CareerBuilder has decided to launch a new site to address the needs of many Americans looking for a career change. CareerPath, sites CNN Money is "a comprehensive resource for workers who are interested in trying out a different career. CareerPath.com centers around a free assessment test made up of 36 questions about skills, abilities, personal values and interests that are then correlated to competencies that are necessary for certain fields of work. The test is based on the well known Holland Theory that suggests that people who work in an environment that closely mirrors their personality will be more successful and feel more fulfilled. Visitors to the site can take the test, obtain career advice and find new career opportunities". You can check out the full article here.

Before jumping off the deep end into a new career because you are feeling overly restless in your current one, do a self-assessment to see where you are. In "Finding Happiness at Work" Kate Lorenz, a editor at CareerBuilder suggests completing a simple checklist derived from the work of   Dr. Steven Reiss, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University and author of "Who am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate our Actions and Define our Personalities." Reiss's research suggests that "happiness and life-satisfaction stem not from experiencing pleasure and avoiding pain, but from a sense that our lives have meaning and fulfill a larger purpose." He calls this "value-based happiness."

Reiss then narrowed these down to sixteen "universal desires" that drive individual actions and behavior. Using these profiles one can roughly measure the "degree to which an individual values each of these desires and reveals his or her enduring life goals, psychological needs and personality traits" or in career speak, a "self-assessment."

The following quiz, taken from the Career Builder article is a simplified version of Reiss's questionnaire that includes over 100 questions.

Read the following statements about each basic desire. If they strongly describe you mark "+" if they somewhat describe you mark "0," and if they apply to you very little mark "-":

1. Curiosity.  I have a thirst for knowledge.

2. Acceptance.   I have a hard time coping with criticism.

3. Order.  It upsets me when things are out of place.

4. Physical Activity.  Physical fitness is very important to me.

5. Honor.  I am a highly principled and loyal person.

6. Power.  I often seek leadership roles.

7. Independence.  Self-reliance is essential to my happiness.

8. Social Contact.  I am known as a fun-loving person.

9. Family.  My children come first.

10. Status.  I am impressed by people who own expensive things.

11. Idealism.  Compared with most people, I am very concerned with social causes.

12. Vengeance.  It is very important to me to get even with those who insult or offend me.

13. Romance.  Compared with my peers, I spend much more time pursuing or having sex.

14. Eating.  I love to eat and often fantasize about food.

15. Saving.  I hate throwing things away.

16. Tranquility.  It scares me when my heart beats rapidly.

Now, look at your "plus" items.  These are your priorities, and you should have five or six of them. 

"Once you know your deepest values, one of the best ways to become happier is to find work that fulfills them," says Reiss. "For example, if you shun power or don't like to lead, you would be unhappy managing a large staff.

"If you have a high desire for acceptance, don't choose a job that exposes you to a lot of evaluation and criticism. If you prize order, look for a vocation that involves minimal ambiguity. If you're a curious person, find work that makes you think."

Reiss cites how a desire for status and competition drives many stockbrokers. He suggests that when evaluating a job, you understand the kinds of tasks you will be doing throughout the day, week and year. Compare those to your top desires to make sure what you will be doing each day will be a source of happiness.

But he cautions it's not just the work itself; ideally your value system should match that of the industry, the company and your boss, too. For example, Julie, who identified her highest desires as honor, social contact, eating, idealism and curiosity, loved her job as a sales associate for a major food manufacturer until she got a boss who routinely cut corners and urged her to lie to clients and superiors.

"To do well in a career and enjoy life, people need to be in a job and work environment that are compatible with their intrinsic desires," concludes Reiss. "By repeatedly doing those things that fulfill your values, there is no limit to how meaningful and happy your life can be."

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.

So, you have a personal blog (or website) where you post your latest and greatest adventures and communicate with your friends and family. But, how discriminating are you when it comes to posting content? In other words, if a potential employer were going to Google you, would they be thoroughly impressed with what they found? If not, you might want to assess what you are putting out there for the world to see. It would be a challenge to find an employer who is not Googling their candidates. It is simply another aspect of the background check - in fact, even those that slack on the formal background check, at least Google their potential employees. So, before you decide to post everything you think, do, and say, think about how it will look to others. Personal blogs are great but you have to look at the big picture and decide how much of you you want exposed for the world to see and judge.

Here's a great article on the subject for further reading: "Googling Candidates: It's Not Just for Entry Level Hires Anymore"

Here is a really great resource for people who are preparing for job interviews. It is called Perfect Phrases for the Perfect Interview by Carole Martin. It is packed with hundreds of ready-to-use phrases that will help you demonstrate your skills, experiences, and value to your employer. Do not go to your next interview until you read this book.

Here is a video worth watching. It is about job trends, booming sectors, and how companies are handling this tight market. Its from MSN.