Career Exploration

Explore Careers. Plan Your Future.

Career exploration is an important part of planning your future. Discover your interests, explore career possibilities, and learn about the education and training opportunities that can help you reach your goals.

Career Exploration at Every Level

Career exploration looks different at every age. Choose your grade level to discover activities and next steps to help you explore your interests and prepare for the future.

Elementary Students
Middle School Students
High School Students

Did You Know?

By 2031, an estimated 72% of jobs will require education or training beyond high school. Exploring careers now can help you discover your interests, understand education and training options, and prepare for a rewarding future.

Explore Careers with SDMyLife

SDMyLife is South Dakota’s free career and education planning platform for middle and high school students. Complete interest assessments, explore career clusters, discover education and training pathways, and connect your interests with future goals. South Dakota middle and high school students can log in using their school-provided K–12 email credentials. Need assistance? Contact your school representative.

Find Your Career Clusters

South Dakota’s 15 career clusters group occupations by industry, making it easier to explore careers that match your interests and discover the skills, education, and training they require.

Not sure where to start? Take the Career Matchmaker assessment in SDMyLife to discover career clusters and occupations that may be a good fit.

Take the Career Matchmaker

SD's 15 Career Clusters

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
AGRICULTURE
ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & DESIGN
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
FINANCIAL SERVICES
HEALTH SCIENCE
HOSPITALITY, EVENTS & TOURISM
HUMAN SERVICES
MANAGEMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MARKETING AND SALES
PUBLIC SERVICE AND SECURITY
SUPPLY CHAIN & TRANSPORTATION

Explore Careers in Different Ways

Career Exploration Camps

Discover hands-on career experiences through camps, workshops, and special events across South Dakota. Explore different careers, connect with professionals, and learn about opportunities beyond high school.

Explore Careers Through Math

Discover how your interests and math courses connect to future careers. Use the Career & Math Search tool to explore career options and identify math courses that can help you prepare for your goals.

PUT YOUR EXPLORATION INTO ACTION

Every experience helps prepare you for your future. Career camps, work-based learning, job shadows, internships, and volunteering can help you discover careers, build skills, and make informed decisions about life after high school.

Engage in Work based Learning

Explore careers beyond the classroom through real-world experiences. Work-based learning connects you with employers through opportunities such as job shadows, internships, and hands-on activities, helping you build skills and discover careers that interest you.

More Career Exploration Tools

Continue exploring careers with additional trusted tools for career planning, education planning, and labor market information.

Mapping Your Future

Explore careers, compare colleges, and plan your education.

Career Ready SD

Learn about South Dakota careers, wages, employers, and workforce opportunities.

O*NET

Explore occupations, required skills, education, and projected job growth.

ACT

Use ACT career planning tools to connect your interests with education and career options.

Newsletter Sign up

To make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines, updates or growth opportunities, sign up to receive quarterly emails.

Newsletter Sign Up