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This is not an easy process! But at least you're not alone. Educational research tells us that a vast majority of students who go to college do so to plan for a successful career. But amidst the stress and intricacy of the college application process, career planning is either overlooked or put on the proverbial "back burner."

Those close to you (parents, extended family, teachers, counselors, friends) may have opinions and even expectations about "what you will ….should do with your life and your talents." To further complicate matters, that future job market may be a moving target. Who knows what global politics and economic shifts will do to an already uncertain job scenario by the time you enter and complete your college studies. Finally, you may have a sense of what your interests are, but getting a comprehensive inside look at yourself as a total person may be a confusing or even an overwhelming challenge.

So Where's the Good News Here?
Without offering a panacea (SAT word!), there are effective resources and strategies to help you understand and deal with the career decision-making process. Research studies have proven that certain factors make a difference when it comes to effective career planning. You can help yourself through this process with a few simple steps:

• Take a goode look at yourself with a comprehensive self-assessment to examine your goals, obstacles and values.
• Work with an experienced career counselor who can help you understand what you've discovered about yourself.
• Link your self-assessment results to carefully chosen resources and activities that can help you create an Action Plan.
• Create an Action Plan with specific goals and strategies to achieve them.
• Develop a support system including an experienced career counselor who can help guide you through your process.

You may want to turn to an organization such as ReadyMinds® to get you on your way. ReadyMinds is a professional distance career counseling company that offers students the expertise of experienced career counselors who hold National Counselor Certification. The organization's techniques are based on solid career development research and yield tangible results.

How Does ReadyMinds Work?
ReadyMinds is easy and convenient. To get started, choose the ReadyMinds ReadyOne Program, which is conducted online using state-of-the-art technology that ensures your privacy.

• You will fill out a comprehensive survey questionnaire that asks about your interests (activities you like), skills (activities you perform well), values (beliefs that motivate your behavior), and activities, as well as how you work on goals and any obstacles you face in your career planning.
• Next, you'll complete the Internet-validated Self-Directed Search® (SDS) form, which is the most widely used interest inventory in the world, and receive a comprehensive, written report.
• Your ReadyMinds Counselor will then send you a personalized synthesis of your comprehensive survey questionnaire and SDS results for your review.
• Once you have received your Counselor's synthesis, you will have a period of time during which you can post questions to your personalized, secure ReadyMinds message board. Your ReadyMinds Counselor will answer them in detail with references and resources to help guide you within your specific fields and educational majors.
• At the end of this process (30 minutes of time from your Counselor), you will receive a written summary of your career-planning experience along with recommendations for next steps.

There are no quick tricks or magic wands when it comes to making good career decisions. It does take some hard work and a mind that is "ready" to think and explore. But it feels really good when you begin to get results. You feel empowered, less uncertain. Maybe the biggest bonus is that you begin to learn the career self-management process. It is one you will be engaged in for many years to come as you continue to make your career and educational choices. Remember, it's about your future, your life, your talents, your dreams. Are you ready to develop a "ready mind"?