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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou do not have to choose one job for the rest of your life right now. A better starting point is to notice what you enjoy learning and doing, then explore the kinds of work that use those interests. Career ideas can change as you gain experience.
What should you say if you don’t know yet?
“I’m still figuring it out” is a perfectly reasonable answer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2015 guidance for high-school students says they do not need to settle on an exact occupation while still in school. Instead, they can learn how to investigate careers and understand their own interests and skills. That guidance is aimed at high-school students; for younger children, keep the exploration simple and age-appropriate.
Career counselor Mark Danaher, quoted in the BLS article, put the emphasis on exploration: “My feeling is that high school students don’t have to know the exact career they want, but they should know how to explore careers and put time into investigating them and learning about their skills and interests.”
Start with what you like doing
Rather than trying to name a job immediately, ask questions that reveal what kinds of activities appeal to you:
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- What subjects or topics do you like learning about?
- What do you enjoy making, fixing, explaining, organizing, or helping with?
- Which part of an activity do you like most: solving a puzzle, working with people, being outdoors, or creating something?
- What do you feel curious enough to learn more about?
One interest can lead to many possibilities, not just one job. The BLS article, for example, connects sports with roles such as coaching, sports medicine, and sports journalism; math can be useful in fields ranging from accounting to engineering. Most occupations draw on more than one kind of skill, so an interest is a starting clue, not a career assignment.
Explore what the work is really like
A job title can sound appealing while the day-to-day tasks are a poor fit. Once a few possibilities catch your attention, look beyond the name of the occupation. Find out what people actually do, where they work, and what skills they use.
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- Read occupation descriptions. Look for typical tasks, work settings, and preparation requirements. The BLS article recommends career information as a way to learn about possible work.
- Talk with someone who does the work. Ask what a normal day involves, what is rewarding, and what is challenging. An informational interview is a conversation to learn, not a job interview.
- Ask about observing the work. Job shadowing, where available, can show what a workplace is like beyond what a description can convey.
- Try a related activity. A club, camp, volunteer role, or other suitable experience can help you find out whether you enjoy the tasks involved. Older students may also consider internships or part-time work where available.
For young people considering employment, check current youth-work rules for their age and location. Requirements can differ by state, and an older summary may not reflect current rules.
Compare a few possibilities
When you are ready to look more closely, compare several occupations rather than searching for a single perfect match. These practical questions can help organize what you learn; they are not a formal career assessment.
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- Daily work: What tasks would you do, and in what setting?
- Interests and skills: Which things you enjoy or want to develop would the work use?
- Preparation: What training or education does the occupation require?
- Firsthand exposure: Is there a realistic way to learn more by talking with a worker, observing, or trying a related activity?
Different jobs have different entry routes. The BLS article describes possibilities including on-the-job training, apprenticeships, certificates and other non-degree training, vocational or technical programs, and college study. Its 2015 guidance does not provide current program costs, earnings forecasts, or a personalized recommendation, so use current information when weighing a specific route.
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An early career idea is not a promise you must keep. As you learn new things and try different activities, you may find that another kind of work fits better. School counselor Steve Schneider, quoted by BLS, said, “There’s always the flexibility to shift course.” He also said, “A career is not a life sentence.”
When an idea stops feeling right, return to the questions that started the exploration: What do you like learning about? What do you enjoy doing? What would you like to try next? A new answer is useful information, not a failure.
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