Is Career Institute Training Right For You?

Career institute training is a better fit than a traditional degree for some people. It is an education program that usually results in a certificate of completion or a certificate of mastery instead of a traditional BA, BS or graduate degree. Career training focuses on teaching students things like basic office skills as well as skills for specific industries. Students in career oriented programs learn more about the day to day work that comes with that industry instead of focusing on getting an understanding of a wider topic like History or Math.

Career institute training is easy to access Career institute training online is available for many industries so that students can get the skills they need when it's convenient for them to attend class. Career training might be right for you if are:

Career institute training is suitable for whom?

Employed professional - An employed professional trying to move ahead: If you are already happy in your job and doing well at your job but you want to learn more so that you will stand a better chance of moving up the corporate ladder career institute training is probably a good fit for you. The focus on practical skills will help you achieve your promotion goals. You can also take a few career training courses in leadership and HR skills to show your boss that you would be a great supervisor.

Change Careers - An employed person who wants to switch careers: If you don't like your job and you want to make the jump to a new career it's important that you can demonstrate the skills necessary for that new career to potential employers. Career institute training will give you the experience you need to show employers that you can hit the ground running in a new career.

Find a New Job - An unemployed person who has been laid off: If you have lost your job and you can't seem to find any decent jobs in your field career institute training can give you a new set of skills so that you can start looking for work in other fields. A certificate from a career institute could help you get a toehold job in a new industry while you figure out what path you want your career to take.

Find a New Career direction - An unemployed person who doesn't know what they want to do: There are millions of people who haven't found their calling yet. But, you need to work and make money while you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Career institute training will give you a great skill set that you can use to get a job while you figure out the path you want your life to take. It would be foolish to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a college degree if you don't really know what you want to study. A far less expensive certificate from a career institute will make it easier for you to get a job and save money for college so that when you do figure out what you want to study you'll be financially ready to attend college.

UCareerEducation.com [http://www.ucareereducation.com] is a professional education website who provide free information on Career Institute Training.

Career Planning After 50 - Find the Right Career!

You've reached the point in your life where you're over 50; you've worked in several careers perhaps some by choice some just by circumstance and you're looking for a change. The problem is where do you start?

Recently, a fellow who lived near an airport at the end of a busy runway went into the airline HR department and asked to fill out an application for a job as a pilot. When asked his qualifications he said, "Well, I've watched thousands of planes land and take off and I'm sure I can do the job."

If this sounds like you looking to change careers after 50, it's time to go back to the drawing board and do some serious career planning.

Every career, except the most basic jobs, has threshold qualifications and requirements. Some are easy to qualify for, others like airline pilots take years of training and flying experience. If you're 55 and could pass the physical requirements, and it would take you five years to qualify for the entry level pilot's position, and the airlines have a mandatory age 60 retirement, you probably wouldn't take this route.

On the other hand if you are 55 and your desire is to be an attorney, and it requires three years of additional schooling and passing the bar exam, go for it. But it requires along with the career planning after 50, the necessary financial planning carrying it off.

How then do you find the right career? First, do a self-assessment of you interests, skills, what you enjoy and what you do not want to do.

If a particular career does not jump off the page don't worry as you do your career research the right career will come into focus.

Now we find individuals working in the proposed career field or fields. Find the individuals in local associations, Linkedin.com, alumni associations, and networking with friends and associates. Develop a short 10-15 minute interview, with questions that will provide you with the following: career educational requirements, necessary experience, employers that employ individuals in this career, where the employers are located and referrals to others to talk to regarding the proposed career.

Since you're over 50 and thinking about making a career change you'll be looking to short cut some job requirements. Like education, for example, you may through self-study and online learning speed up the education qualification requirements.

Also, through volunteer work with organizations and non-profits many times you can gain valuable work experience that translates well to meeting job experience requirements.

Additionally your research will provide you with salary ranges, promotional opportunities and if the needs for the career are growing.

All of this will now be reflected in your rewritten resume and cover letter. You'll have a good start on preparation on good answers to tough job interview questions.

Career planning after 50 can be a time for reflection, to reassess your financial future and find the right job in the right career. Hopefully, this short article will get you started in the right direction in your career planning.

To find out more detailed information on all aspects of career planning after 50, go to http://careersafter50.com. Further, discover the stories of others over age 50 who found their dream careers through a variety of Career Planning Ideas.

How Do I Find the Right Career For Me?

If you're working on choosing a career, you're probably confronting the question of "how do I find the right career for me". Here are 5 things to think about that will help you through the career planning process of finding the right career.

1) Your Hobbies

Think about what you like to do in your free time and what you're good at. Do you like working with your hands? With your mind? Are you good with people? Do you prefer being alone? Do you coach a team or tutor kids? Spend time outdoors in nature? Do you like numbers? Puzzles? Writing? Particular kinds of video games? There are careers out there that make use of your skills and interests...and sometimes they're not obvious. As an example, just because you're a great little league coach doesn't mean you should be a professional coach. But you do embrace leadership skills, which apply to a variety of careers and can guide you in your career search. Maybe you love music - you can work for an ad agency, or a theater, represent musicians, open a music club, work for a non-profit to get instruments into schools...Or maybe you love sports statistics - you can become an accountant or a mortgage banker or work for a sports team....You just need to do some research to connect the dots.

2) Your Values

What's important to you? Is it having lots of free time? Lots of money? Having a big family? Following a dream? Living in the city? The country? The suburbs? Living overseas? All of these things play a role in the career opportunities that will fit you and be available to you. For example, if you're obsessed with the auto industry but are set on living near your ranch in Wyoming, you probably have to choose one or the other. If you want to live in New York City and have five kids, you're probably going to have to choose a career where you can make a lot of money. To find the right career, it's important to be in touch with your values.

3) The Type of Life You Want

Do you want a conventional life where you stay on one path, live in one city and settle down young to start a family? Or do you want an adventurous life where you take big risks, chase big ideas, and frequently change cities? The adventurous path may be more likely to blur job and life together. For example, if you're a war photographer or a rock musician, your career and life kind of become one. If you know you want a conventional life, you can generally rule out careers like these. At the same time, if you know you want an adventurous life, you can probably rule out most office jobs. It's always possible to be a librarian by day and a traveling cliff diver on weekends, but it really comes down to where you want to find your adventure every day.

4) Your Favorite & Best Classes At School

What classes always felt like fun to you? What classes came to you so naturally that they just seemed easy? Are you great at science? Math? Or do you hate science and math but love English classes? If you hate science and math but love English classes, you can probably rule out careers like doctor, scientist and economist. But you can consider things like teacher, lawyer and other communications-based careers. Analyzing what classes fit you is a great step towards finding the right career.

