Career decision making is a key part of setting yourself up for success in the market as a targeted and informed candidate. That is why it is important to be intentional and take the time to navigate through each phase of the process and come to a clear idea of the direction you want to take your career. Whether you are choosing a major, shifting industries, or evaluating your next executive move, our career decision making resources will help you explore your options, craft a strategy, and make smart, informed decisions.
Phase 1: Assess yourself – Reflect and set priorities
The first step in making strong career decisions is understanding you. This phase focuses on self-reflection to uncover your strengths, interests, values, and goals. You will identify what matters most—whether it is purpose, compensation, lifestyle, growth, or impact—and begin to set clear priorities. By building self-awareness now, you will be better equipped to evaluate options and pursue opportunities that align with your personal and professional aspirations. Click below to work through each section of this phase.
- Reflection: Understand your starting point
- Priority setting: Define what matters most
- Reflection: Understand your starting point
Before you decide where you are going, it is important to understand where you have been. Reflection helps you take stock of your journey so far—your experiences, challenges, accomplishments, and growth. Ask yourself: What do I bring to the table? By thinking critically about your academic, professional, and personal experiences, you will uncover the skills, strengths, and values that shape who you are today. This self-awareness forms the foundation for making career choices that feel authentic and aligned.
Kick off your reflection process with guided tools designed to help you explore who you are and what you want. The me3 Assessment
uses interactive, visual prompts to match your interests with potential career paths, while the Career Blueprint helps you map out your values, skills, and priorities. Together, these resources offer a clearer picture of your strengths and goals—providing a strong foundation for confident career decision-making. -
- Priority setting: Define what matters most
Once you have reflected on your past experiences, the next step is to clarify what you need moving forward. Ask yourself: Where do I thrive? What do I need to feel fulfilled and successful? Priority setting means identifying the skills you want to use, the values you want to honor, and the conditions where you do your best work, again utilizing the Career Blueprint as a resource. Whether it is growth opportunities, work-life balance, mission-driven work, or financial stability, outlining these key factors helps you focus your job search on roles that truly align with your goals and well-being.
- Priority setting: Define what matters most
Phase 2: Understand the market – Explore, refine your direction, and research
With a clearer understanding of yourself, it is time to turn outward. In this phase, you will explore potential career paths, industries, and roles to see how they align with your goals and priorities. Through market research, networking, and real-world insights, you will begin to define a prototype goal—a focused direction to guide your next steps. Whether you are gathering information on job trends, learning from professionals in the field, or comparing industries, this phase helps you test your ideas and make informed, strategic decisions. Click below to work through each section of this phase.
- Exploration: Discover what’s out there
- Refine your direction: Focus your exploration
- Market research: Get the real picture
- Exploration: Discover what’s out there
Exploration is about understanding the wide range of career options available to you. This includes foundational research into core business functions — like marketing, finance, supply chain, and human resources — and key industries such as tech, healthcare, consulting, and consumer goods by reviewing career maps.
By learning how roles and sectors operate, what they value, and the types of problems they solve, you will gain clarity on where your interests and strengths might fit. This knowledge equips you to make smarter, more informed choices as you shape your career direction.
- Refine your direction: Focus your exploration
As you learn more about the market, it is time to start narrowing your focus. Ask yourself: Where do I think I want to go? Where do I still need to explore more?
At this stage, identify 2–3 potential career paths—specific roles or functions that align with your interests, skills, and goals. These “prototype goals” are not set in stone, but they give you a direction to test through continued research, networking, and experience. Refining your focus helps you use your time and energy more effectively as you prepare for what’s next.
- Market research: Get the real picture
Now that you have identified a few career paths to explore, it is time to dig deeper. Market research helps you move beyond surface-level assumptions to understand what a role or industry is really like. Using your prototyped goals as a starting point, gather detailed insights into job functions, company cultures, industry trends, required skills, and hiring practices.
This research through reading, on-demand informational interviews, employer-designed virtual job simulations designed to help you build practical skills and gain experience, and data tools like Job Market Insights (EMSI) will help you evaluate fit, refine your goals, and prepare to enter the market with confidence and credibility.
If you are a specialized master’s student, MBA student, or alumni, check out Careernomics,MBA Exchange, and W. P. Carey Alumni advice for additional resources.
Phase 3: Make your decision – Align and move forward with clarity
With a strong understanding of yourself and the market, you are now ready to make informed career decisions. In this phase, you will bring everything together—your priorities, research, and reflections—to establish a clear direction that aligns with your values, goals, and strengths. Whether you are choosing between job offers, committing to a specific path, or setting a short-term goal to build experience, this phase is about confidently moving forward with purpose and a plan. Click below to work through each section of this phase.
- Alignment: Connect your priorities with the market
- Direction established: Define your career objective
- Alignment: Connect your priorities with the market
Now is the time to evaluate how well your personal priorities align with what the market offers. Do your interests, values, and strengths overlap with the realities of the roles and industries you explored? Is there anything you need to reconsider?
By comparing your self-assessment with what you have learned through market research, you can determine the degree of fit, and whether your direction feels both exciting and sustainable. This reflection helps ensure your next step supports both who you are and where you want to go.
This is a great time to visit Handshake to build your online profile, connect with employers, search for jobs, discover career events, and schedule appointments with your W. P. Carey career coach.
- Direction established: Define your career objective
After reflecting on your goals and researching the market, it’s time to articulate a clear career direction. Ask yourself: Do I know what I want to pursue?
This step involves forming a concise career objective—a statement that outlines the role, function, or industry you’re targeting. It does not have to be permanent, but it should reflect your current goals and guide your next steps, from networking to job applications. A defined direction brings clarity, focus, and confidence to your career journey.
Phase 4: Offer assessment – Evaluate, negotiate, and decide with confidence
The final phase of the career decision-making process is all about making informed, confident choices when opportunities are in front of you. In this stage, you will evaluate job or internship offers based on your personal priorities, career goals, and total compensation. You will also explore strategies for professional, effective salary negotiation. Whether you are choosing between multiple offers or considering how to ask for more, this phase helps you take control of the decision and advocate for your value. Click below to work through each section of this phase.
- Evaluate: Make an informed choice
- Negotiation: Advocate for your value
- Decide with confidence: Choose what is right for you
- Evaluate: Make an informed choice
Receiving an offer is exciting, but making the right decision takes thoughtful evaluation. Consider more than just the salary; look at the role, team, company culture, growth opportunities, location, and alignment with your long-term goals.
Compare offers against your priorities and values to determine which option is the best fit for you. Clear-headed assessment now leads to greater satisfaction and success later. Check out this Offer Assessment Advice from W. P. Carey Alumni for more insight.
- Negotiate: Advocate for your value
Negotiation is a natural—and expected—part of the offer process. Once you have assessed the offer, consider where there may be room to ask for more; possibilities could include salary, benefits, start date, or professional development opportunities.
Approach the conversation professionally and with confidence, using market data from sources such as Job Market Insights (EMSI), Glassdoor.com, Salary.com, and Payscale.com, and your strengths to support your request.
Negotiating shows that you know your worth and are ready to take ownership of your career. Check out this additional salary negotiation resource from MoneyGeek to learn more.
- Decide with confidence: Choose what is right for you
After evaluating your offer and considering negotiation, it is time to make your decision. Trust the work you have done—reflecting on your values, researching the market, and clarifying your goals.
The right choice aligns with your priorities and sets you up for growth, fulfillment, and success. There is no perfect path, but by making an informed and intentional decision, you can move forward with confidence and clarity.
