Use an occupational guide to find your ideal job. The U.S. Department of Labor publishes an online occupational guide called "O*NET" that lists skills and talents and relates them to specific occupations. Make a list of occupations that you think would suit you.
Contact your state's junior or technical college system. These schools are always less expensive than private schools and the quality of training is frequently as good or better. Keep your list of preferred occupations handy and try to match as many as you can to a school that offers a number of your choices.
Look into private trade and technical schools. Career One Stop, hosted by the state of Minnesota and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a good place to start looking for occupational training and education.
Write or call a few schools and request materials. Although you can also request materials online, writing or calling establishes contact within the admissions office and gives you someone who can answer specific questions about the school.
Visit your choice schools and tour the facility with a staff member who can answer any questions you may have. Many schools have open houses for graduating seniors. Ask students how they like the school. Find out what kind of financial aid each school offers and what the local employment scene offers.
Narrow down your choices. Eliminate schools that offer training for too few career choices or would require expensive relocation costs. When you're down to a few, consider pragmatic factors, such as financial aid availability, job placement programs and qualitative ranking of the school. Apply to the schools that meet most of your criteria.