—NUTSHELL:
Wouldn’t it be great if you could order a career like you order an entrée in a restaurant? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. But using self-assessment tools, such as the table provided in this article, can whet your appetite for planning a career.

—SNIPPET:
When you were young, you might have known exactly what you wanted to do when you grew up. Today, you might not be so sure. 

The older you get, the more you discover that choosing a career is a complex, multistep process. It requires learning about yourself and the occupations you are considering so that you can make an informed decision. Assessing your interests, work preferences, and abilities and recognizing your strengths help you to find a suitable career direction—one that could lead to your “dream job.” 

The information and table in this article are tools for matching your personal skills with the characteristics of nearly 300 occupations. Suggested sources for continuing your career research are included at the end of the article.

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