What Kind of Job Will Make You the Happiest?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
What Kind of Job Will Make You the Happiest?
Image: Compassionate Eye Foundation/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Back in the day, people did not expect a lot from their job in terms of happiness. A job wasn't about personal fulfillment for the vast majority. It was simply a place that you showed up, put in 40 hours a week, and received benefits, a paycheck adequate to buy a home and support a family of four on it alone, and above all, job security for life.

Of course, these days you don't get benefits, your paycheck barely covers rent for a single person, much less a family of four, and the company you work for probably has almost no loyalty toward you. Thus, it's only reasonable to ask for something in lieu of all these losses, and for many people these days, that thing is happiness. 

We don't just mean fun here; happiness can take many forms. Some people find purpose in doing meaningful work. Others find contentment in doing creatively stimulating work. Still, others extract delight from a job that is extremely lucrative, whether or not it holds any higher purpose or involves being around people they might not find the most delightful.

The best way to find a job in which you can be happy is to pick the right industry. Take this quiz to help you out!

How important is money?
Not at all
Somewhat
Actively unimportant
The most important

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Do you love ambiguity?
Somewhat
I hate it.
I love it.
It's a love-hate thing for me.

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How much time do you want to spend around other humans in a normal day?
Most of the time
Half the time
Some days all, other days none
Depends who they are

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Is working from home the dream?
Nope
Sometimes
Often!
Not really

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Do you have kids?
Yes, two or more
...oh yes, now I remember, I have one.
No
I will.

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Do you worry a lot about other people?
Of course!
Only intellectually
Quite a bit, yes
Nah, screw 'em

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How much reading is enough?
More than average
All the reading!
Lots of reading
Average

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Do you enjoy conquering terrible odds?
Absolutely!
Sort of
Ideally
No

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Be honest: how funny are you?
Not really
Not at all
Hilarious
I say hilarious but those humorless people say not at all.

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Do you like being around bros?
I hate them with the fire of a thousand burning suns.
Ideally not
Nobody likes bros
Yeah, I love bros!

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Do you look good in pinstripes?
Nope
I've never tried.
Only in character
Sure

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How many years are you willing to study?
4
10+
3
6

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Do you want to change the world?
Absolutely!
I want to reveal it.
In my way
No

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How curious are you?
Fairly
The most!
Intensely
I'm really not.

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Who are the worst people in the world?
Finance guys
People who hate facts
People with no imagination
Poor people

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What sort of hours are you willing to put in?
50/week
45/week
70/week
60/week

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Can you stomach an unbelievably sexist industry?
If I must
I suppose I already am.
Sometimes
I love that!

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What prize is the one most worth having?
Nobel Peace Prize
Fields Medal
Oscar
Being rich is the only prize worth having.

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Who do you want to impress?
Our descendants
Smart people
Creative people
Wealthy people

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Do you mind your family worrying about you?
Not really
Yes, a bit
No
Yes, a lot

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How messed up is the world?
Totally
It's not good or bad, it just is.
Mostly
It's perfect.

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How do you feel about capitalism as a system?
Flawed
I don't care.
Evil
Marvelous

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Can you bear people who think they get to have their own facts?
No, with empathy
Hard no
Generally not
Sure, that mindset means I get away with more.

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How important is feeling like you're part of a community?
Very
Somewhat
Immensely
I hate community.

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How far are you willing to commute?
Whatever it takes
Under 30 minutes
Some days yes, other days no
Up to 45 minutes

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How often do you want to travel for work?
Twice a year
Once a year
Some years not at all, other years most of the time
Any amount if the hotel is good

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Would you move to another city or country for your work?
Sure
Temporarily, yes
I already have.
If the money was right

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Do you believe that "work-life balance" is a good way to frame your life?
Sometimes
I think so.
LOL no
Of course

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Do you want to have a fungible skill set?
Not really
No
More than you'd think, yes
Yes

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Who do you think the robot revolution will put out of work last?
Politicians
Really visionary scientists
Creatives
The rich

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You Got: