Ask Vicki: What questions should I ask myself to help me choose a career?

Vicki Salemi

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com.

Q. What questions should I ask myself to help me choose a career?

A. There are several questions you can ask yourself to help you choose a career. As far as the most important questions to ask, well that depends on your priorities.

There are practical questions, such as:

• What is the job security? (Will this career be obsolete years from now, or will it grow and be in demand, like health care and technology?)
• What are the pay ranges and possibilities for this career path?
• What type of education is required?

You also want to consider your own goals:

• Will I enjoy doing this job and jump out of bed every morning to get to work, or will I dread it and be disinterested and/or bored?
• Does this career align with my interests and strengths?
• Is this career rewarding? Will I get something out of it? Will I feel like I’ve helped others?
• Will I continue to learn and grow, or will I be set for life once I master the required skill set?
• Does it require introvert or extrovert skills?
• Does this career path allow me to be with people, or is it more for those who enjoy solitude?

The answers to these questions will teach you as much about yourself as they will about the career path you’re pursing. Answer honestly, and then get started.

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Read Vicki Salemi's answer to "What questions should I ask myself to help me choose a career?" on Quora.