diff --git a/src/components/CareerExplorer.js b/src/components/CareerExplorer.js
index 50b2485..aaa3232 100644
--- a/src/components/CareerExplorer.js
+++ b/src/components/CareerExplorer.js
@@ -151,47 +151,63 @@ function CareerExplorer({ handleCareerClick, userState, areaTitle }) {
 };
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const fetchUserProfile = async () => {
-      try {
-        const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
-        const res = await axios.get(`${apiUrl}/user-profile`, {
-          headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
-        });
-  
-        if (res.status === 200) {
-          const profileData = res.data;
-          setUserProfile(profileData);
-  
-          if (profileData.career_list) {
-        try {
+  const fetchUserProfile = async () => {
+    try {
+      const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
+      const res = await axios.get(`${apiUrl}/user-profile`, {
+        headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+      });
+
+      if (res.status === 200) {
+        const profileData = res.data;
+        setUserProfile(profileData);
+
+        // Explicitly set careerList from saved data
+        if (profileData.career_list) {
           setCareerList(JSON.parse(profileData.career_list));
-        } catch (err) {
-          console.error('Error parsing career_list:', err);
         }
-      }
-      
-          const priorities = profileData.career_priorities
-            ? JSON.parse(profileData.career_priorities)
-            : {};
-  
-          const allAnswered = ['interests', 'meaning', 'stability', 'growth', 'balance', 'recognition'].every(
-            (key) => priorities[key]
-          );
-  
-          if (!allAnswered) {
-            setShowModal(true);
-          }
-        } else {
-          setShowModal(true); // profile not found, show modal by default
+
+        // Check explicitly for Interest Inventory answers
+       if (profileData.interest_inventory_answers) {
+      const answers = profileData.interest_inventory_answers;
+      const careerSuggestionsRes = await axios.post(`${apiUrl}/onet/submit_answers`, {
+        answers,
+        state: profileData.state,
+        area: profileData.area,
+      });
+
+      // Destructure `careers` from the server response
+      const { careers = [] } = careerSuggestionsRes.data || {};
+
+      // Flatten in case it's a nested array (or just a no-op if already flat)
+      setCareerSuggestions(careers.flat());
+    } else {
+      // No interest inventory answers: fallback to an empty list
+      setCareerSuggestions([]);
+    }
+
+        const priorities = profileData.career_priorities
+          ? JSON.parse(profileData.career_priorities)
+          : {};
+
+        const allAnswered = ['interests', 'meaning', 'stability', 'growth', 'balance', 'recognition'].every(
+          (key) => priorities[key]
+        );
+
+        if (!allAnswered) {
+          setShowModal(true);
         }
-      } catch (err) {
-        console.error('Error fetching user profile:', err);
-        setShowModal(true); // on error, default to showing modal
+      } else {
+        setShowModal(true);
       }
-    };
-  
-    fetchUserProfile();
-  }, [apiUrl]);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Error fetching user profile:', err);
+      setShowModal(true);
+    }
+  };
+
+  fetchUserProfile();
+}, [apiUrl]);
   
   // Load suggestions from Interest Inventory if provided (optional)
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -202,26 +218,29 @@ function CareerExplorer({ handleCareerClick, userState, areaTitle }) {
 
   // Fetch Job Zones if suggestions are provided
   useEffect(() => {
-    const fetchJobZones = async () => {
-      if (!careerSuggestions.length) return;
+  const fetchJobZones = async () => {
+    if (!careerSuggestions.length) return;
 
-      const flatSuggestions = careerSuggestions.flat();
-      const socCodes = flatSuggestions.map((career) => career.code);
-      try {
-        const response = await axios.post(`${apiUrl}/job-zones`, { socCodes });
-        const jobZoneData = response.data;
-        const updatedCareers = flatSuggestions.map((career) => ({
-          ...career,
-          job_zone: jobZoneData[career.code.slice(0, -3)]?.job_zone || null,
-        }));
-        setCareersWithJobZone(updatedCareers);
-      } catch (error) {
-        console.error('Error fetching job zone information:', error);
-      }
-    };
+    const flatSuggestions = careerSuggestions.flat();
+    const socCodes = flatSuggestions.map((career) => career.code);
 
-    fetchJobZones();
-  }, [careerSuggestions, apiUrl]);
+    try {
+      const response = await axios.post(`${apiUrl}/job-zones`, { socCodes });
+      const jobZoneData = response.data;
+      const updatedCareers = flatSuggestions.map((career) => ({
+        ...career,
+        job_zone: jobZoneData[career.code.slice(0, -3)]?.job_zone || null,
+      }));
+
+      // IMPORTANT: Ensure this actually sets a new array
+      setCareersWithJobZone([...updatedCareers]);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Error fetching job zone information:', error);
+    }
+  };
+
+  fetchJobZones();
+}, [careerSuggestions, apiUrl]);
 
   // Filtering logic (Job Zone and Fit)
   const filteredCareers = useMemo(() => {
diff --git a/user_profile.db b/user_profile.db
index 7271ab0..4125014 100644
Binary files a/user_profile.db and b/user_profile.db differ