Q.  I am not sure which direction I want to take now that I have my new degree. How do I decide which career path is right for me?

The first step is self assessment.  It is essential to understand yourself before you choose a career because you should be genuinely interested in a field before diving in head first. I highly suggest jotting down your professional skills, personal interests and what you value most.  Taking the time to reflect on each of these areas will help you gain perspective on the right career.  There are also numerous self assessment quizzes accessible on the web which analyze your skills, interests and values. Furthermore, the quiz results provide a variety of possible positions that may be the perfect match. By taking advantage of self assessment quizzes you gain a helping hand in exploring the best careers.

Once you create a list of possible careers, it’s time to research!  Consider the job responsibilities, necessary qualifications, environment, salary and future demand of each position. While researching, don’t forget that real life experience out weighs all. Volunteering, job shadowing, internships and informational interviews are excellent ways of getting hands on exposure to potential careers. Researching and actual experience will provide you with insight into whether a position matches what you have discovered through self- assessment.

After your homework is done, you must narrow down your choices. It’s not the easiest step to finally settle on a career path but trust yourself and reflect back on your experiences. When it comes down to it, if you have taken the necessary time evaluating your self and potential career options, you will know where to begin. Most importantly, do not put limits on yourself.  Many industries have endless career options, so keep in mind that you do not have to choose one career. You are simply choosing a path which will have twists and turns that can lead into multiple positions through out your career.

Kristy McArthur is the Career Services Coordinator for American InterContinental University Online.