5) What You're Willing To Sacrifice

The expression "nothing comes for free" exists for a reason. If you're a young, corporate lawyer or investment banker getting paid the big bucks, you're probably going to have close to zero free time. If you're an airline pilot or a truck driver, you're probably going to be spending a lot of time away from home. If you want to become a college professor, you're going to be in school a long time to get that PhD. If you want to be a famous actress, you're going to have to humiliate yourself at casting calls and tryouts where your talents and looks will be picked apart by a panel of others. What is your threshold for all of this? It helps to ask this question and be in touch with what you're willing to sacrifice for your career. Sometimes it's tough to know in advance, but the sooner you can figure it out the more you can avoid the tough discoveries that come from learning your career exceeds your threshold after you've settled into a path.

Finding the right career and the career planning process can be tricky, but you'll find lots of help at http://CareersOutThere.com. Careers Out There is a video interview show that helps you in every episode by profiling a different type of career. Our guests are real professionals who work in each career path and tell us what their jobs are really like, how you can break in and how to succeed once you're there. I'm Marc Luber, the author of this article and the host of the show. I look forward to seeing you there and helping you out - so click over to Careers Out There so we can start helping you now.

What Career Path Is Right for You?

Are you ready for a new career but are unsure of what you want to do? Do you want to make a living doing something you love and are genuinely good at? Then look into associate degree (occupational) careers or professional certificate careers. This career path will take you less time than getting your degree through a community college or traditional university. Most programs will also prepare you to sit for professional certification exams; having certifications generally make you more employable.

Associate Degree Careers are Rewarding and In-demand

You can complete training for associate degree (occupational) careers in only 15-18 months. Explore this sample of six career paths that have positive employment growth:

Business Careers
Computer Careers
Medical and Dental Careers
Personal Appearance Careers
Technical Trades Careers
Wellness Careers

1 - Business Careers

Are you a problem solver who pays close attention to detail and can remain calm in a chaotic environment? Do you have excellent customer service skills that you want to put to good use? You can have a career in the business field in under two years.

Administrative Professionals perform a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an office efficiently.
Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for the MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) certification exam. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Average: 71-13% increase from 2008 to 2018

2 - Computer Careers

If you are someone who loves technology, enjoys tinkering with computers and helping others understand how everything works, consider a career working with computers in one of these two career paths:

Computer & Network Systems Technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to individuals and organizations that depend on information technology for daily operations.
Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for the Network+, Security+, and the A+ certification exams. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Much faster than average: 20% and higher increase from 2008 to 2018.

Mechanical Drafters prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices using engineering practices and mathematics. They can work for established companies or as independent contractors.

Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for professional drafting industry certification exams. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Opportunities are good for individuals with at least 2 years of post-secondary training in a drafting program, strong technical skills and experience with CADD systems.

3 - Medical and Dental Careers

If you excel at multi-tasking, communication and organization, you might want to use your talents to help provide care and comfort to people in need.

You can work in a medical or dental environment in one of these three professional career paths:

Medical Assistants use basic medical techniques to work with patients in a clinical environment under the supervision of a doctor.
Employment Growth Projections* - Much faster than average: 20-34% increase from 2008 to 2018.

Dental Assistants use basic dental techniques to work with patients in a clinical environment under the supervision of a dentist.

Employment Growth Projections* - Much faster than average: 20-36% increase from 2008 to 2018.

Medical Administrative Technicians care for patients by providing a variety of services in a medical office environment.

Employment Growth Projections*- Much faster than average: 20-34% increase from 2008 to 2018.

Health Information Technicians care for patients by providing a variety of services in a medical office environment.

Employment Growth Projections*- Much faster than average: 20-34% increase from 2008 to 2018.

4 - Personal Appearance Careers

If you enjoy making people look and feel their best while being personable, then maybe a career in the Personal Appearance field is the right choice for you.

Cosmetologists enhance the appearance of their clients by doing hair, but they are also trained in skincare, makeup and nails. Work in a salon, barber shop, high end spa, hotel or resort. Make your own schedule and even be your own boss.

Licensure Requirements:

High school diploma or GED
Be at least 16 years old
Graduate from a State-licensed barber or cosmetology school
Pass written and practical licensure exams
Employment Growth Projections* - Faster to much faster than average: 14-20% and higher increase from 2008 to 2018.

5 - Technical Trades Careers

Do you have patience, good interpersonal skills and love working with your hands and thinking through interesting problems? This could be your job! Technical trades career paths allow all of this to be possible.

Automotive Technicians inspect, maintain and repair a variety of vehicle types. They provide basic care maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations. They also diagnose and repair more complex problems.
Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for the ASE (Automotive Services Excellence) and Snap-on certification exams. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Job opportunities are very good for those with both post-secondary automotive training and ASE certification.

Refrigeration & AC-HVAC Technicians install, maintain and repair heating and air-conditioning systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for the Mech IV licensing, EPA certification, and HVAC Excellence certification exams. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Much faster than average: 20-28% increase from 2008 to 2018.

6 - Wellness Careers

Are you interested in alternative medicine and wellness, or physical fitness? Do you want to help people work through debilitating physical issues or achieve personal fitness goals? Consider a career in Health and Wellness.

Massage Therapists treat soft tissue pain by relaxing tired and overworked muscles, reducing stress, rehabilitating sports injuries and promoting overall general health.
Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for the required state licensure exams. Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Employment Growth Projections* - Faster than average: 14-19% increase from 2008 to 2018.

Personal Trainers work with clients or members of a fitness facility to help them become healthy and maintain or increase levels of fitness.

Professional Certification: Be prepared to sit for these 3 National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) exams.
Remember: certifications generally make you more employable.
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification
Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) credential
Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS) credential

Employment Growth Projections* - Employment of fitness workers is expected to increase 29 percent over the 2008-18 decade.

Find a school that offers a good variety of career training programs like the ones you see here and start your journey to a new career today.

Sources

* According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 2008-2018 Employment Projections

IntelliTec College offers accelerated career training programs in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Pueblo. Request more information at: http://www.intelliteccollege.com/requestInfo.php or call 1-800-748-2282.

Choosing the Right Career - A Model Based on Psychology and Career Coaching Experience

We've come a long way since the days when men were expected to follow in their fathers' footsteps and women were expected to be homemakers. But with so many opportunities now open to us, and the expectations of friends, parents and society to consider, people can often find it difficult to choose which career would be most suitable for them. Fortunately, research from the fields of positive, personality and work psychology can provide a good framework to guide us in making these difficult, and important, decisions.

A general definition of personality provides a good starting point; "personality is made up of the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that make a person unique". This definition highlights three important points. Firstly, the way that you think, feel and behave is clearly going to have a significant bearing on determining the career that you are most suited to, so understanding your own personality is an important part of any career decision. Secondly, our personalities are very complex. They comprise many different attributes and are often not straightforward or easy to understand. And thirdly, we are all different. Each of us has a unique personality and therefore each of us is suited to a career with a unique set of characteristics. It may seem obvious, but it's worth emphasising that what works for one person may not work for another, however similar they may appear to be. Advice from friends and family can be useful, but ultimately each of us has to choose our own career because no-one else understands our thoughts and feelings as well as we do.

