Updated Content 8/7/2026
If you do not know what you want your career path to be, it’s okay not to know what you want to do, especially just after graduating from high school. It is a decision that can take a lot of time.
Keep reading this blog to discover East Ohio College’s (EOC) three tips for choosing the career path that could help you make your decision.
Determine Your Skills
Before choosing a career, you must first identify the skills you already have and determine which ones you would enjoy using on a daily basis. Think about the activities you enjoy, the subjects you excel in, and the tasks that come easily to you.
You can make this process easier by taking personality and career assessment tests, which can help identify your strengths, interests, and potential career paths that may be a good fit. These assessments can provide valuable insight into careers you may not have considered and help you narrow down your options as you begin planning for your future.
Personality Tests
A personality test can help you determine what careers possibly suit you. For example, if your results indicate that you are an extrovert, you may enjoy careers that allow you to interact with others regularly, collaborate with a team, or communicate with customers and clients. On the other hand, someone who prefers working independently may find greater satisfaction in a career that allows them to focus on individual projects and tasks.
While personality tests should not be the only factor you consider when choosing a career, they can be a helpful starting point for exploring your options and learning more about what type of work environment may suit you.
Career Tests
Another type of test you can take is a career test. Career tests can help identify which career paths may suit you best. During the assessment, you’ll answer a variety of questions about what you enjoy, the type of work you prefer, your ideal work environment, scheduling preferences, and other factors that may influence your career satisfaction.
Once you complete the test, you’ll receive a list of potential careers ranked according to how well they match your answers. Use these results as a starting point to explore careers you may not have previously considered. Researching the education requirements, job responsibilities, and potential work environments for careers on your list can help you determine which options are worth pursuing.
Research Different Careers
Once you have identified a few career paths that interest you, it’s important to do your own research before making a decision. Learn more about each career’s daily responsibilities, education or training requirements, work environment, salary potential, and job outlook. Taking time to explore your options can help you determine whether a career aligns with your interests, skills, and long-term goals, so you can make a more informed decision about your future.
Explore Online Resources
Even though career and personality tests have many benefits, only you truly know what you want to do. These tests can serve as a great way to eliminate some careers, but they should not be what you base your decision on. Conduct your own research by using trusted resources such as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Speak and Shadow Industry Professionals
We also recommend talking to as many people as possible in the field you’re interested in. You can learn a lot by talking to people who have worked in that field for years. They can answer questions about what their day is like and tell you more about the field than any online article.
When possible, it would help to shadow people who work in your fields of interest. Job shadowing has many benefits, which is why it is becoming increasingly popular in high schools. Job shadowing provides you with valuable work experience in a job that could potentially become what you do.
Plan Your Future
By envisioning what you want your future to look like, you can create a roadmap for achieving your goals and gain a clearer sense of direction. As you develop your plan, consider two important factors:
Your Career Goals
First, decide what you want from your career. Consider possible promotions, what your schedule would look like, and the skills you will need. Getting the right training for a job that lets you work the hours you want matters, and a plan makes it easier.
Your Roadmap
Consider creating three types of plans to help guide your future: short-term, mid-term, and long-term. Short-term plans focus on goals you hope to accomplish within the next year, while mid-term plans look several years ahead. Long-term plans focus on your goals for the next decade or beyond. By breaking your goals into these different timeframes, you can create a clear roadmap that keeps you focused and helps you work toward your ultimate goals.
Work Towards Your Career Goals At EOC!
Start working toward your career goals at East Ohio College today by exploring our Nursing (East Liverpool or Youngstown), Clinical Medical Assistant, Medical Office Administration, Medical Coding, Dental Assisting, Cybersecurity, and Business Administration programs.
Connect with an admissions team member by requesting information today!