A job title is a succinct encapsulation of what is often a highly complex occupation. Be aware that a job title may mean one thing to you and something completely different to someone else. Make sure you know what the people actually working in those jobs call them. They're more apt to take you seriously and answer your questions if you sound as though you've done your homework

A job title is a starting point. “Forensic scientist” doesn't begin to tell you all of the training and skills people in that job need to have, such as chemistry, biology, physics, statistics, and fingerprint or handwriting analysis, to name a few. Keep foremost in your mind what interests you most and the skills you have or want to acquire. Those are more important than the title of the job. Occupations with similar titles can differ widely by industry, location, and other factors. The word “teacher” might conjure up an image of Mrs. Smith in third grade, but teaching embraces a broad range of experiences, from adult literacy in an urban setting to health care with the Peace Corps in Africa.

Don't let any preconceived notions about certain careers keep you from exploring one further. If you imagine a librarian as a meek, bespectacled “Marian-the-Librarian” type, then it might be time to visit your local university library. Today's librarians work in high-tech, dynamic environments and need to be versatile and resourceful enough to quickly find all kinds of information on an infinite array of subjects and in many different formats. Similar misconceptions abound for every type of occupation. If you circled it in the test, then something about it interests you. It will be worthwhile to find out more.

Also remember that job titles change. In the 1970s, there was no such thing as a “multimedia developer.” When Walt Disney created his animated Mickey Mouse cartoons, an animator drew sketches on pieces of acetate and colored them in with paint. Today, most animators need to know not only how to draw, but also how to use sophisticated computer programs. Armed with concrete knowledge of what interests you, you may even be able to create your own job title and be the first person ever to hold it!