25 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Career

1. What activities come naturally to me? 2. What skills can I already demonstrate? 3. What skills am I willing to develop? 4. What subjects or problems consistently interest me? 5. What values matter most to me? 6. What working conditions help me perform well?

7. What does this career actually involve every day? 8. What problems do practitioners solve? 9. Who do they work with? 10. What tools or technologies do they use? 11. What parts of the work are difficult? 12. What parts might I dislike?

13. What qualifications are normally required? 14. Which skills are essential? 15. How long could it take me to become employable? 16. What would training cost?

17. Where are these jobs available? 18. What industries hire for this work? 19. What does progression look like? 20. What alternatives exist if the first role is unavailable?

21. Does this work fit important values? 22. Does it use capabilities I want to develop? 23. Am I attracted to the actual work or only the image of the career? 24. What evidence do I have that this career suits me? 25. What can I test before making a major commitment?