It’s a question that appears simple on the surface but can keep you awake at night: Which career is right for me? Whether you’re a student just after your board exams, a young adult navigating the post-college haze, or even mid-career and craving a switch—this question can stir up insecurity, stress, self-doubt, and confusion.
If you’ve ever felt that everyone else seems to “know what they’re doing” while you’re still figuring it out, you’re not alone. Career decisions today are about more than choosing a job—they often tie into one’s identity, values, mental health, and sense of direction.
Choosing a career isn’t about getting it perfect the first time. It’s about discovering what fits you best right now, and knowing that it’s okay for that to evolve.
So let’s explore how expert career counselling helps you better understand yourself—not in vague terms, but in specific, research-informed ways. Because the better you know yourself, the clearer your next steps become.
1. Your Personality
One part of understanding your career fit is recognising how you naturally think, relate to others, and handle challenges. These inner patterns often influence the kind of work environments you’ll thrive in—and the ones that might leave you feeling drained.
To explore this, career counselling often uses the 16pf Personality Assessment. This test goes far beyond simple labels like “introvert” or “extrovert.” It looks into how you make decisions, manage stress, interact with others, and what keeps you motivated.
This kind of insight helps answer questions like:
- Do I thrive in structured environments or flexible ones?
- Do I prefer collaborative work or more independent roles?
- Am I better at routine tasks or open-ended challenges?
Recognising these tendencies can make a huge difference in choosing a career that energises you, rather than one that leaves you second-guessing yourself.
2. Your Natural Talents
You might not have your dream job in mind yet—but chances are, there are things you naturally do well. These aren’t just school subjects or hobbies; they’re built-in strengths that come more easily to you than others.
To identify these strengths, career counselling may use the DBDA Ability Test. This assessment helps highlight skills like verbal reasoning, abstract thinking, number sense, and spatial awareness. It’s like discovering your personal toolkit—skills you already carry, even if you haven’t noticed them.
This doesn’t mean you’re boxed into a career just because you’re “good at maths” or “not artistic.” But it gives you a clearer idea of where your strengths lie, so you can choose paths where the work feels more natural—not like a constant uphill climb.
3. Your Interests
Interests often get brushed aside when making career decisions—mostly because they’re seen as too “soft.” In other words, they’re emotional, personal, and not as easy to measure as grades or skills. But in reality, they play a huge role in long-term motivation.
That’s why many career counselling models include the SSDS Interest Inventory. This tool helps map your natural curiosities—what you’re drawn to, what topics hold your attention, and what kind of tasks feel energising rather than exhausting.
It’s not just about passion—it’s about energy. If a task feels like a chore every day, even if you’re good at it, it’s probably not your best fit in the long run.
4. Your Current Self (And the Fact That It’s Okay to Evolve)
Career counselling helps you understand your current self holistically—how you think, what you care about, what you’re capable of—and make decisions that align with who you are right now.
And just as importantly, it reminds you that it’s okay to change.
The aforementioned assessments and conversations aren’t permanent verdicts. They’re tools for clarity, especially when you’re feeling lost, unsure, or insecure. You might evolve, shift directions, or even rediscover old interests. That’s normal.
What matters is that your decisions are based on self-awareness—not confusion or pressure.
Why Support Makes a Difference
So, do these kinds of assessments and conversations actually help? Research says yes—especially when they’re done in a guided, thoughtful way.
One recent study followed people who went through individual career counselling and found that most of them felt clearer, more confident, and more satisfied with their career choices even a year later (Milot-Lapointe & Le Corff, 2024). That means the effects weren’t just short-term—they actually lasted.
Other large research reviews have found that career counselling doesn’t just help people make decisions. It also boosts how confident they feel in their abilities, helps them understand themselves better, and gives them a stronger sense of direction (Whiston et al., 2017). These benefits are even stronger when the counselling includes personalised feedback and structured tools—not just a general chat.
It’s not just about picking the “right” career. Research also shows that good career counselling can improve your overall well-being. When people feel more in control of their decisions and more hopeful about the future, they tend to feel better emotionally too (Robertson, 2013).
In simple terms: when career guidance is done expertly, it helps you feel more sure of yourself—and more ready to move forward.
When Should You Consider Career Guidance?
It’s a common misconception that career counselling is only for students making their first big decision. But the truth is, guidance is valuable anytime you feel unsure, conflicted, or simply need help or perspective.
Whether you’re deciding after 10th, choosing subjects for 12th, exploring careers without mathematics, or even shifting gears mid-career—clarity is worth seeking.
Counselling helps you ask better questions, and build the confidence to answer them on your own terms.
If your career journey has felt confusing, you’re just human. There’s no shame in feeling unsure, or insecure. What matters is how you move through it.
With the right guidance, tools, and self-reflection, you can shift from confusion to clarity—without the panic, without the pressure. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to take a step toward discovering what fits you? We’re here whenever you’re ready.
References
- Milot-Lapointe, F., & Le Corff, Y. (2024). Predicting outcomes of a manualized individual career counseling intervention over a one-year follow-up from trajectories of change in career decision difficulties. Journal of Career Assessment, 32(4), 745–759. https://doi.org/10.1177/10690727241232438
- Robertson, P. J. (2013). The well-being outcomes of career guidance. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 41(3), 254–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2013.773959
- Whiston, S. C., Li, Y., Goodrich Mitts, N., & Wright, L. (2017). Effectiveness of career choice interventions: A meta-analytic replication and extension. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 100, 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.03.010