So what is the most helpful way of assessing your personality in the context of choosing a career? There are a number of different theories of personality and various psychological models, which can be helpful in varying degrees, but I have developed a simple model, bringing together the most important of these, that makes it easier for you to choose the career that best matches your personality. My Career Personality Profile model has four elements; Interests (what you enjoy doing), Values (what you find meaningful), Strengths (what you're good at) and Environment (where you feel most comfortable). Taken together, the first two elements, Interests and Values, incorporate Martin Seligman's theory of Authentic Happiness, Tal Ben-Shahar's Happiness Archetype and Kennon Sheldon's research on self-concordant goals to show that we are happiest when doing things that we enjoy while pursuing goals that we find personally meaningful. The third element, Strengths, reflects Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of Flow, in which we are most likely to achieve a state of optimal experience and optimal performance when the difficulty of tasks that we undertake matches our skill level. Another way of viewing this is that we are most likely to feel good about ourselves when we are using our strengths and avoiding using our weaknesses. The fourth element, Environment, recognises that the way that we feel and behave is going to be strongly influenced by our environment, reflecting research by Peter Warr and others into the influence of environmental factors on the happiness we experience at work.

How do you build your Career Personality Profile? When I work with clients, I use the Birkman Method® behavioural assessment and coaching techniques to develop a really deep understanding of the four elements, but it is possible to develop a simple profile for yourself. Basically, you need to reflect on each of the four elements in turn and write down the things that are most important to you. For Interests, what do you enjoy doing, both at work and in your spare time? For Values, what gives meaning to you work, or what do you want to achieve with your life? For Strengths, what are you good at, not just in terms of practical (hard) skills, but also in terms of behavioural (soft) skills, such as relating to people, dealing with change and making decisions? And for Environment, where do you feel most comfortable? What size and type of organisation, what management style, what kind of daily routine? It's best to do this exercise at a time when you are relaxed and unlikely to be disturbed. Also, try to think of examples for each point that you come up with and remember how you felt at the time.

Once you've considered each of the four elements, write down all of the key points on a single sheet of paper to give a profile of your ideal career. You can now use this profile to guide you as you consider different careers. Compare each career that you're considering to your profile and see how well it matches. Which one is the best match? Or if none of them seem to match very well, can you think of something else that would? The closer the match between a possible career and your profile, the more likely you are to both enjoy it and succeed at it. If you feel that you don't know enough about a possible career to make a meaningful comparison, then you need to further research that career to find out more about it.

I hope that gives you a good idea of the best way to approach career choices. The reality for many people is a lot more complex than this simple illustration would suggest, but my experience as a career coach has shown it to be an extremely effective way of helping people to focus on the right things. Obviously, when I work with clients I go into great depth and help clients to understand aspects of their personality that are not already clear to them, but the overall approach is exactly the same. The most important thing to remember, is that you need to start by understanding yourself. If you don't do this, then you're unlikely to choose the right career.

I am Dr Roger Todd, co-founder of The Right Career, a career consultancy based in London, UK. We specialise in using personality profiling and career coaching techniques to help clients identify the career that will work best for them. Sign up for our free email course at http://therightcareer.co.uk for a more detailed step-by-step guide to Choosing the Right Career.

Get on the Right Career Path With a Career Coach

Are you planning to make a career change? If so, you might want to consider working with a career coach. A career coach can help you create a plan for achieving your career goals while also providing you with the support and encouragement you need. In this way, you can achieve your career goals and finally work in a profession that makes you happy and provides you with a handsome income.

What is a Career Coach?

A career coach is a person that has been trained in helping other people develop their career goals. Even if you are unsure your career goals, a career coach will work closely with you in order to help you determine where you would like your career to go and to develop a plan for achieving those goals.

If you have dreams of landing a job as a manager or executive, you might want to work with an executive coach. An executive coach is a specialized type of career coach that focuses on helping a person work up the chain of command within his or her field. With the help of an executive coach, you will learn how to obtain the training needed to climb the corporate ladder as well as learn more about how you should perform in the workplace in order to get noticed and to receive the promotion you are trying to get.

Who Needs a Career Coach?

Anyone that wants to advance in his or her career or that is looking to make a career change can benefit from the services of a career coach. Whether you are just getting started in your career or have been working on your career path for many years, a career coach can help you hone your skills and make the right career decisions. Even if you are in college or are trying to determine your major in college, it can be beneficial to consult with a coach. This way, you can get assistance with choosing the classes that will put you in the best position for landing the career of your dreams once you graduate.

How do I Select a Career Coach?

When searching for a career coach, however, it is often a good idea to find one that has experience helping people within your specific field. This way, the coach can provide you with assistance and support that has to do with the career path you have chosen.

A career coach can help you get on the right path toward landing the job of your dreams. If you are looking to climb the corporate ladder, a specialized type of coach called an executive coach will be able to provide you with the guidance you need to make the right steps in your career.

Ralph King has been contributing to leading magazines for the past 10 years. He's also an accredited researcher on the subject for leading research institutes in the US.

Innumerable Career Choices - Tips To Make The Right Choice

Wherever a person glances, it is evident that there is an extensive array of career choices across the world. Whatever be the choice - a practical career as an automobile mechanic or lounging in a comfy seat in a plush office, everybody has his or her own vision of what an enviable employment comprises of.

Nevertheless, while settling on the desired career is nothing more than pursuing a dream for a few people, for others it calls for extensive study. Apart from matching personality traits and abilities, it encompasses financial resources, educational qualifications besides involving oneself. Without even being aware of it, deciding on a career tends to become amongst the most remarkable choices in a person's life.

In the good old days, people often took after their father or went into the family-run business, when the time came to pick a career alternative. Nowadays, the constantly changing job market connotes that career choices can alter. A career route can begin anywhere and sharply change direction into something completely different in several years. Frequently, a person will start his career doing one specific task in an organization and then change, gradually climb up or move to a more suitable job in another organization. The most intricate career choices are the ones that shift totally from one industry to another. But, having a suitable career is certainly very essential to a person's happiness and welfare.

Now a career choice not only fully avails of a person's expertise, but in addition it is something that is carried out regularly in order to earn a livelihood. It can closely relate to a person's career, sometimes, even going to the extent of developing something on the lines of a connection. This is the reason a career choice tends to become such a personal preference.

However, career choices need to be sensible and carefully planned. In fact, it is not out of the ordinary for persons to embark on a career and then become conscious they have committed a blunder. Thinking that it is far too late to change things around, the majority attempts to make the most of their choice but they never entirely derive pleasure from their work.

