Careers
Before choosing a path after high school, it’s worth taking the time to see what’s actually out there. Most students know a handful of careers, but there are thousands of options. Career exploration helps you connect your interests, strengths, and work style to real opportunities you may not have considered.
Start by using the tools below to identify careers that match your interests. From there, look at what those jobs actually involve (education requirements, salary ranges, and daily responsibilities). Take the information that resonates with you and leave the rest.
The goal isn’t to have everything figured out right away. It’s to start narrowing options, ask deeper questions, and make informed decisions about what comes next.
Plan Your Career
Career Exploration
Agile Work Profiler
The Agile Work Profiler measures how you prefer to work in real-world settings (independently or on a team, structured or flexible, fast-paced or steady). It helps you understand your work style and adaptability, then connects those traits to careers and environments where you’re most likely to succeed.
BigFuture Career Explore
This tool from the College Board connects your interests to potential careers and the education needed to get there. It’s straightforward and practical, showing clear pathways from high school to training programs, college majors, and jobs.
HEXACO Personality Inventory
The HEXACO assessment measures six key personality traits, including honesty-humility, emotionality, and openness. It’s more detailed than typical personality tests and can help you better understand how you interact with others, handle challenges, and fit into different work environments.
Interest Profiler (O*NET)
This widely used assessment matches your interests to career categories based on the RIASEC model (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional). It’s a strong starting point for exploring careers you may not have considered, with direct links to job descriptions and training requirements.
Naviance
Naviance is your main hub for college and career planning. It includes career assessments, resume tools, goal setting, and college research, all in one place. Students have access to this starting in 9th grade, logging in through Clever.
Sparke Type
Sparke Type helps you understand how your personality connects to real-world careers. It focuses on your natural strengths, motivations, and preferred ways of working, then suggests career paths that align with how you operate, not just what you’re good at in school.
Pathways
Tabs
Apprenticeship
State of Maine Apprenticeship Program
This state-run program connects students and job seekers with paid, hands-on training in skilled trades and high-demand careers. Apprentices earn while they learn, gaining real-world experience alongside professionals as they work toward industry-recognized credentials.
Trade & Apprenticeship Programs
Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) helps students explore career pathways, including trades and apprenticeships. The program provides guidance, job readiness training, and connections to employers, making it a strong starting point for students interested in entering the workforce after high school.
Bath Iron Works Apprenticeship Program
Bath Iron Works offers a competitive apprenticeship program where students can train for careers in shipbuilding and skilled trades. Participants receive paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction, leading to stable, well-paying careers in a high-demand industry.
Maine Clean Energy Jobs Network
Maine Clean Energy Jobs connects students and job seekers to careers in renewable energy and sustainability, including solar, wind, energy efficiency, and construction. The site highlights training programs, certifications, and employers across the state, making it a practical starting point for students interested in hands-on, future-focused careers that are growing quickly in Maine.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard offers apprenticeship and training opportunities in engineering, trades, and technical fields. Students can gain hands-on experience working on U.S. Navy submarines while building skills that transfer to long-term civilian or federal careers.
Military
The military offers a structured path after high school that combines career training, education benefits, and long-term opportunities. Students can enter directly after graduation or attend a service academy or ROTC program while in college. Enlisting provides immediate, paid training in fields ranging from engineering and healthcare to aviation and cybersecurity.
The United States Armed Forces includes the:
- United States Army
- United States Navy
- United States Air Force
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Coast Guard
- United States Space Force
Each branch offers specialized career fields, from healthcare and engineering to aviation, logistics, and cybersecurity, as well as paid training and real-world experience.
Maine National Guard Options
Students who want to serve while staying closer to home should consider the Maine Army National Guard or the Maine Air National Guard. These part-time service options typically involve one weekend per month and training periods during the year, allowing students to attend college or work while serving.
National Guard members may qualify for significant education benefits, including state tuition assistance and federal programs such as the GI Bill. This makes the Guard a practical option for students looking to reduce college costs while gaining military experience and job training.
Students interested in enlisting will work with a recruiter, take the ASVAB (a required placement exam), and select a career field based on qualifications and availability. Enlistment is a formal commitment, so it’s important to fully understand the expectations, length of service, and daily life before moving forward.
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
A standardized test used by the military to measure a student’s strengths in areas like math, reading, science, and technical skills. Your scores help determine eligibility for enlistment and qualify you for specific career fields within the military. It’s also a useful career exploration tool, giving insight into strengths that apply to both military and civilian careers. Students can take the ASVAB in high school or through a local recruiter.
Students should begin conversations early in senior year if they are considering this path, as timelines for testing, medical clearance, and job placement can take several months.
Training
Many career training programs may qualify for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This means students can access grants, loans, and in some cases work-study opportunities to help cover the cost of tuition, tools, and related expenses. Not every program qualifies, so it’s important to check directly with each provider.
Training Programs
Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce
Short-term workforce training programs across Maine’s community colleges. Many programs are free and can be completed in just a few weeks or months, leading to industry-recognized credentials in fields such as healthcare, construction, IT, manufacturing, and the trades.
Northeast Technical Institute
Short-term, career-focused training programs designed to get students into the workforce quickly. Programs include healthcare, HVAC, construction, and commercial driving (CDL), with an emphasis on hands-on learning and industry-relevant skills. Many programs can be completed in under a year, and eligible students may qualify for financial aid.
Cosmetology, Esthetics & Beauty Schools
Skilled Trades & Specialty Craft Programs
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
A nationally known school for woodworking and furniture design. Offers short courses and intensive programs focused on fine craftsmanship and professional-level woodwork.
The Landing School
Specializes in boatbuilding, marine systems, and yacht design. Students train for careers in Maine’s strong maritime and marine manufacturing industries.
Wooden Boat School
A hands-on learning center focused on traditional boatbuilding, woodworking, and maritime skills. Offers short-term courses for beginners through advanced craftsmen.
Metalwork, Welding & Trades Training
New England School of Metalwork
Offers specialized training in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and artistic metalwork. Focuses on both traditional techniques and modern fabrication skills.
People's Inclusive Welding
A community-based welding training program focused on accessibility, inclusion, and workforce readiness. Provides hands-on instruction for entry into welding careers.
New England Trade School of Masonry
Provides focused training in brick, block, and stone masonry. Designed for students entering construction and building trades.