My dear friend Reno posted this, and her results were such a strange combination of perfect and peculiar that I had to take it.

1. Go to http://www.careercruising.com/.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their “Career Matchmaker” questions.
4. Post the results (or some of the results).

My results were, similar to Reno’s, both on and waaaaay off point:

  1. Lobbyist
  2. Technical Writer
  3. Librarian
  4. Criminologist (my area within Sociology in grad school)
  5. Anthropologist (Sociology BA, +2 years grad school)
  6. Professor (I’m not sufficiently obsessively interested in any one thing to survive academia.)
  7. Communications Specialist
  8. Activist
  9. Public Policy Analyst
  10. Writer
  11. Print Journalist
  12. Tour Guide
  13. Critic
  14. Dispatcher
  15. Translator
  16. Career Counselor
  17. Political Aide
  18. Library Technician
  19. Dental Assistant
  20. Market Research Analyst
  21. Cashier
  22. Religious Worker
  23. Community Worker
  24. Clergy
  25. Probation / Parole Officer
  26. Child and Youth Worker
  27. High School Teacher
  28. Psychologist
  29. Sport Psychology Consultant
  30. Foreign Language Instructor
  31. ESL Teacher
  32. Politician
  33. Rehabilitation Counselor
  34. Actuary
  35. Foreign Service Officer
  36. Historian
  37. Social Worker
  38. Judge
  39. Computer Programmer
  40. Addictions Counselor

Astute observers may note that lawyer — you know, my actual job — isn’t anywhere on the list. Which is funny, seeing as Judge is. Hmmm.

I bolded the jobs I’ve actually had, and italicized the ones I’ve fantasized about having. A few of those are somewhat subject to interpretation — I don’t think this quiz distinguishes between Anthropology & Sociology, for example. Although since it distinguishes between Librarian and Library Technician, I could be wrong.

Anyway. It’s a shame I don’t speak any foreign languages (high school Spanish and knowing the alphabet and some nursery rhymes in German don’t count), since that rules out translator, foreign language instructor, and foreign service officer, plus makes ESL teacher a lot more challenging.

I kinda liked that various forms of writer made the list so often — 4 times straight-up (technical writer, communications specialist, writer, and print journalist) plus 6 more implicit times (professor, critic, public policy analyst, translator, historian, & judge).

I must have overstated the amount to which I like math, as actuary & cashier both sound awful; the mathy part of public policy analyst is absolutely as far as I would want to go with math. I think it must be the same math & writing combo that got market research analyst on the list.

I may also have overstated how much I like helping people. Don’t get me wrong, I do like helping people. But not enough to be a clergy person or an addiction counselor.

I do want to know how the test knew that I was a wannabee librarian! Heh, in fact, much of what I did as a lobbyist involved representing the American Library Association.

I daydream sometimes about a second career as a youth services librarian, or returning to the world of political advocacy on behalf of librarians. Sadly, that would require changes to the lifestyle to which I have become accustomed that I am not quite willing to make. I can also imagine myself in 30 years or so as a volunteer docent/tour guide for some interesting museum or historical site. I do love showing people interesting places and things, and telling them about what makes them especially interesting.

Last comments & thoughts: a DENTAL ASSISTANT? Or a SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANT? I’m sorry, WTF?