Do be aware that assessments are available to help guide you toward the best career for you. A qualified career counselor can admire, score, and interpret these assessments. A number of free career assessments also are available on the Internet, though many experts question their reliability.

Do compare online career assessments to see which ones might meet your needs. See our detailed assessment comparison chart.

Do keep your expectations checked when you take free online assessments. You may attain some direction and guidance from these tests.

Don't discount the possibility that these free online assessments might suggest to you some career ideas and directions you had never thought of and that are worth further exploration.

Do take several different assessments to help you learn more about yourself and to help you determine which tests provide the most reliable results for you.

Do print out and retain the results of the assessments you take online. Compare results, and see if you can see patterns -- a “career snapshot” -- beginning to emerge.

Do trust your self. If a free online assessment tells you something about yourself that doesn’t ring true, disregard that information.

Meet with a career counselor. Ask the counselor to help you interpret and integrate the results of various assessments.

Do use career assessments with a variety of other self-discovery activities, such as examining your strengths and weaknesses and the activities you most enjoy and least enjoy.