How to Choose a Career

Follow these steps when it’s time to pick a career:

Taking a personality test can help you learn a lot more about your strengths and weaknesses. One well-known test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This questionnaire asks you a series of questions that assess how you perceive the world and make decisions. Based on your results, you can find career recommendations for your particular personality type. Along with this test, there are plenty of other career quizzes you can try. They can help you find job titles based on your interests and personality traits.

Learn more: 16 Outdoor Jobs to Pursue

Take some time to think about your skills and talents. What are you particularly good at? If you are still in school, think about which courses or subjects you excel at. If you are out of school, think about what value you can offer. For instance, if you tend to help others, you may want to look for a role in a nonprofit. Likewise, if you are good with money, then a career in finance may suit you well. Even if you feel like you aren’t an expert in anything right now, you have plenty of time to develop your skills.

Everyone’s life goals are different. Some people have the goal of making it big, allowing them to have a more lavish lifestyle. Others may be more focused on the intrinsic joy a job brings them. Either way, find some time to write down all of your short-term and long-term goals. Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve can help you pick a career that can fulfill such aspirations.

Learn more: SMART Goals: What They Are and How to Write Them

Meet with a career counselor to discuss your job options. They may be more resourceful about specific job titles that exist. They may also have a better understanding of the steps you need to take in order to reach your career goals. See if they know about any internships or job shadowing opportunities.

Start writing down job titles that catch your interest. Add them to your list before even thinking of the logistics of how you’ll be qualified for such a job. Then, begin to learn more details about each job title. Consider the following factors:

• Salary: Use Glassdoor’s Salary Search to find out the average salary for a particular job title.
• Job outlook: Is there a high demand for this job? Check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out.
• Educational requirements: How many years of postsecondary education will you need to be qualified for this job?
• Common job duties: Learn what an average day for someone in this role looks like. What tools do they use? How often do they work with others? What does their work environment look like?

Once you do some research, begin to narrow down your list. Decide which jobs fit your wants and needs. Keep in mind that many different job titles can fall under one career path. For instance, if you were to major in communications, you could do anything from copywriting to social media marketing. While going through your program, try to tailor your experience to the job titles you’re interested in pursuing.

Connect with some professionals in your intended industry to shadow them for a day. Essentially, you’ll be a fly on the wall as this person goes through their regular workday. They may even bring you along for client meetings or special projects. This can give you a firsthand look at what someone in this role actually does.

An informational interview is when you talk to a professional to learn more about their career and company. This gives you a chance to go straight to the source, which can also help you make some professional connections. During your informational interview, bring a notepad and pen to write down key information. Show that you are eager to learn more about their job by asking the following questions:

• How did you get into this career?
• What’s your favorite part of your job?
• What’s your least favorite part of your job?
• Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue this career?
• What is your work environment?
• What are some of your long-term career goals?
• Where did you go to school and for how long?
• Can you tell me more about your educational programs?
• How do I connect with other professionals in this industry?
• What should I know when just starting out in this field?

Internships are another excellent way to get a firsthand look at a specific career or industry. They are also a low-stakes way of testing whether you enjoy working in a particular field. Try to get the most of your internship by developing your skills and asking a lot of thoughtful questions. You never know, if you do a good job during your internship, your employer might even consider offering you a full-time position.