What is the best way to decide on a career?
To choose a career, you need to know facts about yourself, and about the careers you think you’d like. Put them together for your best career fit.
The chart below gives you good questions to ask about each career you’re interested in—and where to find the information to answer them.
| Questions to ask |
Where to find information for answers |
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Would I enjoy this work?
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Would I be good at it?
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How well does this career fit what I like and am good at?
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Look at these sections on an Occupation Profile:
- Occupation description
- tasks and work activities
- Career video
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How much education would I need?
How long would it take?
How much would it cost?
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Look at the Occupation Profile education section to see if this matches your education goals, where training is available in your area, and how much it costs:
- Education needed at entry
- Typical education
- Local training programs in your area
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How much money would I earn in this career?
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Look at the Occupation Profile wages section to see if you would earn enough money in this occupation:
- Average wages and salary
- Average pay range (low is generally entry-level wages or wages in lower-paying rural areas; high is generally for more experienced or highly trained workers, or in higher-paying urban areas)
- Cost of living for your area
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Are there jobs in my area? What about a new location?
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Look at the Occupation Profile to see the job openings expected in this field in your current location or one you're considering moving to:
- Employment outlook
- Current employment in your city, state, or area
- Local job openings
For a move, you can find out what you'll need to earn in the new location using Compare Cost of Living. See what the costs will be for rent, food, and more.
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