How do I figure out what suits me? (Interests, strengths, values)

Why "what suits me" is more than a favourite school subject

Many people start choosing a career with questions like:

• "What am I good at?"
• "What do I enjoy?"
• "How much should I earn later on?"

That is understandable - but it often leads to stress because you feel like you already need to make a final decision now.

A better goal is different: you are not looking for a final answer, but for a direction. And a direction emerges when three things fit together:

• Interests - What draws me in?
• Strengths - What am I good at - or what do I learn quickly?
• Values - What matters to me so I can feel good in the long term?

Interests: What makes you curious - even without grades?

Interests are not just "hobbies". They are topics, activities and environments that energise you internally.

Mini check: 12 quick interest questions

Mentally tick what is more of a yes:

• Do I like working with people (e.g. explaining, helping, organising)?
• Do I prefer working with things (e.g. building, repairing, designing)?
• Am I interested in data/numbers/logic?
• Am I drawn to languages/communication?
• Do I enjoy creative work (design, music, writing, media)?
• Am I interested in technology (how things work)?
• Do I find nature/the environment/nutrition exciting?
• Do I want to plan/coordinate things?
• Do I like being outdoors?
• Do I prefer variety over routine?
• Am I interested in business/trade/marketing?
• Do I find health/medicine/care exciting?

Strengths: What are you good at - and what kind of strength is it?

"Strength" does not only mean "I am the best at maths". There are different types:

• A) Subject strengths - calculating, writing, languages, technical understanding, etc.
• B) Method strengths - working in a structured way, learning quickly, solving problems, being organised
• C) Social strengths - listening, explaining, teamwork, resolving conflicts, being empathetic
• D) Personal strengths - perseverance, courage, reliability, creativity, calmness, flexibility

Exercise: 3 perspectives on your strengths

Write down 3 points for each perspective:

• Myself: "This comes easily to me..."
• Others: "People say about me that I..."
• Evidence: "An example was when I..."

If you cannot find an example for a strength, it may be more of a wish than a real strength - or you simply have not noticed it consciously yet.

Values: What needs to be true for you to feel good in the long term?

Values are your inner compass. Two people can do the same job - and one is happy while the other is not.

Typical values (examples)

• Security: clear structures, predictable working hours
• Freedom: making your own decisions, working flexibly
• Purpose: contributing something, helping, seeing impact
• Achievement/success: reaching goals, taking responsibility
• Team: working together, strong cohesion
• Variety: many different tasks
• Creativity: designing, developing new ideas
• Status/prestige: recognition, "visible" success

Exercise: Your top 5 values

• Choose 10 values from the list (or your own ideas) that matter to you.
• Reduce them to 5.
• Rank them: 1 = most important.

Question to ask: "How do I notice that this value is being met?" Example: If "freedom" is important, this could mean: I want to plan my tasks myself and not be monitored every minute.

The "match": How to combine interests, strengths and values

Now comes the most important part: your personal search profile is created from these three areas.

Step 1: Your 3-3-3 list

Write down:

• 3 interests (e.g. "working with people", "creative work", "technology")
• 3 strengths (e.g. "explaining", "working accurately", "sticking with things")
• 3 values (e.g. "purpose", "variety", "team")

Step 2: Translate into work fields instead of job titles

Instead of "I want to become X", ask: In which work fields are there tasks that fit my profile?

• Education & training
• Health & social care
• Crafts & technology
• IT & data
• Media & communication
• Business & administration
• Environment & nature
• Design & creative work

Step 3: Describe your profile in one sentence

For example:

• "I want to work with people, explain things, and be in an environment where teamwork and purpose matter."
• "I like technology, I enjoy working accurately, and I need variety - preferably practical rather than only desk-based work."

This sentence is gold - because it gives you orientation in every piece of research, every internship and every conversation.

Test instead of overthinking: Practical ways to find out whether it really fits

Clarity rarely comes from thinking alone. It comes from trying things out.

5 options that are realistic and quick to implement

• Short internship / trial day (even 1 day can help)
• Job shadowing: accompany someone for a few hours
• Interviews: ask 3 people about their job
• Choose school projects deliberately (try out roles)
• Reflection after each experience: What was good? What was frustrating?

Reflection questions (after internship/project)

• Which tasks gave me energy?
• Which tasks drained my energy?
• What did I learn - and would I like to deepen that?
• How were the team, pace, atmosphere and rules?
• Would I do this again - yes/no/under certain conditions?

If you are "interested in everything" (or in nothing)

That is normal.

Case A: "I am interested in too many things"

Then you need filters: Which 2-3 interests are the most consistent? Which values are non-negotiable? Which work environments do you want to exclude?

Case B: "I do not know what interests me at all"

Then start smaller: What do you not like at all? What do you find okay? What makes you curious when others talk about it? Interests often only develop once you experience something.

Mini plan for the next 14 days

If you want to start right away:

• Day 1-2: Create your 3-3-3 list (interests/strengths/values)
• Day 3-5: Research 5 career fields that fit
• Day 6-10: Find 2 people and interview them for 20 minutes
• Day 11-14: Organise one practical experience (trial day, project role, visit)

At the end, write: "These are the 2-3 directions I want to test next."

Conclusion

If you want to find out what suits you, you do not need a sudden insight. You need a clear picture of your interests (what draws you in), your strengths (what you can do or learn quickly) and your values (what matters to you). And then: test, reflect, refine.

You can find more real insights from the world of work in our ClassChats - live with companies and experts.