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Whether you work from home or in a traditional job, stress seems to be a main component of a person’s career. It does not matter if you are the lowest person on the organizational chart or the CEO, you are being held accountable for something. This responsibility may be something simple but important, or could be tiered and multi-tasked into dozens of responsibilities. Either way, at the end of the day your work will speak volumes about you and what you do.

It used to be that people chose work because it was something they knew how to do, and there was a need for it. Today, many people are simply seeking a paycheck. Inflation, and the imagined need to keep up with society, have us bound to our jobs as never before. Just about every family owns a home, whether they can afford one or not. This means most families require two salary earners just to make ends meet. Our jobs keep us trapped in order to main our lifestyles.

This was not such a bad thing and worked for decades. You go to college, get a degree, get a job, get paid – then work hard to keep up with your lifestyles changes. However, now that we have grown accustomed to this type of lifestyle the economy has changed the rules. No longer can you open the newspaper and take your pick of jobs. The job market is highly competitive and if you end up looking for a new job – you could be looking for awhile.

What does this mean for your career? With jobs being shipped overseas to save money, companies closing doors, and people being laid off every day – it is likely that your job is not as stable or reliable as it used to be. For those lucky enough to still have their jobs, many are finding that they are doing the work of many. A four person department is now down to one individual even though the workload is increasing instead of decreasing.

People are in constant fear that they will show up to work and it will be their last day. Many have already been laid off and are searching desperately for another job. Others are sick of looking and have decided to go into business for themselves. Some families are learning ways to cut back so that they no longer require two incomes to survive. All of these changes are stressful and can mess with your ability to do a great job.

If you love what you do, are skilled and talented, are great at networking, and are working for a company that is thriving, then you have little to stress over. However, if that ideal job is not yours it is time to evaluate what you can do to protect yourself. There is no sure fire, guaranteed way to keep an employer from getting rid of your position. But you can achieve better control at understanding what you are doing well and what you could be doing better. Making yourself invaluable at work is the few ways to ensure that you are the last one thought of come lay off time.

PlusRated is a site where you can get both formal and informal performance evaluations based on the work that you do. It is not restricted to just your supervisors or managers either, as you are welcome to ask for input from your co-workers, friends and even family. Having an overall picture of how your work ethic is perceived is a good way to improve upon your work and make certain you are a valued team player at work.

At some point in everyone’s life that has been a career assessment test. Even as children, we are curious about our strengths, talents and interests and how best to apply them. Some people know from a very early age what they want to do for a living when they are grown. Others continue to struggle and search for the right answer.

The person of the career assessments tests is to help the uncertain to narrow down their workforce options, but also to reassure people already working that they are on the right path. Many companies now use career assessment tests during the interview and hiring process to help ensure they are getting new employees that will match well with what they are looking for.

There is more to a career test than simply finding out what a person is interested in doing. They also track other areas such as personality, current skills, preferences, interests and personal values. A great first place to start is to make a list of all the activities you enjoy doing, not matter how mundane. The answer to your dilemma could very well be included in your list.

Then you will need to consider what you are looking for when it comes to work. What are you willing to do or better yet what types of things are you not willing to do? Do you enjoy working as a team, under someone else or independently? What kind of salary are you willing to accept? Is it important that your work make a difference somehow?

Next, focus on your personality. If you are shy and avoid conflict, then going into sales is not going to be successful for you. Fortunately, there are a lot of personality tests available that can measure your strengths and weaknesses as a person. The Myers Brigg test is one of the more popular and is commonly used by companies for hiring, promoting, and position placement.

Once you have done all of that, you need to take stock of your skill set. With the work you have already done, what skills do you have experience with. Are there skills you feel you have already mastered? What would translate over into other fields? This type of assessment is similar to a resume and marks those tasks you are already able to accomplish. It also gives you a good stepping stone to learning new skills and adding to your current repertoire.

It is the combination of some or all of these types of assessments that will give you a clear, overall picture of where you stand work wise. Understanding your interests, listing your skills, and considering your personality will help make a more educated career decision. There are plenty of resources that can help you in this area. The Internet is a huge place with tons of educational information. PlusRated has self assessment tests where individuals ask their friends and families to be candid and give feedback on performance and other personal development areas.