Not sure which career path to take

Truity Career Tests. Career Fitter. Princeton Review Career Quiz. Just keep in mind that these quizzes should be treated as a continuation of the research and discovery phase of your job search, not as the concrete career path you should go after.

Look through various job descriptions and see which match your skills. Talk to people in your industry of interest. Be sure you come prepared with questions , but take the time to find out about their day-to-day responsibilities, the potential career trajectory, and what kind of person they feel succeeds in their kind of role.

If you can, try reaching out to multiple people to sit down and talk with them about the key characteristics of their careers. Resources Library Blog. Toggle navigation. Resources: Library Blog. Should you shell out money to take online quizzes? Atlanta-based career coach Kathy Brunner recommends clients take John Holland's SDS Self Directed Search —an assessment, that helps determine potential occupations and corresponding work environments based on your personality type.

Each category corresponds to a variety of different career paths. Monster reviewed some of the free tools out there and picked these Why wait for it to get to this point? Brunner says get a career coach early.

How exactly will a career coach help? Counselors in the center are trained and experienced in helping people find the right career fit. But with whom should you meet? If you're still figuring out what you want to be when you grow up, you're in good company—and chances are you'll wind up being more than one thing.

You may very well be missing out on opportunities elsewhere that would be a much better fit with your needs and abilities. Analyzing your past is a key component to discovering the kinds of situations that will bring out your best work and happiest self. Ask about their job, their professional past and aspirations, and the industry. Network at conferences and workshops. Join Twitter chats, other social media platforms, or Facebook groups.

Before you set your heart on a right career — or completely rule something out — make sure you get a sense of what the job is like day-to-day.

Try something new whenever the opportunity presents itself. Take online classes , attend workshops, read books, and watch YouTube tutorials. The point is that nowadays there are so many options for learning new skills and, by taking advantage of them, you have a fantastic opportunity to find a passion that gives you more flexibility in terms of career choices, helps you get a job, or that you can turn into a new career.

Are they friends outside of the office? Try a journaling exercise to wrap your head around whether your hobbies could lead you to your dream career:. You might love running in marathons but have no interest in becoming a professional athlete. Maybe your love for a challenge or competition would make you well-suited for a career that demands and rewards hard work, like commission-based sales.

Colleges and universities typically host a career resource center, similar to a library, where students can browse books, periodicals, and information online about pretty much any career you can imagine. Career resources show you what jobs entail, the skills you need in the field, and the training or education that will prepare you.

A career counselor or coach can help you figure out what you enjoy and what your strengths are, then help pair you with careers that make sense. Having a conversation with one of these experts can help you discover careers you might never have considered — or even knew existed — on your own. Career counselors often help you spruce up your resume, brush up your interviewing skills, practice negotiating, and steer you toward skills and training you need to work in your desired field.

You can find several tests online for free. A lot of tests that go more in-depth cost money, but they could be worth the expense for the amount of insight they offer. Consider using a personality test that analyzes your traits and strengths rather than one that recommends a specific career.

A career counselor can help you interpret personality test results and apply them to your career search. Learning more about a subject could entice you down a career path. A guided course is a simple way to get a comprehensive introduction to a topic or industry.

You may enjoy reading about Supreme Court cases, for example, but discover through your research and talking to people in the legal profession that you have no interest in litigating or going to law school. Connect with people through your family, friends, colleagues, or LinkedIn, and schedule a call or coffee meet-up to learn more about their work.