While it was unusual in the past to switch careers more than a couple of times in one's professional life, nowadays, it is unusual to stay in the same job forever. A number of resources are there for assisting persons with selecting the right line of work. On the Internet you can come across several websites providing tools like information and career tests, resume services and educational resources. Although, it is a good thing to study in depth a particular profession, in this shifting market, it is very wise to have a number of choices open for an assortment of career choices.

Abhishek is a Career Counselor and he has got some great Career Planning Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 71 Pages Ebook, "Career Planning Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Career-Guru.com/769/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Career Personality Tests - Discover How They Help Finding the Right Career!

Fact or fiction in the finding of the right career and helping you in the advancement of your career.

Many times you'll change jobs or careers and in a few months you'll realize you made a big mistake. You'll experience a high level of dissatisfaction with the new job and hate going into work each morning. Aside from the usual causes like a bad boss or the company culture is a poor fit many times your personality just does not fit the job.

A career personality test could have steered you in the right direction. This type of test can help you determine which aspects of your personality are the strongest. Then you can determine what career or types of careers are a better match for your personality. With a solid match between your personality and career you'll be excited to go to work each day and much more likely to invest time and money studying and learning all you can about advancing in your career.

Career personality tests, by going online, can be found in many shapes and sizes. Some are legitimate but others are merely for entertainment. Generally, the more authentic career personality tests can take up to 30 minutes to complete and may have a fee. The free tests can give you a peek into your personality but you should not rely upon them as completely accurate.

However, they can still point you in the direction you need to go. In general the career personality test uses statements about personality traits as questions. You then indicate the accuracy of the statement with regards to your own character. Your answers are then sorted by category such as introverted or extroverted, feeling or thinking and critical or perceptive.

If you score, for example, predominantly introverted a job working and dealing with the general public is probably not the way to go. If you score high in the critical category, making decisions in a rather unstructured environment may be for you.

You'll find that different tests use different category descriptions, so you'll typically score in every area with one or two groups of primary dominance. Once the testing is finished, you will have the opportunity to narrow down a choice of careers. While the test results can be fairly accurate and provide stunning insights, there is no one career that can be determined to be the best.

If you score highly in the extroverted category you may work well with others; however, other factors will determine if this is in a public setting such as customer service or a private setting. A career personality test merely highlights the best options. You will then have to analyze your interests to match them up with the insights uncovered in the personality test. Only then will you find the career that best suits you.

John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Career Advancement Ideas, valuable articles and a Free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our Employment Tips Guide all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.

How to choose the right career or a new career for you-create your career action plan

"Need help in choosing a career for me!"

If you're looking to create a career path or fancy well-planned reignite your career path lackluster, need a career action plan. Best of all, you already have what you need to make your career action plan. Your career change plan consists of 4 parts to clarify your career aspirations:

1. Career clarity/career goal. A career change kit starts with what you are meant to do. Learn once and for all what should be done. We are all meant to do something. No two lives are identical. All possess a call, a single purpose for our existence. This uniqueness is also expressed in the career that we are meant to do. You just have to follow it by connecting your career with life purpose. This same process can also help you reconnect with the "why" of the career that you have chosen.

2. Career objective statement. The very company that work probably has a mission statement. Consider this fact, as we know what direct effort toward? A mission statement can help to add focus, direction and a sense of purpose for your daily decisions. Noted author Stephen Covey refers to writing a mission statement like "link with your own unique purpose and deep satisfaction that arrives in the performance of it."

3. career goal setting. You should write down. Use goal setting forms, that experts agree that are essential to set and monitor your career path. The Declaration of intent brings meaning, but is goal setting that allows you to direct the effort. It is a must have if you want to set and monitor progress. While John f. Kennedy had the vision of sending a man to the Moon, who acted on that vision outlined the steps-milestones (milestones)-needed to achieve the feat. They calculated every step and hit those milestones before reaching the ultimate goal.

4. Self Motivating techniques to kick start a career action plan. These are internal capabilities that have laid dormant over the years. Success is the culmination of simple but frequently overlooked elements of success: purpose, determination, commitment, attitude, self-confidence, etc. ..These words may seem aloof and distant, but they only appear that way when you do not have the first three parts of his plan. Your innate self motivational techniques are like seeds in the ground laying dormant ready to germinate once three other component of your plan are engaged.

Consider this:

Only 10% of us businesses plan on an annual basis: that only the 10%, 10% write down their plan and follow it. That 1% of all businesses that make a plan and follow it, their success rate is 98.75%. As the fundamental factor of business success, you can use the same process too turbo charge push your career ambitions. Remember, it all begins-every successful business Empire also may work for long-starts out as someone's dream.

Keith Raymond is a mentor to Business Life Coach. Through its website, he leads readers on how to create a career action plan. For more information about how to find your dream career or how to choose a new career, please visit http://www.yoursuccessprinciples.com

Changing careers at 30-why could be the right move for you

Many people in society to pursue a particular path to provide correctly the essential elements of their lifestyle, but not all people appreciate their career choice. In order to decide to improve your lifestyle, simply decide on how to choose a different career path that is suitable and profitable in every way. You change careers with 30? You must take the right approach to achieve the results you need? Here are some important facts to help you develop a positive attitude in order to achieve the best life prospects:

Relevant experience when Seekingchanging careers at 30

When you change careers at 30, it is essential that you are looking for job-related experience in your field of interest. Most often, this process is usually categorized as voluntary work, including aid hospital if they have interest in the medical field. Further experience can also be acquired at a reputable animal shelter, if the career change entails responsibility of pet care. Change your career, you may decide to settle for a low-paying position.

If you are going to establish a pizzeria, would do well to gain experience in a well-established pizza shop located in a different location from where it would actually open your business and offer assistance. By adopting this approach, career changers will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of business and relevant skills to successfully develop your potential targets.

Do your best to ignore critics

Always keep in mind that critics need to pass on their critics, who generally do not govern in your favour, given that there are no plans on changing careers to 30; but ignoring these criticisms and aim to achieve the best results, as this should always be your ultimate goal. Earlier critics generally exist in your home or even yourself. Naturally, skepticism exists in your mind and it is something I will probably discourage you from trying to solve your prospects is essential.

Despite the many hurdles that must be overcome to successfully pursue your career choice, it is essential that stay focused and aim to reach all the prerequisites needed to modify your career successfully. Paying attention to the uncertainties is the main constraint that will cause the plan to fail, like trust, intensive academic and practical experiences are essential elements necessary to achieve success in changing careers.

Some of the common criticisms of career changers might take note of:

Is this something I can afford?

I went crazy?

Are you having financial problems?

Like you to enjoy your job, when it's all on the job?

Why not wait before taking that kind of risk?

How to operate a business without the necessary finances?

Although you probably will consider these comments; try your best not to pay too much attention, as you might get distracted and lose focus, while the balance is required to support your needs.

The importance of getting the network support

In a situation like this, it's great to get assistance from an excellent career, but this is necessary only if you can afford to help with finances. However, there are other attractive options available, which can help you in your attempt to change careers to 30. Friends and family can also contribute their support staff, while you get the opinion of an expert.

