Choosing a Career

Do you want to be a nurse? Or a chef? Or a racecar driver?

No matter what you want to be, choosing a career means answering many questions. It's important to match your personality, strengths, and education to your career. What are the top ten things you think you should consider when choosing a career?

Click here to print the Top Ten Worksheet, where you can list your thoughts.

What do the experts think you should consider when choosing a career?

Click here to compare your top ten to the experts' top ten. How are they different? How are they the same?

Now think about the careers you are interested in. How much do you already know about them? To learn more, check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/oco.

The Handbook describes what specific workers do, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects.

If you want to be a nurse, your strengths and talents probably lie in caring for others. If you've chosen to be a racecar driver, then you need to have a daredevil attitude.

If you don't know what career you are interested in, but know that your strengths lie in a specific subject area (e.g., math, music/arts, science, reading, social studies, or PE/outdoors), visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Information at http://www.bls.gov/home.htm. Look for Kids' Page, Career Information for Kids.

Now, apply your top ten list to a career that interests you. Revise your original top ten list to fit your career choice.

For more information about careers, visit the Career Planning and Education and Searching for Financial Aid sections of this activity.