![[Featured Image] Two colleagues dressed in professional attire smile and talk while walking through an office corridor as they discuss how to choose a career.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/65wVU9N81gCIJGaHVbj4Op/10029500c72628de7f2ff3f27d00c8e0/GettyImages-1329721122.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Status: Featured
How to Choose a Career: 7 Ways to Narrow Your Options
Discover an array of tools and questions to help you determine what careers might suit you best.
January 27, 2022
Article
Career Path Planning
A career path can be defined as a series of jobs that lead you closer to your career goals and vision for life. Define your career path, explore your career potential, and begin charting a career path that aligns with your goals with these resources.
![[Featured image] A parent sits at a desk holding a baby while working.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1x98DW1gqbXinUr5MICqGx/c97d60c74cfafbfb225e8e272369cbf8/GettyImages-571492555.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: A woman wearing a blue blouse and glasses, with a pen to chin, thinking about her career path.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4MiY1iOdtn65L8w9ACetRH/7927c9dfd6cc8fd53c572b34780b9b61/GettyImages-1161370536.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A college student uses a laptop to search 'what degree do you need for real estate agent'](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/vxFVCdc4CDBDAiN9doryS/1ceea848636f3b75a4e83f066caec790/GettyImages-521535828.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A dental hygienist, one of the highest-paying part-time jobs, sits with her patient, who is looking in a mirror to admire her newly cleaned teeth.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6kPOAWUNebNegSPYnYAOM9/b4f96790e4f434b9d505bf8c5aa9c3b5/GettyImages-1512073970.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two young professionals who followed computer science career paths work in an office, one sitting at a computer and the other standing over her and looking at the screen.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4XPfZ82kFAuwbFWzWqnLOM/5cfdc936235ad2a5cde21fb6edec0fdc/GettyImages-2114011643.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Explore career possibilities with these popular programs
Status: [object Object]
Skills you'll gain: Network Security, Python Programming, Linux, Cloud Computing, Audit, Computer Programming, Computer Security Incident Management, Cryptography, Databases, Leadership and Management, Network Architecture, Risk Management, SQL
Skills you'll gain: HTML and CSS, Javascript, Front-End Web Development, React (web framework), Web Development, User Experience, Algorithms, Computer Science, Web Design, Application Development, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Web Development Tools, Collaboration, Communication, Data Structures, Human Computer Interaction, Interactive Design, Linux, Problem Solving, Product Design, Software Engineering Tools, Software Testing
Skills you'll gain: Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, IBM Cloud, Deep Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Neural Networks, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Cloud API, Cloud Applications, Computer Programming Tools, Computer Vision, Human Computer Interaction, Human Learning, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Application Development, Software Engineering Tools, User Experience Design, Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning Software, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Customer Analysis, Communication, Programming Principles, Software Architecture, Agile Software Development, Data Analysis, Software Testing, Software-Defined Networking, System Programming, Web Development, Javascript, Data Science
![[Featured Image] A track and field coach, just one of the many available jobs in sports, talks to two runners on the track, pointing to a tablet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3wnqoPua7CcnQgppGrIEf5/1583d05e76f7adea4a84a0b4867e4959/GettyImages-1269935497.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A smiling financial advisor, one of many possible economics jobs, talks to two clients across a desk.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3Luu3FXdXwfQf0azvQwqDr/cf947a48063af3272b9c3075caf046b6/GettyImages-1805675382.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A woman professional exhibits one of the many math careers available, while writing a mathematical equation on a transparent wipe board.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3ZLqjyc8WJySHLASYfZET1/89567ae6b09ee964cb554b3797c86b08/GettyImages-925114826.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Women sits at her desk at home on her laptop. She is smiling while answering HireVue interview questions.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1u9NVtUYmfVQ7G4gqf9SZR/3f056784418ff30b2bc78cbc8cd0f86d/GettyImages-1368382409.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Wearing a hard hat and orange vest, a construction manager, one of the highest paying construction jobs, talks to his colleague on a construction site.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5ytsQlL24TxhgQUYuVhtJk/67f7ba4229fe2c7b18c55c498b2151a6/GettyImages-1736828789.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A young learner sits in a sunny, windowed room and researches the highest-paying entry-level jobs in their chosen field on their laptop.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4AEP3D61gkHKcSlKOaOn7v/a1483aa5d959374d655f926bac8402ba/GettyImages-1438676678.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A man working as an investment banker, one of the highest paying finance jobs, talks to his client across his desk.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4ax6sMRp2zh4yI7W16FgKI/934d8fd9d39c6786d23484d7acf9252c/GettyImages-1305552442.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two wind turbine technicians, one of the highest paying jobs in energy, walk through a wind farm, with the wind turbines behind them, while wearing protective gear.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6pu6ji6DPWQeBGy5SFddGg/912512744ae1457060057a57cbd76f13/GettyImages-2028852195.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A woman clinical social worker, one of the highest paying social work jobs, sits across from her client, smiling and holding a clipboard.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/70GxGFb6MblUH3iK7GMyQA/f07bf4eebccf777d3766184e3302d8c7/GettyImages-603285084.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
A career path can be defined as a series of jobs that lead you closer to your career goals and vision for life. Some people follow a linear path through one field, advancing into roles with more responsibilities and higher salaries. Others shift companies, industries, or roles more frequently, and accumulate experience in a variety of roles.
You might be wondering what you can do to steer your career in the direction you desire. Should you stick to a linear path and seek advancement in a single field, or should you take on diverse roles and explore multiple paths?
Both approaches can lead to fulfillment when you clarify your vision for the future. A linear career path could mean gaining deeper understanding of a field and becoming a leader or specialist, while a multi-directional career path could mean accumulating diverse knowledge and being able to adapt quickly to an ever-changing professional landscape.
We have resources and articles for every step along your unique career path, including:
