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In deciding on a career path, consider your skills and your personality. People have different types of skills, some that are natural and some that they acquire through school, work, and life experiences. Skills you may learn in school include meeting deadlines, working under pressure, problem solving, presenting ideas verbally or in writing, speaking a foreign language, and working as a member of a team. Skills learned on the job may include human-resource management, project administration, and research or design techniques. The abilities to relate to people and to pay attention to detail often come through day-to-day living but may be learned in school or the workplace.

Questions to Ask

To find the career that will match your talents and bring you the most satisfaction, begin by asking yourself the following questions:

Personality Traits

 How do I enjoy spending my days?

 What do I like thinking, learning, and talking about?

 Do I enjoy talking to people or am I the quiet type?

 Do I like asking people questions?

 What kind of people do I enjoy being around?

 Do I like being the center of attention, or do I prefer the background?

 Would I rather live in the city or in the country?

 Do I like to travel, or am I a homebody?

 What are my favorite volunteer activities, hobbies, or sports?

Skills

 Am I analytical or creative?

 Do I have artistic abilities in writing, photography, or art?

 Do I excel in science and mathematics classes?

 Am I good at selling things or persuading people to my way of thinking?

Work Environment

 Would I rather work for a big corporation, a small company, or myself?

 Do I prefer to be part of a team or to work on my own?

 Do I like being busy all the time, or do I need plenty of time to spend with friends and family to be at my best?

 How much money would I like to make?

Animal Specifics

 What animal-related activities do I enjoy?

 Am I good at teaching my pet tricks or behaviors?

 Do I enjoy spending time making sure my pet is clean and beautiful?

Kris Parlett, Procter & Gamble Pet Care External Relations team member, poses with actress Betty White during a media junket to support the Morris Animal Foundation.

Personal traits such as patience, reliability, risk taking, resourcefulness, and innovation can also affect your choice of careers. Sometimes these are learned through life experiences, but often they are innate. For instance, patience often develops naturally with experience, but it can be difficult for a timid or withdrawn person to become a gregarious risk taker. It can happen, but it requires a lot of desire, willpower, and practice. People willing to make that effort can be successful at risk taking, but they often need a lot of down time to recharge their energy. To discover your skills and traits, answer the questions in the box “Questions to Ask” (opposite).