Conversely, there are also special courses available online to help people looking for a career change, so that he or she can pursue the relevant objectives and improve their lifestyle. The journey for such an attempt may be challenging, but with an open mind, attention to learn, adoption and implementation of change will stir you in the right direction.

There are various ways in which one can actually fulfill their dreams, but we must first determine the most excellent way to incorporate these perspectives, without compromising their lives entirely. Today, many individuals are changing careers at 30 and is required for all these people to decide on a career path that defines its essential prerequisites. Make sure your career choice is one that generates the results that you want.

How to start a career changing process

All journeys begin with a single step; Therefore, career changers must first make an attempt to begin the process, incorporating goals together. Theoretically, you can easily get more information on how to change careers successfully, without large problems. The best way to achieve success is to deplete the resources necessary to meet your criteria and settle into a career that will enjoy for the rest of your life.

In this case, the planning process will be useful; However, there are some responses that you must first find out, before starting this trip. Career changers should know; "How to achieve their goals"; "What is the direction that he or she is aiming at", etc. Changing careers can seem a bit scary, but with proper planning, positive attitude and good execution, it could be the best decision of your life.

My name is Dorothy and suffered to be stuck in the wrong career that was not for me for over 10 years. I finally decided to make a career change when I turned 30 and it was the best decision I ever made-I still can't believe that I wake up excited to go to work everyday. Because of this revelation, devote all my time and energy to help career changers to find their dream career; It is my passion and I want to share it with you. Please visit my website at www.changingcareersat30.net to get a step-by-step walk-through for how to make a successful career change.

Find Out How To Choose A Career - Stop Wondering, What Career Is Right For Me?

How to Choose a Career

Almost everyone has asked at least once in their lives about how to choose a career. Many who are nearing the crossroads of their lives have pondered the age old question of what career is right for me. For some, this might seem like quite an insurmountable task while others just go gung ho and dive into whatever is laid before them.

However, those who wise up and sit down to weigh things over do get the best out of their chosen careers. After all, no one wants to climb a ladder only to find out they have laid it against the wrong wall. Choosing the right career is indeed more of a process rather than a one time thing that changes your trajectory in an instant.

The Power of Self Assessment

One of the pivotal things one will ever do with their lives is not just picking the career they would entrench their lives on. Even before one immerses in a chosen profession, one must first assess themselves. A lot of things come into play when it comes to career choice. Some of the factors people take into consideration include their skills, interests, and values, along with their very own personal traits.

Getting Help

One of the important tools on how to choose a career is to get the assistance of a career counselor. There are career development professionals who help individuals with self assessment and evaluate the various factors that play in one's career choice.

Sometimes acquiring the services of a career development facilitator isn't financially feasible. Finances can sometimes become an issue for others but this should not become a hindrance when it comes to finding out what career is right for me. Of course, there are alternatives other than hiring the services of a professional career development specialist.

In such situations, one can go to the local public library since some of these institutions offer some form of career planning help. Students may also check with their universities and colleges since they also have career development offices that may be of assistance. Other than these, there are online career assessment tools that are available for free on the Internet. There are a lot of free tools to help figure out what career is right for me.

Working with the List

The end product on all the above effort on how to choose a career is a list of possible careers that one can opt for. This list of possible fields of endeavor is the result of the process of self assessment, which is basically the fruit of one's own labor plus help from a guide.

This will then lead to the next step to find out which career is most suitable for the said candidate. In reality, one can't do all the stuff on the said list. The next step therefore is to gather information about every possible career on the list. One of the first bits of information that people usually gather will be a job description for each item on the list.

Other than that, one should also pull up information on that particular career's outlook. One should check out whether the said career will still be in demand in the next five to ten years at least. The required education and training should also come up. These are but some of the things one must do on how to choose a career.

Jason Aldiers is the author of this article and enjoys writing on various topics. To stop wondering what career is right for me and to find out more information on how to choose a career, visit Howtochooseacareer.org.

Career Planning: To Be Effective Get This Right!

Career planning can take many forms. It might have started in high school when you observed you favorite uncle doing well as an accountant. Or maybe a college career counselor steered you into a growing industry. Perhaps, after working a few years a friend recommended you for an open position in the company where they worked.

Maybe planning your career was the realization one day that you had to keep abreast of what was happening in your career and you planned to read a few appropriate books.

And just maybe you wrote out a detailed plan, build a method to upgrade your skills, researched a viable career path, added some flexibility to keep aware of possible career changes and periodically reviewed your career progress.

For a career plan to be effective you have to get this right. It's like building a vehicle and neglecting to put in a fuel tank. The vehicle may look great, the paint will attract attention, and it may have the latest in technological advances but bottom line: without a fuel tank it's no better than a great looking lawn decoration.

The fuel of you career plan is a robust financial plan. If you plan to add to your skills and you do not have the financial resources to pay for the tuition or spend the funds to attend an important career related conference you career plan will be stalled.

If you discover a business opportunity and you don't have the funds or the credit record to finance the purchase your career frustration will climb off the charts.

A few years back an engineering graduate and his wife decided they would live at a modest level and as he moved up the career ladder and would save and invest everything above an agreed upon income level. He reached the CEO level of a large company but he and his family continued to live in a home and spend more like one of his company's mid-level managers.

An opportunity arose where a company was selling a unit in which this executive had a great deal of experience. He was able to purchase this multi-million dollar operation, with his own funds and borrow the balance because of his impeccable credit record.
You may not get to the CEO level of a large corporation, few do, but opportunities are all around us. A small company comes across your radar screen; you see the chance to make it better and more profitable. A hard to sell piece of real estate is lingering on the market, the seller is motivated, and you see opportunity.

You become interested in a franchise opportunity and you have the financial resources to make it successful. All become possible because of the financial planning that you have incorporated into your career plan.

There is another big advantage of a robust financial plan that works hand-in-hand with your career plan. As your financial resources increase, you have no outstanding debts, except for a small mortgage on your primary residence, your career flexibility climbs. Changing careers now becomes possible; even if you have to take a cut in income because you have the financial resources to fill the income gap.

Moreover, without a heavy burden of debt, you are less concerned about keeping you job. You can take positions that might be unpopular but are right for the business. This is a recipe for rapid career advancement.

So in developing your career plan don't neglect the financial aspect. Your well-developed financial planning will be the fuel that moves your career plan forward. And isn't that's what career planning is all about, advancing your career or putting you in position to make a proper career change at the right time.

John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers and career planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by career planning after 50.

How Schools Help Students Select the Right Career

Most students who are in high school eagerly wait for Career Day when business professionals from the community give them an insight into the various career options they can choose from. However, the Career Day does not give students enough information and most students are unable to decide what is best for them. Most high school students are seeking guidance from career development counselors.

