Once you are out of school, chances are that you’ll be working for over 40 years until you can even think about retiring. One way to ensure a happy life is to choose a career that fulfills you every day. The kinds of activities that you enjoy today might just lead to you to your life’s work if you go about it correctly. Ask your high school guidance counselor for some ideas on how to get started in choosing a major. In addition, take note of the following steps:

1. How well do you know yourself? Make a list of everything you enjoy in life. You’d be surprised at how many careers can develop for someone who likes to be outside, for example. In addition, go online and search for “Myers-Briggs Type Indicator” and “Strong Interest Inventory” personality assessment quizzes.

2. How well do you know the work place? Take what you’ve learned about yourself and brainstorm all possible career paths that could stem from your interests and strengths. Use a phone book or classified section of a major metropolitan newspaper for idea starters. Once you have a list of jobs, do some research and find out what the earning potential for each job is, the level of education required and what the list of responsibilities are.

3. Narrow down the list to a handful of serious options for you. Make a pro and con list of having such a career. For example, if it seems like being a veterinarian fits all of your criteria ask yourself how you’ll feel taking care of sick animals as well as nurturing healthy ones. Ask friends and family members if they know people who are currently working in one of your top fields and then ask to speak with them. Don’t forget that your guidance counselor can point you in the right direction as well.

4. Keep doing the above steps until you are satisfied that you’ve honed in on one or two subjects to major in. Your next task is to make sure that the colleges you are planning to apply to offer strong programs in that field. One of the best ways to enter the workplace is with a degree from a highly respected school.

While it’s important to do a lot of self reflection while choosing your major, don’t be upset if after a while you realize that you would prefer something different. People evolve and so do their interests. The best thing you can do for yourself along the way is put plenty of thought into your decisions. .

Bill Stevenson is an educational counselor who assists people in selecting a college or university in which to earn an online degree or certificate.