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What you’ll explore
The six areas of self-discovery.
In this workbook, you'll work through questions and activities to help you understand what you enjoy, what comes naturally to you, and what kind of working life might suit you.
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Not just school subjects or things that sound impressive, but the activities and topics you naturally gravitate toward.
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Including strengths you might overlook because they come easily to you.
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Because being good at something doesn't necessarily mean you want to spend your working life doing it.
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Including your preferred environment, pace, independence, structure, and interaction with others.
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Including income, flexibility, security, meaningful work, and the kind of life you want outside work.
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Such as education, training, finances, location, and other responsibilities.
You'll use what you've discovered to describe the kind of work you're looking for before exploring careers that might suit you.
From understanding yourself to exploring possibilities
You'll explore different career areas, discover occupations you may never have considered, and investigate what those jobs actually involve. You'll also compare potential careers with your interests, strengths, priorities, and practical circumstances.
Because reading about a career isn't the same as experiencing it, you'll look at ways to get closer to the real work. That might mean talking to someone in the profession, trying a small project, taking an introductory course, or finding another way to test your interest.
The goal isn't to make a lifelong commitment; it's to make your next decision with a little more information.
Take a look inside
This is a workbook you'll actually work through, not simply read. Throughout its 78 pages, you'll find guided questions, checklists, reflection activities, career research exercises, and space to record what you're discovering.
You'll also find five additional printable worksheets you can use to investigate more career possibilities or repeat an exercise.
There's no need to complete everything in one sitting. Some questions may be easy to answer, while others might take more thought. You can work at your own pace and revisit activities as you learn more.
Click the pages to enlarge them.
A note for parents
If you're here because someone you care about is struggling to figure out what they want to do, I understand. As a parent, it's difficult to watch your child feel uncertain about their future, especially when you want them to find something they enjoy and build a satisfying life.
It's natural to offer suggestions. You might point out interesting careers, recommend college or university programs, or encourage them to explore opportunities you think would suit them. But what seems like a wonderful opportunity to you may not feel right to them, and they may have trouble explaining why.
Sometimes the most useful thing we can offer isn't another suggestion; it's an opportunity for them to explore their own interests, strengths, preferences, and priorities.
This workbook gives them a structured way to do that. It won't make decisions for them or make someone engage in career exploration if they're not ready. But if they're willing to start asking questions, it can give them a place to begin.
Why I created this workbook
One of the things I've noticed, both in my coaching work and in my own life, is how often we ask people what they want to do for a career before helping them figure out what kind of work might actually suit them.
I've experienced this myself, seen it with my clients, and encountered it as a parent. We ask people to choose a career, decide on a college or university program, or make plans for their future. But how can they make those decisions if they don't know what they're looking for?
That's what led me to create What career is right for me? I wanted to give people a way to explore their options without feeling pressured to come up with an immediate answer.
I don't believe there's one perfect career waiting for each of us to discover. There are many kinds of work we might enjoy, become good at, and build satisfying lives around. The challenge is learning enough about ourselves and our options to make informed choices.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
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No, and that's intentional. There isn't a single career that's right for everyone, and a questionnaire can't make that decision for you. Instead, the workbook helps you understand what you're looking for, explore possibilities, and decide what you'd like to investigate next.
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Not at all. It's also for people who've finished school, are considering further education or training, or simply haven't figured out what kind of career they'd like to pursue. It also works if you’re thinking about changing careers.
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No. You'll start by learning more about yourself. Career exploration comes later.
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Absolutely. It can be a useful resource for someone who's uncertain about their direction. Just remember that it's designed for them to work through themselves. They'll get the most from it when they're interested in exploring their options rather than feeling that it's another assignment someone has given them.
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No. You can work at your own pace, take breaks to investigate ideas, and return to earlier activities whenever you want.
