A career is an occupation or course through life that we choose to follow. Choosing a career is a very serious thing. Many careers require dedication and maybe years of training, and so if you want to change careers halfway through it can cause a lot of trouble and wasted time.

Especially for young people who are deciding what to do with their college qualifications, it is important for a person embarking on a new career to choose the right one. It is very difficult for many people to make this decision. Will you be happy doing that job and the path that it leads to for a large portion of you life? Do you feel that you are suited to the work and capable of doing it well?

Career guidance is usually offered by government-sponsored groups that work closely with colleges and universities to ensure that young people have a good idea of where they want to go with their lives. It can also be found in companies that specialise in it, in workplaces, etc. Most careers advice is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, who wish to change their career or simply are not sure if they are on the right path.

The guidance itself can take many forms. You can get general advice online or on the phone. Most prefer to actually book an appointment with a careers specialist, who can interview a client and then provide them with details of jobs that might suit them. This is a difficult task, as the advisor needs to get a feel for the person and their strengths and weaknesses. The advisor seeks to raise awareness of job paths that may not be obvious and may not be available in the clients local area. They can even offer a taster of a certain career, where the client can sample a job and go and see what it would be like to work in that environment before they choose. Many careers guidance companies provide other services such as co-ordinating with government income support agencies, helping people to write a curriculum vitae, and advice on money management.