Use results to personalize STEM project topics
CareerOneStop’s Skills Matcher (Free)
What it does:
This tool helps students identify their strongest skills and how those match with specific job types. It’s ideal for older middle school and high school students beginning to recognize their academic and technical strengths.
Key benefits of CareerOneStop:
- Helps the students reflect on what they are actually good at, not just their interests
- Includes real-world wage and job outlook data that helps students understand the potential value and stability of each career path
- Indicates what education or credentials are needed and offers direct links to education and training options, with an option to filter by local availability
How to integrate into your classroom:
- Integrate with STEM portfolios: Have students document their top skills and update them after completing a project or unit
- Let students choose a STEM career from their results and create a presentation or infographic about it
Roadtrip Nation’s “Explore Careers” and Interview Archive (Free)
What it does:
Roadtrip Nation features career stories from real professionals in a wide variety of fields, including hundreds in STEM. Students can search by interests, majors, and career fields to hear first-person interviews.
Key benefits of Roadtrip Nation:
- The stories bring careers to life by showing the real people behind the jobs, making them more relatable and helping students see themselves in those roles
- Highlights that career progress isn’t always a straight path, helping students understand that success can come from many different routes
- Features a wide range of voices, increasing representation, and helping students see themselves reflected in many different careers
How to integrate into your classroom:
- Have students find a STEM career that matches their interest or skill profile and write a reflection on the person’s career path
- Assign students to interview someone in a STEM field and compare their findings with a Roadtrip Nation profile
CareerExplorer by Sokanu (Free Student Version)
What it does:
CareerExplorer gives students a detailed personality and career match profile based on hundreds of data points. The student dashboard includes a visual match scale, salary info, job satisfaction data, and required education.
Key benefits of CareerExplorer:
- Offers an engaging experience as it provides real-time feedback during the assessment that not only keeps the students focused but also helps them gain insight into their personality and how it aligns with various careers
- Helps students set realistic, informed career goals based on their unique profiles
- Offers detailed career profiles with info on skills, salary, education, and job outlook.
How to integrate into your classroom:
- Use as part of a “STEM Career Week” where students explore their top matches and report on one STEM career
- Pair results with soft skill development lessons
Tips for Implementation Across Grade Levels
Upper Elementary (Grades 4–5):
- Focus on interest inventories and exposure to a wide variety of careers
- Pair tools like My Next Move with hands-on STEM activities (e.g., "I like solving problems → Try a coding challenge!")
Middle School:
- Use a combination of interest and skill assessments
- Incorporate career profiles into STEM projects or culminating presentations
- Begin discussing pathways (e.g., high school courses, CTE programs)
High School:
- Focus on making explicit links between skills, coursework, and career goals
- Introduce workforce readiness tools like résumé builders, LinkedIn, or mock interviews
- Use career data to help students weigh postsecondary options
Final Thoughts: Personalizing STEM Career Exploration
When we pair STEM content with personal reflection and real-world career pathways, students gain more than just academic skills—they gain direction and purpose. These tech tools make it easier for educators to scaffold that process and create classroom experiences that blend technology with personal connection.
By embedding career exploration into your STEM curriculum, you're not just teaching students to be great scientists, engineers, or programmers. You’re helping them discover who they are—and how they can change the world.