Even though career development counselors are of great help in shaping the career of students, a lot more must be done to help the students. When students are aware of the various career options they have, will they be able to plan their future. They can decide on the college they would like to join and select the right course that will help them in their area of interest. This will help in improving the enrollments in colleges and create a more productive society.

Some institutions have taken positive steps in this direction by introducing Career Week in their college. Career Week is organized to help students understand various career development issues. College Week is usually visited by professionals from local community who can help students select the right career. At times, professionals may organize career development classes that will give you an insight into the career options available and the training or education you need to get a job in your area of interest.

Some schools may also organize career assessments for students that will give them an idea of their strengths, weaknesses and area of interest. Career assessment is done either by personal interview or through a computer. Students who are taking a career assessment test through a computer must fill a form. Once you fill the form, the computer will generate a report that will outline the best career options for you.

After the students complete the career assessment test, they are interviewed by student counselor of the school or by the career development professional. These interviews give students an opportunity to fully discuss and explore the various career options and choose a career that is best for them. Once they have decided on the career they want to choose, the student counselor or the career development professional with give them the resources that will help them in their career development.

Student counselors can also visit the classrooms of high school students and give them information that will help them set their goals. During these classroom sessions, students are given the required resources that will help them set practical goals and prepare a career development strategy.

Most schools have realized the importance of career planning and development for their students. These schools have implemented programs that will help them choose the right career. These developments will help students prepare for their future and select the right course.

Students, who are looking for a career in medicine, can visit the website Careers in the Medical Field. Also, if you are looking for management books that will help you take right decisions in your career, you can check out the website Rockefeller Habits.

What Career Is Right for Me?

It is important to choose the right career as this decision can have a far reaching impact on the rest of an individual's life. Everyone wants a career that is not only interesting but lucrative as well. The financial aspect of a career is an important one but it is not the only thing that one should keep in mind when choosing a career. People need to be honest as they pave their way towards the career path that is right for them. Knowing what career is right requires the individual to be aware of what he or she wants from life. The choice should be made when one has a clear frame of mind. Confusion, stress and doubt are negative emotions that can interfere with a person's ability to think clearly. Upon establishing the elements of a person's personality and character traits, the next step is to identify careers that conform to those elements.

Everyone has different values and perceptions of life that determine what kind of careers will be most suitable for them. Carrying out an honest self assessment can prevent the problem of joining a career that is unsuitable. It is never too late to choose a career as long as the individual is focused and ready to discover the right career path. A career is not just about making money, it is also about a mentally and emotionally rewarding experience that leaves one feeling fulfilled. To achieve this, the person must know what activities or tasks make him happy or excited about life. Finding a career that can incorporate these activities is a good place to start.

A career search should be based on interests and the area of education that the person has pursued. People must be patient during their career search because it often takes time before they find exactly what they are looking for. Quality education is essential because it provides the individual with the knowledge that is required for a particular career. With online education that is readily available, people no longer have an excuse to neglect their academic lives. Education opens more doors for career advancement. To find out what career is right, people should weigh the options that are available to them and narrow their list down.

Upon establishing the occupations that are in line with one's interest, the career search can be undertaken by researching on what those occupations entail. This kind of information enables the person to make informed choices about the careers that are most ideal. For anyone who might have initially made a wrong choice, this does not mean that they have to suffer through it. Career changes are possible but they require a positive attitude and willingness to move on. Every career option should be tested according to factors such as personal interests, values, goals, risks, compensation and overall fulfillment. As the career search becomes clearer, all efforts should be made to enhance the skills that are required for the chosen career. This can be achieved through education, training, personal growth and mentorship.

Cranz Adam is the author of this article on What Career is Right for Me [http://www.whatcareerisrightforme.org/]. Find more information about What Career is Right for Me [http://www.whatcareerisrightforme.org/] here.

How to Decide on the Right Career

Defining Career

In general career is defined as a kind of progress through life or at least certain periods of life mostly with the aim of reaching a higher or the highest possible position in a company, an organization, an institution, the society or others. Career is a very individual matter and choosing a career is treated as one of the most fundamental life choices any individual should make. Career is often distinguished from terms like "job" or "occupation" because it emphasizes the possibility of moving forward and climbing up the social ladder. One can have a job but this doesn't mean automatically that this job can guarantee a career - this is what is said. In this sense career stands higher than just employment and implicates a conscious and aware decision making and acting of an individual.

Career Models

Though career is mostly associated with "being employed", this is not the only path one can follow and not the only field one can make progress in. The question of how income is made seems to be a better criteria and therefore we can differentiate the following career models:

career as employee
career as entrepreneur
career as business owner

Employee Career

Employee career means climbing up the career ladder within a certain structure, mostly a company, by getting promoted. The employee career is predefined by the company structure and only certain points of the career ladder can be reached by an employee (for instance it's rather unlikely that a simple employee can reach the position of a chairman). This model is true for the majority of people, but only if they start seeing the job they do as a basis for improvement and only if they understand the need for activity and aware decisions.

Entrepreneur Career

The difference between employee and entrepreneur is that in contrast to an employee working for someone an entrepreneur owns the job he does working only for himself. This means of course a difference in career possibilities as well. An entrepreneur doesn't have a predefined career ladder as there is no structure / company to be bound to. And therefore progress depends on the individual development of the entrepreneur. A reasonable criteria for assessing an entrepreneur career is the level of customer popularity and the made income.

Business Owner Career

A business owner doesn't own a job but a kind of business system working to generate income. This means that there are either employees or entrepreneurs working for the business owner or there is a to some extent automated income system requiring only a small level of engagement from the site of the owner. In this model career is of course directly proportional to the economic relevance of the business

Georg Baer is passionate about finding the right career path for himself and others. He loves the idea of financial freedom through the Internet but is still enough realistic to know that there can be many possible ways.

See and profit from Georg Baer's Encouragement Words [http://www.timeforgiants.com/portal/] and Expert Knowledge at Time For Giants. Remember that each career activity needs to follow a path.

(c) - Copyright - GEORG BAER. All rights reserved.

Choosing Career Finder Tools - Tips To Find The Right Career

Choosing a career is a mighty task. Pre-determining the career path is a good solution. For people with long-term goals in life, this might be an easy process. For others it requires from them a lot of assessment, research and reflection. Websites which offer great help in finding careers, thus, becomes a helpful tool to them. The research tool can help them to assess themselves to the fullest by considering things like occupation, starting salary, duties and a lot more. Knowing the potential careers is the first step pf defining a career path.

Each website can have its own way of career finder feature. On a few sites, a counselor who can answer individual questions posted by students becomes helpful. Answers related to occupation and the personality of the person could be found. There could be small tests which are easy to write and can show the results immediately telling the person which profession would suit him or her best. Though it might not be the final verdict, it gives the person an idea or an outlook of the possible careers he could pursue. Choosing a career from there would be left to the individual.

