The sheer scale and variety of career paths can make choosing the right job for you quite daunting, which is why it pays to use this step by step guide to help you decide what options are the right ones for you.

Carefully consider each of the points in the guide and record your conclusions. There are no right or wrong conclusions, as long as you are honest about what you want:

1. Consider the options of temporary, contract or permanent work on a full or part time basis. You may want the security and benefits that come from working for an organisation, or you may find the flexibility of freelance work more attractive.
2. Think about your key personal skills and match them to the attributes needed for a variety of positions. Ask yourself what you can realistically see yourself doing - and whether you have previously applied for jobs that fully reflect your talents.
3. Decide what sort of location you would like to work in. How far are you prepared to commute for a job? Would you be prepared to relocate for the right job - and if so, where to?
4. Think about the size, culture and scope of the ideal organisation that you would like to work for. Consider such issues as regional vs. global, profit-making vs. charitable. Each sort of organisation presents different opportunities and benefits.

Set realistic salary parameters for the sort of work you wish to do. Our salary guides can help you with this. Start searching for those jobs and applying!