# I took a career test and it said I should be.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121 "2007-11-12T12:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/21 "2007-11-12T20:22:27Z")
When I was in HS, I was told I should be a doctor. :eek: [QUOTE=Kythereia] A librarian. Thank you for the next _five years_ of teasing, standarized test. (At least librarians are automatically sexy, sexy people…) [/QUOTE] You don’t need a library degree to be sexy, sexy **Kytheria**! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/22 "2007-11-12T20:32:48Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] A librarian. Thank you for the next _five years_ of teasing, standarized test. (At least librarians are automatically sexy, sexy people…) [/QUOTE] I’m so jealous. I’d like to be a librarian, but my test told me to be a flight attendant. The number two choice was pilot. Apparently, the test assumed that most kids in my class should go into one of those two fields…heh Brendon Small ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/23 "2007-11-12T20:41:57Z")
Mine told me I should be a park ranger or an archaeologist. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/24 "2007-11-12T22:05:50Z")
I went to college to become a psychologist. I am a contractor, and a mother. I meet more crazy people every day doing those two things. After the third time I listen to someone’s personal relationship problem, give them some well meaning advice, and they completely ignore it-continuing to piss and moan on and on, they can just fuck off. No tact, and a horrible bedside manner. Yet people still like me, and continue to come for advice. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/25 "2007-11-12T22:54:20Z")
I took one in junior high and the results came back that I should be either an interior designer or a park ranger. I kid you not. WTF? Utterly unhelpful. So I ended up a lawyer, and now a magistrate, and have been very happy in my work. My uncle, on the other hand, took one of those tests in the late 1940s and it said he should look into a career in the brave new worlds of computers. He did, and has been happily teaching computer sciences for 60+ years. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/26 "2007-11-12T22:55:21Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] A chartered public accountant. Or a lion tamer. My choice. [/QUOTE] Do you have a hat? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/27 "2007-11-12T23:42:39Z")
I don’t recall ever taking one of these tests, although I suppose I must have at some point. However, when my mildly retarded brother-in-law took one a couple years ago, he was surprised to learn that he would make an excellent forklift driver. Luckily, he followed his own plan and is now studying violin at one of the more prestigious music schools in the country. His instructors tell him he should be a fine concert master someday. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/28 "2007-11-13T00:10:03Z")
I took one of these tests long ago and I recalled it said I should be a pharmacist. After taking a few college chemistry classes (which I did well in), I decided that it was not the field for me! I really don’t think that these tests are very good at predicting future careers. You won’t know until you experience the steps that are required to reach a career goal. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/29 "2007-11-13T00:21:11Z")
They certainly have limitations, but to be fair, they’re not intended to predict future success. They’re constructed to ask you about your interests and skills, then match those to the careers of people with the same career “type” who are happy with their careers. They’re based on your self-report of interests or perceived skillfulness. There are some tests that are actually hands-on that measure actual skills and aptitude. This is easier for, say, typing or assembly work than for being a magistrate. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/30 "2007-11-13T00:26:26Z")
I once took one that suggested “tattoo artist” as my only option. Let’s see, my actual dream job involves never working with people again, I can’t deal with needles whether they’re meant for me or someone else, I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler… I can’t even begin to imagine how they came up with that. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/31 "2007-11-13T00:37:05Z")
The one I took in High School gave me Bricklayer or Ranch Hand. Everybody around me was getting “brain surgeon” or “Rocket Scientist”… ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/32 "2007-11-13T01:30:13Z")
I took one of thiese in HS, #1 choice was a Nursery Worker, as in growing plants. Granted I can be a bit antisocial at times, and am very problem solving oriented. I just don’t see how this would have been a good career path for me, considering I have always been more abstract and idea oriented, and not much of a hands on manual labor type. ---
**Author:** ![notthatagain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@notthatagain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notthatagain)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/33 "2007-11-13T02:09:50Z")
About 3 years ago I took the O\*NET profiling tests, and with repetitiveness any statistician would be thrilled to enjoy, the algorithms determined that I was only suited for two occupations: 1. Museum Curator 2. Photographer Even if I _had_ a degree beyond Associate’s, ya’ just don’t see the museums hurting for Curators. And photography? Now _there’s_ a marketable skill with a future… \ BTW, I’m working in Public Relations now. I’m head over heels in love with my job! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/34 "2007-11-13T13:59:54Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] A chartered public accountant. Or a lion tamer. My choice. [/QUOTE] Don’t you think it’s a rather big jump? I mean chartered accountancy to lion tamer all in one go? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/35 "2007-11-13T14:49:23Z")
Oh, lions don’t look all that fierce to me! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/36 "2007-11-13T15:03:58Z")
When I took mine, I decided to mess with it and answer wrong. even then, I showed great signs of Dopeness. My results: A farmer or mortician. Oddly enough, I like to grow things and well, Death is a way of life around here. If only I could combine the two: composting human remains and farming. that would be sweet! ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/37 "2007-11-13T15:13:31Z")
My high school counselling exam narrowed me down to a possible 100 fields… everything from postmaster to nuclear engineer to hairdresser. However it had no responses that were in any way related to what I actually do for a living … which is write and produce news for television. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/38 "2007-11-13T17:01:09Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Oh, lions don’t look all that fierce to me! [/QUOTE] and have you ever seen a lion? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/39 "2007-11-13T18:54:52Z")
In high school, my test said commercial airline pilot or draftsman. Apparently, the test was unaware that I can neither draw nor drive a straight line. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121/40 "2007-11-13T18:59:28Z")
Airplanes tend to fly in large arcs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-took-a-career-test-and-it-said-i-should-be/426121.md?page=3)