Q. I’m thinking about switching careers, and have a couple of options in mind. Is there a way to get help in identifying and prioritizing these preferences—and choose a career that’s really right for me? —Lois F.

A. There are several good ways to learn more about your job preferences. Most college placement offices have tests that can help you evaluate your preferences. They usually charge for the service—about $25 to $75, and they’re usually available to anyone. Just call any college placement office and ask. Professional career consulting firms can also help, but at higher costs. Another source is the Internet; search sites such as “Personal Career,” “Life Coach,” “Career Coaches.” Schools and counseling firms provide sample lists of questions that can give you an idea of what’s involved.

Several firms have Internet sites that give you a summary of their programs before you order, with costs ranging from $20 to $300. Some sites you can consider: brilliantwork.com; CareerMaze.com; focuscareer.com; findyourcoach.com. I found CareerMaze especially helpful. Designed for individuals and schools, it costs $19.95 and is based on the Omnia Profile, used by more than 10,000 companies. Once you provide the answers to their relatively short questionnaire, you receive a 10- to 12-page behavioral snapshot of yourself, seen through your own eyes. You learn your individual pattern of behavior and the qualities you may look for in a job. And you get a range of specific career options compatible with your behavioral pattern. Some highlights from this source:

What’s Your Natural Pattern of Behavior?

You can look at your behavioral pattern as a series of “traits” that define:

• The way you set and approach your goals.

• How you interact with the world around you.

• Your natural pace.

• How you act when you’re given responsibility.

There’s a simple graph at the beginning of each section, representing two particular traits, such as cautious vs. risk-taking. A darkened bar inside the graph shows the level that a trait is present in you, and a visual reference of your strongest traits. Here’s an example:

How you set and approach your goals:

“You are significantly more risk-taking than cautious. You are also competitive, ambitious, proactive, confident, assertive.”

Then you’re invited to expand upon these ideas, and see how they relate to each other:

If you’re a competitive person:

“You have a strong need to measure your individual performance against that of other people doing the same task. You tend to pursue individual goals rather than team goals. You strive to be the best, the fastest, or the most successful. You are willing to put yourself in situations where other people are putting all their efforts into winning.”

If you have an ambitious nature:

“You tend to set and pursue very challenging or demanding goals. You are willing to accept a high level of risk if the potential rewards are sufficiently appealing. You like to be compensated for your individual efforts. You are not content to remain stationary in your work life: you have a very strong need to advance or grow.”

If you display highly proactive behavior:

“You can show initiative regardless of the nature of the situation in which you may find yourself. You have a strong need to make things happen. You’re more inclined to lead than to follow the forward-moving activities of other people. You’re inclined to seek out new opportunities and take charge of situations in order to experience success.”

Career-relevant conclusions

“It’s likely that you’re not only capable of accepting some form of risk on the job, but also that you must do so in order to stay motivated. Based on your risk-taking nature, you are likely to seek:

• The opportunity to direct other people and control the projects you work on.

• Demanding challenges that could expose you to pressure and/or conflict.

• Opportunities to negotiate with similarly assertive people.

• A competitive work environment.

• Specific ways to measure your productivity clearly.

• Individual recognition, rather than team recognition.

• High earning-potential, commission-based pay rather than a modest but secure salary.”

Compatible Jobs

Here are only a few of more than 50 jobs listed as compatible with these personality traits:

Financial Management:

Financial consultant, purchasing manager, stockbroker.

Sales

Outside commissioned sales, web/internet business developer.

Management

Commercial sales manager, engineering manager.

Industrial/Trade Technician

Construction supervisor, contractor, project manager.

Creative/Media

Animator, architect, art director, investigative reporter, managing editor.

Social Services

At-risk youth counselor, case manager, program director, trial attorney.

Operations/Supply

Operations manager, parts manager, production supervisor.

Scientific

Lab manager, process designer, project engineer, research director

Marketing/Public relations

Campaign manager, copywriter, creative director.

Finding the job that’s right for you is important. When you’re happy in your job, everything else seems secondary.