Another kind of career finder is the one which asks the individual about the specific profession or just the name of the industry. The facility of a keyword search could help a few who aren't conclusive of their search. There are websites which can give information on careers in specific industries as well. Career finders could even describe careers in the field if legal, medical or educational. This type of a career finder will mostly be used by people who have decided what field to take up but don't know what particular career would suit them.

Career finder could be an imperative means of finding the right path to work. When they are used in tandem with different career finding tools, it could give them a clear picture. Choosing a career is no easy thing and hence one has to be careful with it. Choosing a career carefully would mean a lot as it might tend to have adverse effects when it isn't done properly. It can be a major set-back physically and emotionally if chosen in a hurry.

Abhishek is a Career Counselor and he has got some great Career Planning Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 71 Pages Ebook, "Career Planning Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Career-Guru.com/769/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Career Exploration - Career Change Done Right!

Career exploration-career change done right - so let's get started.

You're ready to take the next step in making a career change. Now you have to find the right career for you.

You've looked carefully at you talents and skills. You've listed all of your interests including what you do not want to do as a career. Now you need to find and gather up all the information the careers in which you have an interest.

Critical career information that you need to uncover in your career research includes: job descriptions, experience requirements, educational needs, current salaries, special training requirements and trends with industries and where you might be employed.

More career information is better than having gaps in your research. The information on the proposed careers can at times be overwhelming. You'll be able to make sense of it all by taking it one piece at a time. Keep notes and write out possible questions or additional areas of research.

Search the internet and find a national or better yet a local association based on the proposed career. They should be able to answer your questions concerning the career; also, their website will contain additional career information. Normally these associations have regional and national meetings. It may be productive to attend these meeting and get additional questions answers and to network with those working in your targeted career.

The association will have members in your area. Also, search Linkedin for those working in the career. Make contact with a dozen or so professionals working in the career. Contact them and ask if they would be available for a short, fifteen minutes or so, informational interview. Do some research on how to get the most out of your contact. Write out your questions.

In the informational interview you are not looking for a job but rather you are looking for career information. Ask for referrals on the names of others that may provide you with additional information. It's polite to send a thank you note. Keep your network informed on your progress.

Be aware that career information is rapidly changing. Industries that were important a few years age are morphing into other activities. Are the careers are keeping pace with the exciting changes?

Additional sources of information in your proposed careers can be found on the internet. Articles, videos, and other information are on a variety of web sites. Look at the job announcements in you proposed career. Web sites of employers who employ individuals in the career could be another source of valuable information.

Job and career internet forums are another great source of career information. You can ask questions and review the career related answers. All will give you current career based information. Moreover, industry trends and projects are discussed in these forums.

You may find that a career at your first look or recommendations from others you thought would be a good fit but you now decide to go in a different direction. Thank yourself in finding this out now rather that a year or two into an unsatisfactory career change. Keep looking, keep gathering information, do your due diligence and you will find the right fit.

Stay flexible; to qualify for the right career might require several interim jobs. Your research will outline the path for you.

Overall career knowledge is power. It will point you in the direction of your dream career, give you information to qualify for the wanted position and make the career change on your terms rather than something you cannot control. Happy hunting and exploring.

Career study, research and career planning can pay big dividends. Learn how to get started at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how to get started on your journey to find the right career through effective career-exploration.

Will The New Job Or New Career Choice I Like Be The Right Career For Me?

As a psychologist and career counselor, I have worked with thousands of people over the years who are choosing or changing careers, and who are wondering whether they would really like to be in a particular career. Based on this experience, I believe that most people who want to go into a career they think they'd like do not really explore the questions they need to in order to be sure that it's the right career for them.

Here is a list of 20 questions to find answers to before concluding that a career you think you'd like is really right for you, followed by 9 sources of information for answering these questions:

Questions:

1. In general, why do you think you'd "like" this career?

2. Why is going into this career important to you? What values, needs, and goals does it satisfy?

3. What do you actually know about this career?

4. Do you have any direct experience in this career? Have you had any jobs or volunteer experiences?

5. Have you talked to people who are in this career?

6. Have you done any reading on the career?

7. What are the opportunities? What kinds of money can you make in this field, and where are the openings?

8. What would your typical day be like in this career?

9. What are the drawbacks, disadvantages, and roadblocks of this career?

10. Do your interests match the interests of others in this career?

11. Do you have the aptitudes, skills, and abilities to be successful in this career?

12. Do you have the education or training to get into this career?

13. Do you have the personality characteristics that will make you successful in the new career?

14. Do you have the motivation and energy to follow through and do what you would need to do to get into the new career?

15. What are your "transferable" skills? That is, what skills or knowledge do you now have that you can use in the new career?

16. What skills or knowledge do you have that would not only be transferable, but that would also be a unique advantage in the new career?

17. What will it take to get into the new career? What kind of additional training, education, or experience would you need?

18. Have you developed a specific plan, including timetables and specific goals to be accomplished?

19. Do you have a network of support from family, friends, co-workers, or significant others?

20. Having answered all of the above questions, do you still "like" the career and think it's a good idea to get into it, and why?

I think you'll find that there are many resources you can use to help you answer the above questions. Among them:

1. Reading. This would include not only the hundreds of books and pamphlets on careers and career choice, but also publications describing careers (such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor and available on the Internet).

2. Practical experience. Not only is it possible to get a full-time or part-time job, but one can also volunteer at an organization or a company a couple of hours a week, just to get exposure to the area. Usually, any organization is glad to have this kind of help (unless they think you're an investigative reporter from some newspaper or TV program).

3. Job search counseling. Anyone changing career directions needs a highly competitive job search strategy. This should include resume, cover letter, and job interviewing strategies that are specific to your situation. This may also include advice on researching the job market.

4. A thorough self-assessment. This is not an assessment BY yourself, but an assessment OF yourself. A good career counselor can provide this kind of assessment, which would include counseling and testing.

5. Career tests. In general, tests divide into three categories: 1) aptitude, ability, and skills tests, 2) career interest tests, and 3) personality and motivational tests that focus on characteristics related to the career world.

6. Career coaching. Guided discussions with an expert can help you to clarify your goals, strategies, and commitment.

7. Education and training. Before you launch full-time into a degree program, it is possible to take one course, or a seminar, or a workshop, or a brief certificate program in the new career.

8. Networking. There are many job clubs and career resource centers available to explore new careers. Schools, career counselors, and other professionals can usually give you information on these resources.

9. Informational interviewing. It's usually not a good idea to go into a career if you haven't talked to at least a few people who are already in it and can give you the lowdown. You can also talk to people in academic and training programs.

Armed with all of this information and all of these insights, you should now be in a better position to judge whether taking the next step in this new career area makes sense for you.

Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer in Chicago. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. He can be contacted at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358.www.center.iit.edu

7 Criteria for Deciding Which Career Test Is Right for You

"I used to feel depressed at work, hate my boss, and was sometimes so bored that I actually fell asleep at my desk!" --- career test taker

If this sounds like you, then it's probably time to consider changing jobs or careers. But before you can make your career change, you need to figure out what you want to do.

