126 Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. you on the fast track to a rewarding career. You can begin the process by following the same method you use to select an SAE, based on your likes, interests, and talents. Likes and Interests Do you know someone who really dislikes his or her job? One good reason to begin your career search by looking at your likes and interests is that no one wants to spend their adult life working in a career they do not enjoy. Make a list of the things you like to do in your spare time and activities you have enjoyed in the past. You may also want to add a list of topics that interest you. You may even want to add a column listing activities and topics you do not enjoy. Talents Knowing and understanding your talents will also be helpful when laying out your career path. To determine what talents you possess, first consider things at which you excel: „ Are you really good at organizing ideas? „ Do you have a natural talent for taking apart mechanical items and finding ways to improve or repair them? „ Have others commented that you are a good communicator? In addition, think about the subjects in school with which you are most comfortable. „ Do you find math something that comes easily to you? „ Is writing a paper in English class not an issue for you? „ Are your teachers constantly praising your ability to conduct scientific investigations? These clues may give you some insight into underlying skills that you have that may fit well with a particular career. If you are not certain where your talents and interests lie, you may want to consider taking an aptitude test. Aptitude tests are personal questionnaires designed to help you determine what types of activities suit you and your talents. Many aptitude tests also include lists of careers that use those skills. Ask your agricultural science teacher for advice on which aptitude test might be a good fit for you. Taking the time to put your interests and talents into a personal career inventory like the one shown in Figure 3-27, much like the SAE inventory, can also be a helpful step in selecting a career. Did You Know? In a recent study of middle school students, the potential career most selected by students was veterinarian. However, when asked to list the job duties of a veterinarian, less than one out of four understood all of the things that veterinarians do on a daily basis. Hasloo Group Production Studio/Shutterstock.com Figure 3-26. Taking the time to figure out what type of career suits you best can lead you to the career that you will enjoy. Do you know what you want to do with your future?