Choosing a career is an important task, but it may also be a difficult one. It may not be easy to decide what type of job will be the best fit, and since career counseling helps people assess their skills, needs, and desires in order to find a career that works for them, this type of counseling is considered to be an important step to take before deciding on a permanent career. Researching a wide variety of potential careers may be overwhelming, and information on the skill sets and education needed for a particular position may be contradictory or difficult to find. A career counselor will often be able to provide valuable information in these areas and others.

Some of the following questions may be helpful for narrowing one's focus when considering a career change:

What do I enjoy doing?
What kinds of activities are fun and fulfilling for me?
What am I good at?
What is my skill set?
What qualifications do I have, such as a degree or experience?
How much money do I need to make to feel satisfied?
What jobs are available in the place(s) I’d like to live?
Do I want to travel?
What are my values?