You don’t have to wait until you arrive at college to prepare for your career. Now is the time to figure out your long-term goals because when you become an adult, you will be able to build on the foundation you laid as a teen. One of the best ways to prepare for a career is to take the right courses that will be suitable for college and beyond. For example, if you plan to become a veterinarian, you would take plenty of math electives, animal science class, biology and earth sciences as well as a course in English. Another thing you can do is seek out volunteer opportunities related to your career choice.

Visit the Local Workforce Center

If you just turned 18 and will not attend college, visit the local workforce center. The career counselor will go over your interests and skills to determine which job would be right for you. Have a resume on hand so that the counselor will see your past work history. Use the center’s computers to look for open positions and attend career seminars sponsored by the center. Always dress professional when going to the workforce center.

Consider The Counsel of Loved Ones

Another thing to think about is what your loved ones feel you would do well in. This is not to say that you must choose a career based on their opinions, but sometimes it’s a good idea to think about what they say. Your mother knows that you loved guitar and piano lessons as a kid and she might suggest that you pursue a music career. Or your grandparents notice how you were always into cooking and skilled at it. They would ask you to consider culinary arts.

Don’t Let it Be Just About The Salary

While you want a career that pays well, you will be miserable with this job if it doesn’t match your skills and if it doesn’t mesh with the work-family balance you seek. You may feel that lawyers earn great salaries but if you hate mathematics and do not excel at public speaking, this wouldn’t be the career for you. There are numerous workers without a high salary who provide comfortably for themselves and their families.

Would You Need to Relocate?

Depending on the town you live in, there may not be exponential growth for your career choice there. In this case you need to ask yourself if you are willing to pay the necessary expenses and save extra funds to move to another town. If you decide to relocate, have at least a year’s worth of savings and learn more about the job market in the city you’re moving to.

In conclusion, having a career plan while in high school allows you to get an idea of what to expect in your future career and get assistance from others. Maintain a positive attitude and don’t let today’s tough economy dampen your mood.