If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career, overwhelmed by the endless choices, or need help clarifying how to head in the right direction after a layoff, we think the Google Career Dreamer Tool can uncover some job paths you may not have considered. Especially if you’re a recent graduate, considering a career change, or just exploring “what if?”
Let’s look at how this free and interactive tool can help.
What is the Google Career Dreamer Tool?
The Career Dreamer Tool is the newest addition to the Grow with Google program, which offers training, tools, and resources to help people grow their skills, careers, or businesses. It’s perfect for job seekers and lifelong learners who want to upskill their lives!
The tool guides users through a brief series of questions to learn about their previous roles, interests, skills, and goals, and then suggests career paths that match their answers. This helps exploration in growing fields, including ones that don’t necessarily need a four-year degree or traditional education path.
How the Google Career Dreamer Tool Works
The eye-catching tool is designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Here’s what to expect:
1. Take a short quiz:
It asks for your previous role experiences (it’s ok if you’re still a student!), education, and skills. Then, it’ll draft a career identity statement using the answers you’ve provided that you could potentially repurpose as part of a future cover letter or part of a mission statement for a resume.
2. Get personalized career matches:
Using your responses, it’ll generate a list of career paths that align with your previous experience and suggest new ones you may not have considered.
3. Explore skills & training options:
For each suggested career, you’ll find more information about a typical degree and years of experience, general role information, average salary, and what skills you may already have that overlap. You’ll also see what a “typical day” looks like for that role and the potential skills needed to grow into the position with affordable training or online certifications.
4. Create a career plan:
Once you’ve narrowed down your interests, you can use the tool to create a custom plan for your next action items, such as earning a new certificate, updating your resume, or networking in your chosen field.
Why It’s Definitely Worth Trying
It doesn’t take long to see your results, and if you’ve ever felt lost about your career progress, the tool helps give options without the pressure.
- It’s free: no signup fee or hidden costs exist. Just a chance to learn about yourself and what options are available
- It expands your horizons: instead of showing what you may already know, it helps uncover opportunities you might not have thought about
- It focuses on in-demand fields: The tool shows career areas that are growing fast and more likely to provide stability and opportunities, which gives some peace of mind in this economy
- It makes upskilling more accessible: Google links a relevant certificate program with each career path suggestion. Most are part of their affordable Google Career Certificates program on Coursera. This gives access to people who want to start building a new career but may not or can’t go back to school for years.
Who Should Use the Tool?
- College students or new grads who feel lost in deciding which direction to go
- Mid-life career pivoters who want to enter a new field with stable opportunities
- Workers re-entering the job market after a break or layoff
- Anyone who feels stuck and is open to new roles
The Money Move
Many Americans associate their jobs with their self-worth and purpose, and if you’re unclear on what you want to do, it can be emotionally draining. Instead of dreading the “what do you do?” question, consider taking the steps to potentially find or reconfirm the path you want to take.
You don’t need to figure out everything today, but utilize the Google Career Dreamer Tool to help you take that first step. It’s free, simple, and quick to use, and you could be matched with a meaningful career path!