We all have the goal of being self-sufficient….getting out of the house; having the clothes, car or vacation that you want, and there are methods to getting there.

How to use this site

Take 5 minutes and think about these 10 questions.

10 Questions

Your life is a journey that is guided by the decisions you make along the way. Choosing a career is not an easy task. The following 10 questions will help you decide how your journey will begin...

1) What do you do well?

Think about what you do well and then ask your friends and family what they think are your strengths and talents. Do they match? Any surprises? Anything you have not thought of before?

2) What challenges you?

Make a list of the things that challenge you and think carefully about each one. Are they important for your desired path in life? For example, math is very important for a successful engineering career. Spend more time mastering those areas that help you achieve your goals.

3) What do you do for fun?

Think about the reasons you enjoy your favorite activities, the things they have in common, and the strengths they bring out in you. Finding jobs that include some of these elements will help you enjoy your career for a lifetime.

4) Who do you admire?

The people you admire, be they celebrities, historical figures, or people you know personally, can tell you something about who you are and what you value. Consider what it is about them you like and whether those qualities are worth developing in yourself.

5) What have you always wanted to try?

Look for themes in your “bucket list.” Are there common threads of adventure, learning opportunities, outdoor activities, puzzle solving, or helping others? The best careers for you will include one or more of your themes.

6) What are your proudest accomplishments?

What about these accomplishments pleased you so much? Did you demonstrate your best talents, solve a particularly difficult problem, or help someone through a tough time? Careers that provide similar opportunities for you to be proud of your work will be the most fulfilling.

7) What’s your favorite class?

Was it an enthusiastic teacher or the joy you felt from mastering a challenging subject? Was the class easy or hard? Make a list of the things that you liked about this class and keep them in mind when choosing a career.

8) What do you read in your free time?

Think about your favorite books, magazines, websites, or Twitter feeds. What do they have in common? Do you find inspiration, new knowledge, or just plain fun from them? Finding jobs with these elements can make for a more satisfying career.

9) If you could do any job for a day, what would it be?

What about this job intrigues or excites you most? Does it include some of the elements you have identified in previous questions? Is it something you don’t feel you could achieve and you just want to experience it once? Dream big, because anything is possible.

10) As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Sometimes the seeds of our lifelong passions are planted very early in life. Even though your ideal job today may not be the same one you dreamed about as a child, some of the elements from those early interests might still be important to you.

Aim becomes Reality

Keep asking yourself questions like these and you’ll make important discoveries about who you are and about the kinds of jobs that will satisfy and reward you throughout your career. For more help with your discoveries, try out the free Assessment Test

After that, take the free Career Test on the mynextmove.org website. We recommend that you take screen shots of your assessment results report as it is super helpful information that you will want to refer back to and even print out.

Next, check out the 3-minute Interview on the Videos link to learn why someone chose this job and how they got there.

Go to ‘Research Careers’ and check out the O*Net link to give you every detail about the job in which you are interested

Click on the ‘Choosing a Direction’ link and figure out your non-negotiables (trust me…these are important!)

Find Interest
Research opportunities
Action
- Interview prep
- Sell yourself with resume, references and presentation
- Get LinkedIn^®
- Get out there!!

And remember, not all careers require a college degree. All facets of life will be easier, however, with at least some post-secondary education and/or training.

Taking your own path

Other areas to explore on this site:

Future Focus in-school presentation
Life Lessons are 3-minute videos that assist in decision making
Manners/Etiquette teaches you ‘White House manners’ because some of you WILL be invited there someday!