Decided by Design
Your interactive companion for today's session. Everything we do together happens right here.
How this works: As your presenter moves through the session, you'll use this app to answer questions, explore your interests and values, score your career options, and build your personal decision plan — all in one place.
🔒 Your answers stay on your device. Nothing is saved to a server. Screenshot your results at the end!
The Opener
How did you choose your major?
Be honest. No one is grading this. Pick the option that feels most true.
A
Someone I trust suggested it — a parent, counselor, or friend.
B
It was the closest thing to something I was interested in.
C
I thought it would lead to a good job or a stable career.
D
Honestly, it felt the least overwhelming when I had to pick.
E
I actually went through a real research and decision process.
Part 1 of 3 — Interests
Which type feels most like you?
Tap your top two. These are Holland's six career personality types. Go with your gut.
0 of 2 selected
R
Realistic
Building, fixing, working with hands, tools, machines, or outdoors 🔧
I
Investigative
Researching, analyzing, solving complex problems with data or science 🔬
A
Artistic
Creating, expressing, designing, writing, performing 🎨
S
Social
Helping, teaching, supporting, counseling other people 🤝
E
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, managing, selling, building toward goals 📈
C
Conventional
Organizing, managing data, systems, details, structure 📋
Part 2 of 3 — Values
Pick your top 3 values
What matters most to you in a future career? You can only pick 3. Choose carefully.
0 of 3 selected
🫶Helping People
💰Making Money
✨Creativity
🧩Problem Solving
🎯Leadership
🛡️Job Security
⚖️Work-Life Balance
🌍Making an Impact
🚀Independence
🏠Stability
🏆Recognition
🌄Adventure
Part 3 of 3 — Skills
What do people ask you for?
When someone needs help and thinks of you — what's it for? Check all that fit, then add your own.
Explaining things clearly 💬
Fixing or building things 🔧
Organizing and planning 📋
Listening and being supportive 🫶
Creative ideas or designs 🎨
Math or data analysis 📊
Writing or communicating ✍️
Leading or motivating others 🎯
Navigating two cultures or languages 🌍
Staying calm under pressure 🧘
Research Lab
Name your careers
Enter one or two careers you're seriously thinking about. You'll evaluate them in the next step.
Career Option 1
Career Option 2 (optional)
Not sure what to explore? Use these tools to find careers that match your interests:
MyNextMove — Interest Profiler
Take the free 60-question quiz → get careers matched to your Holland code
→
O*NET Online — Career Explorer
Search any career and see job duties, skills, pay, and growth projections
→
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Official U.S. salary, growth, and education data for every major career
→
Career Scorecard
Rate your careers
Rate each career on how well it fits. Use: 1 = Poor fit, 2 = Okay, 3 = Good, 4 = Strong.
Tip: Go with your honest gut reaction for each factor. You can look things up after if you're unsure.
Career 1
Your totals (out of 24):
What your scores tell you 💡
My Designed Decision
Write your provisional decision
This is not permanent. It is a working hypothesis — decided enough to move forward, open enough to update with new information.
Based on my interests in...
Your Holland code, things that pull your attention
...and my top values of...
What matters most to you (from your values activity)
...I am considering a career in...
Specific career title, not just a broad field
...which would require...
Education, training, or experience
My next research step is...
One specific thing you'll do within 7 days
Action Plan
Write your if-then plan
Research shows this format makes you 2 to 3 times more likely to follow through. Be specific — vague plans don't work.
The format:
"If [specific situation + time], then I will [specific career action]."
If...
Specific situation — when, where, what you'll be doing
Then I will...
Specific career action — exact thing you'll do
Three examples to inspire you:
💡 If I'm on campus any day this week, then I will walk into the Career Center and schedule a free assessment appointment.
💡 If someone asks what I'm studying this week, then I will also tell them one career I'm exploring and why.
💡 If I'm talking to my counselor this semester, then I will bring a written list of the three careers I'm considering and ask which major aligns best.
AI Career Tools
Use AI as your thinking partner
These prompts are designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool you like. Copy and paste — then personalize with your info.
