How to Use FOCUS

Match your interests to college majors and careers.

What is FOCUS?

FOCUS is a self-paced online career information system that takes you through a series of simple self-assessments to help you discover, choose or change your major and verify your preferences or early choice of a career field. Find the fields that best line up with your:

  • Work Interests.
  • Personality.
  • Leisure activities.
  • Values.
  • Skills assessment.

Tip: FOCUS assessments are more about showing you potential occupations than telling you what you should be. The people working in these careers have interests very similar to yours; therefore, they could be worth exploring!

Start Using Focus 2

How to Register

To set up your FOCUS account, click on the "register now" link below and fill in the form with your personal information. In the "Your Access Code" field, type: Vulcans.  Once you've registered, click on the Instructions link in the upper righthand corner of the page to see tips for first-time and returning users. And don't forget to bookmark FOCUS in your web browser, so you can use it as an ongoing resource.

Register Now

Getting Started with Self-Assessments

Pick whichever assessment sparks your interest and answer the questions. The Work Interest and Skills Assessments are great places to start. Once you've answered all questions, you can view occupations that match your interests and skills by simply clicking "continue" - and you can return to these lists at any time by clicking "results" next to each assessment on the Focus 2 homepage.

Next you can:

  • Click on each occupation name for detailed information.
  • Research careers by major, industry or specific occupation name.
  • Save occupations and major areas of study that appeal to you.

Tip: You can change your mind about earlier answers to assessment questions, or repeat assessments. 

FOCUS for High School Students

It's never to early to start envisioning your future. Using FOCUS as a high school student will help you to:

  • Understand the career planning process.
  • Learn about your interests, skills and values.
  • Explore majors that match your interests and support your career goals.
  • Explore career fields and occupations that appeal to you.
  • Make informed decisions about your major and career.
  • Develop an action plan.

Register Now

Want to get the most out of FOCUS?

Schedule an appointment with a PennWest California career coach to review your Focus career assessment results and create an action plan!