Which jobs fit into your interests? Do some research. Network. Talk to your parents, friends, teachers, guidance counselors, people you know in different occupations. Search the Internet for career web sites and job descriptions. Go to your local library, do some reading about careers. Try to get an idea of what's out there!

As you research your career possibilities, take the following items into consideration. But don't let them limit you. They are only suggestions.

Job outlook
What does the future hold for your job interests? What are your chances for getting a job in that field? Will there be plenty of jobs available when you're ready to graduate from college or will those positions be highly competitive? If you're looking to go into a vocational line of work, like farming, get the facts. There's information out there to help you learn more about what you'd like to do.

You can find the answers to these questions at the US Department of Labor, which publishes 10-year projections for US workers in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. You can read it online at US Department of Labor.

Starting salary and job growth
Is how much you make right away important to you? Look into the job's starting salary. Find out about job growth possibilities. The Department of Labor lists, among other topics, "The 10 fastest growing occupations," "The 10 occupations with the largest job growth," and "The 10 industries with the fastest wage and salary employment growth."

Remember: these are projections. Keep them in mind, but money should not be the only thing you look at. It's important that you really like your job. Read about growth projections at Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education and training requirements
In your research, you may discover you need to develop some important job skills, depending on your career choice. You may be able to gain these skills in your high school classes. But, if the skill is very specialized-specific computer programs, for example-you may find classes at community centers or through private companies.

There's no better way to gain experience and knowledge in your interests than on-the-job training. If you're looking to go into medicine, volunteer in the lab of your local hospital. If you want to be a programmer, see if you can find a summer job at a software company. Whatever you choose, you'll be able to interact with professionals who work in your field. You'll have the chance to see what they do on a daily basis.

There are a lot of different occupations out there. And you can read about all of them. You can find out how many years of experience you'll need, what the best locations are for certain jobs, and your projected income. Armed with all of this information, you can find the right career for you.