One of the best ways to get clear is to complete a career assessment. Yet there are literally hundreds of career tests out there. Is a career test the same as an aptitude test? What about a career personality test? This article clarifies the differences and presents 7 criteria for deciding which career test is best for you.

#1 Career test vs. personality test

Is the assessment specifically designed to provide career guidance?

Personality tests only tell you about your character traits whereas a career assessment gives specific career advice. Of course, it helps to know whether you're an extrovert or an introvert and perceive by sensing or intuition. Personality tests such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Enneagram are quite useful as background information. Making the leap from simple awareness of your personality type to specific career strategies is very difficult, however. If you want a new job or career, it's better to take an assessment that is specifically geared to providing career guidance.

#2 Specific vs. general

Does the career assessment give concrete recommendations that you can use immediately rather than vague observations that are open to interpretation and not actionable? Aside from the change itself, the hardest part of changing careers is narrowing down your choices. But if you don't get specific, you won't be able to take action. A good assessment should not be general like the astrological horoscopes in the newspaper.

#3 Motivation rules: why motivation is a better indicator than aptitude or personality

Does the career assessment measure motivation?

Motivation is a far better career indicator than skill or personality because what you like to do is what you WILL do and what you will get very good at (if you aren't already). Why force a square peg into a round hole?

When you base your decisions on what motivates you, you'll probably feel much more fulfilled, and be much more successful, too.

#4 Where's the beef?

Even if you're a vegetarian, you'll want "meaty" results! A good career assessment should include hard data, as well as sufficient detail and explanation to help you interpret the results.

#5 Do you believe it?

Is the career assessment scientifically valid? An effective career assessment should have a high predictive reliability. Such things can be measured statistically. Anything over 95% is quite good.

Statistical validity is important for a number of reasons. Obviously, you want to feel that the assessment provides an accurate picture of what motivates you and you don't want to be misled by grossly inaccurate results. But another point is that when the results are believable this provides a boost to your self-confidence. In my case, I was relieved and encouraged to see from my results that I had chosen the correct career path. It was a kind of confirmation or validation: "Whew! What a relief!"

Remember that ultimately it's up to you to decide whether a set of results makes sense or not. However, it helps to use a highly reliable assessment.

#6 Can you get from A to Z?

Are additional tools available to help you take your results and develop a clear career roadmap for yourself?

Honestly, a lot of people take career tests and get brilliant insights. Unfortunately, many of these same people are never able to turn their insights into results. What's needed is a support infrastructure of materials and people to help you apply your results over time.

#7 Is it fast?

Even in the internet age, there still are a lot of tests that you can only take on paper. It takes 30 minutes or even over an hour to take the test. Then you have to wait while the test is scored and processed. You may only get your results after several days or weeks.

Personally I prefer career tests that I can take online and that give me my results immediately.

Conclusion

A career test is just a tool and just one step on your career change journey. Nonetheless, it's worth spending some time to understand what types of tests are available and which is best for you. Just remember that even the best career test is only a tool. It's up to you to take charge of your own career.

Paul Arinaga is a career coach and owner of [http://www.fast-career-test.com] Visit [http://www.fast-career-test.com/sample.htm] for a free sample report for the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) or a pdf version of this article.

How to Decide Which Career is Right For You

Whether you're a college freshman about to leave home for the first time or an experienced worker who just got laid off, deciding which career is right for you can be a daunting task. With so many to choose from, how do you know which career will be a good fit, which will bring you the most personal fulfillment, and which will allow you to pay the bills?

When you're choosing a career, it helps to think about a variety of factors, not just how much money you'll take home at the end of the day. Check out these top five 5 career decision-making factors:

Career Decision Factor #1:

What do you like to do?

This is probably the most important factor to consider, because if you don't like what you do, you could very possibly end up hating your job and quitting within a few years to do something else.

If you're feeling stumped about which job is right for you, consider your personal interests, passions, and hobbies and how you can turn one of them into a career. Do you love animals and science? A veterinary technician career might be perfect for you. Are you more of a people person with an eye for fashion? A career as a fashion buyer, fashion merchandiser, or sales rep might be the way to go. Make a list of your favorite things and use our career profiles page to find careers related to that interest.

Picking a career that plays to your natural talents and interests is key to long-term success. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. said, "Find a job you like and you add five days to every week."

Career Decision Factor #2:

What industry is right for you?

Picking the right industry can be just as important as picking the right job. Different industries grow at different rates, and can therefore offer different opportunities for growth and advancement. Finding an industry that fits with your career needs can ensure your happiness at work, as well job security for the future.

Healthcare, for example, is an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds, and it's not just for nurses and doctors. Growing healthcare facilities are in need of communications specialists, computer technology experts, and human resources professionals, making it a good industry for a wide variety of career professionals.

Career Decision Factor #3:

What degree is right for you?

As you consider different career choices, you may also want to consider the educational and certification requirements that accompany different jobs. Think about how long you want to be in school, what you'd like to study, and how much you're willing to spend on your education. These factors can be a good guide in helping you find the right career.

Consider a career in medicine, for example. Maybe you've always dreamed of being a surgeon, but spending thousands of dollars (literally) and 11 (or more) years in school doesn't sound right for you. There are many other healthcare careers, from nursing to physician assistant to EMT, that will allow you to save lives without investing that level of time (or money.)

Career Decision Factor #4:

Where do you want to live?

Where you live can also affect your career. If you want to be a financial trader, for example, you're most likely going to need to live in a large city close to the markets. But if you want to be a social worker, you may actually have better luck finding employment in a more rural area.

Before you choose a career, think about where you want to live. Are you a city person or a country person? Do you want to live somewhere warm, or do you want to be close to your family? Once you have a good idea of where you want to live, do some research and find out which careers and industries offer opportunities in that state or region.

Career Decision Factor #5:

What kind of lifestyle do you want?

Different careers come with different levels of commitment and expectations. Doctors and lawyers, for example, may take home some serious paychecks, but they're also expected to work long, irregular hours and devote a majority of their lives to developing their practices.

Teachers, on the other hand, also have a lot on their plates, but are able to enjoy nights, weekends, holidays, and summers with friends and families.

Before you choose a career: think long and hard about what is most important to you. Do you care so much about your career that you're willing to sacrifice personal and family time for work? Would you prefer to have a less demanding career that allows you to travel, be at home with your children, and pursue other interests?

By finding the balance between work and personal life that's right for you, you'll be sure to start a career that keeps you fulfilled both in and out of the workplace.

Noel Rozny writes the bi-weekly career blog mypathfinder for the myFootpath website. myFootpath is a resource to help you in your search for a college, degree program, career, graduate school, and non-traditional experiences. Visit www.myfootpath.com to start your college or degree program search.