How to Find the Career That's Right for You

Some people know what they want to do from the time they are young. Some of us aren't that lucky.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Think about what is most important to you. Do you want to work with people? Do you want a career that allows you to express your creativity? Write down a list of qualities you want your ideal career to have. It's fine to want a good salary, but it should not be your focus when deciding on a career path. In most fields, there are high-paying jobs and low-paying jobs. Having a degree in a certain area does not guarantee a high salary.
   
   You should also consider your strengths and weaknesses. If you hate math and have always struggled in that area, you should probably not choose a career that requires good math skills. However, it is worth taking a few classes you hate in order to reach your goals. Don't change career paths just because you are afraid of a low grade or a difficult semester.

2. After making this list, look at books and websites that have information on a variety of careers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/) is a good career-planning resource. Look for careers that have the characteristics you want. What are the educational requirements? What are the responsibilities? What is the expected growth?

3. Another great way to get an idea of what careers will suit you best is to take career tests. You should take several because not all assessments are accurate. Some tests look only at your personality while some look at personality and skills. Some online career assessments include: "Discover Your Perfect Career Quiz" (http://resources.monster.com/tools/quizzes/perfectcareer/) , which looks only at personality type. This is a very general test but it can provide a lists of potential careers that you might want to consider. My favorite site is Myplan.com, which will produce a composite list based on 4 assessments ( skills, interests, personality, and values). You can also filter results based on education level. Other good career test sites include Assessment.com and Livecareer.com.

4. After looking at career resources and taking a variety of career assessments, choose a list of three to five careers that appeal to you. Find people who work in these fields and ask if you can shadow them for a day or two to see what the job is really like. This is an important part of choosing a career because many people get through college only to discover once they begin work that they don't like their chosen career. Learning about a subject in school and actually working in a job related to that subject are two very different things. You should also ask this person what he/she likes and dislikes about his/her job. Also, what skills and traits are necessary for the job?

5. If you still are unsure about which career is best for you, don't worry too much. It may come to you later. Give yourself time to think about what you have learned about yourself and the careers you are considering. Take a variety of classes to see what really interests you most.

Tips & Warnings

• There is probably more than one good career for you. As long as you are happy with what you have chosen, don't worry about choosing the "perfect" career.
• Talking to a career counselor may help, but don't expect too much. The counselors I've talked to just read off of the internet, which I could do myself.
• Don't pay too much attention to "best and worst careers" lists. Every year these lists change. One place will have a certain career listed as a "best career" and another list has the same career as a "worst career". These lists are influenced by someone else's opinion of what makes a good career.
• When you tell others what career you have chosen, they will often tell you the negative aspects of the career or will try to discourage you in some way. Ignore them. They likely are jealous and hate to see anyone succeed because they feel unsuccessful themselves.
• It's all right to change career paths; most people do at some point. Don't let someone else's opinion of what is "right" influence your decisions. You may take longer to finish your degree because you've changed your major. That's more common than you might think.

[RLSMDR]

on 7/15/2008 LAURA READ THIS!!! lol

[amm0909]

on 11/15/2007 Thank you so much for your feedback. I have struggled myself to find the best career for me. This article includes what I've learned from my own mistakes.

[BarryWaite]

on 11/15/2007 Great article. I work in the personality area and coach people to help them find their career. You make a bunch of good points in your article...good job!