Manufacturing Career Tool

Interested in a manufacturing career? Great! Take the quiz and explore the links below to see if a career in manufacturing might be a good fit for you.

Career Assessment Quiz

This quiz will help you decide which career in manufacturing might be a good fit for you.

My superhuman power is:
Creating something practically from thin air. I like to figure out how to invent cool stuff.
Problem solving and trouble shooting on the fly. I’m good at using tools—like my hands and my brain.
Understanding how everything fits together. I see patterns behind the big picture.
Getting things to work and move all on their own.

Correct!

Wrong!

My most important work tool is:
A computer.
My hands.
A mix of computer and hands.
A computer program, app, or tool I have yet to invent.

Correct!

Wrong!

When camping, I’m most interested in:
Whittling a branch to replace the missing tent pole.
Making sure the campfire won’t blow smoke into the tents.
Imagining a day when robots set up tents.
Enjoying the sunset.

Correct!

Wrong!

In terms of my work style, I prefer:
A task that forces me to focus.
A problem that lets my mind drift and be free.
Some combination of dreaming and hands-on doing.
A group challenge where I can exchange ideas with co-workers.

Correct!

Wrong!

I want to finish my schooling in:
Today.
Less than one year.
1–2 years.
4 years plus.

Correct!

Wrong!

When faced with a blank sheet of paper, I:
Freeze. It’s so intimidating.
Draw, sketch, write, doodle, dream.
Flip it over to see if there is more information on the back.
Fold it into an airplane and sail it across the room.

Correct!

Wrong!

Personally, I’m best at:
Juggling numerous tasks at once.
Focusing on one job till it’s completed.
Thinking of ideas, then delegating them to others.
Open-ended challenges that take me in surprising directions.

Correct!

Wrong!

When it comes to problem solving, the tool I’m most comfortable with is:
A ruler
A computer
My hands
Teamwork

Correct!

Wrong!

The restaurant table is wobbly. I:
Fold my napkin and stick it under the table leg.
Create a table leg extension out of spare kitchen parts.
Design a new kind of table that will never wobble.
Pretend I’m on a ship and enjoy dining on the high seas.

Correct!

Wrong!

Above all, people say I’m:
Detail-oriented.
A gadget gal or guy.
A big-picture thinker and dreamer.
Jack/Jane of all trades. I’m good at a lot of things.

Correct!

Wrong!

When I think about basketball shoe design, I wonder:
How do they join different high-performance materials together?
Which computer program did the shoemakers use to design those shoes?
How does the design enhance the players’ performance?
What kind of marketing push goes behind them?

Correct!

Wrong!

I’m ready for my career to start
Now. I’m eager to start and I can get credits while I work.
In a year or two. I need technical training first.
In several years. My education path will position me for a lifelong career.
As soon as I find my dream job.

Correct!

Wrong!

I know I’ve put in a good workday when:
I’ve had an “aha” moment.
All my jobs on my to-do list are done.
I wake up at night with new ideas to try in the morning.
I’ve been so immersed in my work, time flew.

Correct!

Wrong!

I gravitate toward games like:
Solitaire. I like playing solo.
Risk. I pride myself on strategy.
Pool. I’m good at calculating and executing my next shot.
Legos. I think in 3D.

Correct!

Wrong!

In math classes, I:
Can’t wait for more problems to solve.
See how topics like geometry relate to my life.
Get a lot of satisfaction when I find the right solution.
Rejoice that calculators were invented.

Correct!

Wrong!

As I think about my career, above all I want:
Variety. It’s life’s spice!
A predictable, productive environment.
Growth. I want to see how far I can develop my skills.
To design something that makes a difference.

Correct!

Wrong!

I would rather work on:
Assignments that change frequently.
Mostly the same tasks each day.
A long-term challenge that might take me months to solve.
Projects I dream up myself.

Correct!

Wrong!

My bike is squeaking. I:
Oil the gears. Simple!
Deconstruct the bike, then put it all back together.
Build an anti-squeak frame of my own design.
Market it as a “sonic” bike.

Correct!

Wrong!

What sounds like the most fun?
Solving a Rubik’s Cube.
Setting up an Ikea bookshelf.
Running a lemonade stand.
Designing an app.

Correct!

Wrong!

At my future career, I see myself wearing:
Safety glasses.
A lab coat.
Smart-casual work clothes.
An apron.

Correct!

Wrong!

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Your Results

Congrats! Here are your results. Percentages show how well you align with each field. Remember to factor in your passion and interest.

Select a category to discover what a day in the life of that career is like.

Career Assessment Quiz

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Young male worker concentrating on work

Made in Minnesota

There are so many incredible products and parts made right here in Minnesota. Here are a few examples:

Manufacturing Careers Provide a Great Lifestyle

Think about some of the things you like – music, clothes, cars, computers, etc. Why not be a part of making those things? Manufacturing jobs are dependable, their work environments are positive, and many of them can support their family comfortably with one income. If you love to create, you might want to be an engineer that designs products. If you really like working with your hands or are interested in robotics, you could find yourself in production. Whatever your interests are, we guarantee you can find an area to channel your energy in manufacturing.

Here are a few examples of cool things manufacturers do every day:

  • Work with robots
  • Travel around the world
  • Find new ways to make processes more efficient
  • Design new innovative products

Today’s manufacturers offer great career opportunities for people who:

  • Like to be challenged and solve problems.
  • Want opportunities to grow and learn.
  • Like clean, high-tech working conditions.
  • Want to find ways to help the environment.
  • Intend to work in their field right away after graduation.
  • Want to earn enough to live well.
  • Plan to move up in their career.

Learn more about careers in manufacturing by following the links below:

TESTIMONIAL

“We build a lot of one-off parts, so we are not running thousands of them, that’s what I liked. I like the R & D (research & development) aspect. Somebody brings you something that’s never been done before, and [asks] ‘Hey, can you build this part?”

– Seth Anderson, CNC Programmer