✦ ChatGPT
✦ Claude
✦ Gemini
Works with all of them
🗺️ Explore
❤️ Values
🔬 Research
🧭 Decide
🏠 Family Talk
Discover careers from your interests
I am a community college student exploring career options. My Holland interest code is [YOUR CODE — e.g. SA, RI, EC]. My top values are [YOUR TOP 3 VALUES]. Based on this, suggest 7 specific career titles I might not have considered. For each one, tell me: what does a person actually do on a typical Tuesday, what is the median salary in Southern California, and what education is typically required. Be specific and honest — do not sugarcoat challenges.
Find careers that match your values AND interests
I want a career that combines [INTEREST AREA — e.g. working with people and solving problems] with values of [YOUR VALUES — e.g. making an impact and work-life balance]. I currently have [YOUR SKILLS — e.g. strong communication and organizational skills]. List 5 careers that genuinely fit this combination and explain how each one connects to all three. Include realistic salary ranges for entry level in the Riverside, California area.
Test your values under pressure
I have identified my top career values as [YOUR 3 VALUES]. I want to test whether these values are genuinely mine or influenced by what others expect of me. Give me 4 scenario-based questions that will help me determine if these values hold up under real-world pressure. Then, after I answer them in my head, help me identify if there are hidden values I might be ignoring.
Explore the conflict between my values
Two of my top career values are [VALUE 1] and [VALUE 2]. In real careers, these sometimes conflict — for example, making an impact often means accepting lower pay; job security sometimes means less creativity. Help me think through: (1) do these two values actually conflict in most careers, (2) which careers successfully honor both, and (3) if I had to choose one as the non-negotiable, which would I pick and why? Ask me questions to help me figure this out rather than just giving me answers.
Deep dive on a specific career
I am seriously considering a career as a [YOUR CAREER]. I want to understand what it is really like — not the idealized version. Tell me: (1) What does the actual day-to-day work look like at different career stages? (2) What are the most common reasons people leave this career? (3) What skills are non-negotiable vs. teachable on the job? (4) What does the salary trajectory look like from entry-level to 10 years in? (5) What educational pathways lead here from a California community college? Be honest and specific.
Compare two careers side by side
I am comparing two career options: [CAREER 1] vs. [CAREER 2]. My top values are [YOUR VALUES] and my strongest skills are [YOUR SKILLS]. Compare these two careers across these factors: day-to-day work environment, entry-level salary in Southern California, how well each aligns with my values, education required from a California community college, and long-term career flexibility. End with an honest recommendation based on my values and skills — but acknowledge any assumptions you are making.
Pressure-test your decision
I am leaning toward a career in [YOUR CAREER]. My top values are [YOUR VALUES], my Holland interest code is [YOUR CODE], and my strongest skills are [YOUR SKILLS]. Play devil's advocate: give me the 4 strongest arguments for why this career might NOT be the right fit for me based on my profile. Then tell me what information I would need to find to either confirm or change this decision. Be direct and do not soften your answer to be encouraging.
Identify your real dealbreakers
I need help understanding what my actual dealbreakers are in a career. Ask me 5 questions, one at a time, that will help me discover whether any factors about [YOUR CAREER] — like work environment, salary ceiling, required education, career flexibility, or daily tasks — are genuine dealbreakers for me versus just temporary concerns. Do not give me answers. Just ask the questions and push back on vague responses until I give specific answers.
Prepare for the family conversation
I am considering a career in [YOUR CAREER] but my family has expectations about me pursuing [FAMILY EXPECTATION — e.g. a medical career, a business degree, something more traditional]. I want to have a productive conversation with my family about my career direction. Help me prepare by: (1) identifying the legitimate concerns my family probably has that I should address directly, (2) helping me explain my reasoning in terms that connect to what my family values, (3) giving me specific salary and job stability data I can share, and (4) suggesting language I can use that honors their perspective while asserting my own direction.
Turn your background into career assets
I am a [first-generation college student / bilingual / balancing family responsibilities — describe yourself] exploring a career in [YOUR CAREER]. I want to understand how my specific background is actually an asset in this field — not just vague "diversity" language, but concrete, specific career advantages. List 5 specific ways that my background directly strengthens my candidacy or effectiveness in [YOUR CAREER], with examples of roles or employers where these would be explicitly valued.
🎯
Your Career Profile
Everything you discovered today, in one place. Screenshot this!
Student
Decided by Design — Career Pathways Conference 2026
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