Which Career Change Is Right for You?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Which Career Change Is Right for You?
Image: PeopleImages / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

These days, most people experience several careers over the course of their lives. Harrison Ford was a carpenter before he was a famous actor, after all, and he's a baby boomer. It is to be expected that in this day and age, you will either be forced to change careers because of industrial or technological developments, or you will simply choose to, possibly in anticipation of your job disappearing.

You might sidestep into another job in the same industry, because of hard-won industrial knowledge. You may prefer to change industries entirely, using the systems and disciplines learned in your profession, applied to another industry. These choices need to be made strategically, not impulsively, in order to make the most of your skills and job history.

So what will it be? Will you swing for the fences and step up to a bigger job with more responsibility? Or sideways into a parallel career? Would you flee as far as possible from your job, engaging in a total life change? What are you even qualified to do? Don't worry. We have you covered.

Take this quiz. We will look through your answers and come up with an exciting career opportunity that suits your skills, desires, and experience. Answer honestly, and we will be honest with you too.

How exciting do you like your job?
The more exciting the better!
Only a little
I want it to vary, day to day.
I want zero excitement.

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How important is your work salary?
Not at all
It's all I care about.
It's somewhat important.
I only care that I get it forever.

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How demanding do you like your average day at work to be?
I want a big challenge every day!
Very demanding
Not at all demanding
I want it intellectually demanding, but not physically demanding.

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How important is it that your job have a creative component to it?
Somewhat
Not at all
I like a little creativity.
I need a lot of creativity in my work.

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How much would you like to specialize?
I want to be doing something no one else can do.
I want to do something anyone can do, but most people think only special people can do.
I want to do something only I can do, but not something I earned through special schooling.
I want to be an interchangeable cog in a big machine.

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How powerful do you want to be, professionally?
I want to look powerful, but have no power.
I crave power.
I don't want any power or responsibility.
I don't mind being in the middle.

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What kind of shape are you in right now?
I'm athletic, but I don't look as strong as I am.
I'm ot amazing shape, but I can look good in the right cut of suit.
I'm in perfect shape.
I'm in terrible shape, and health.

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How ambitious are you?
Only in competing with myself
My ambition is sickening.
Not very
Not at all

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Who don't you mind objecting to you?
Animal rights protesters
Unemployed middle-​class college students who pretend to be hard up until mom and dad threaten to cut them off.
Unattractive people
People who work in offices

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Do you mind being blamed for the world's troubles?
I don't like the sound of that.
I don't mind it, especially if it is true.
Yes, I mind! I don't want people to see me like that.
I can take it, because it isn't true.

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Do you mind if you aren't surrounded by intellectual giants?
I don't mind at all.
I expect not to be
I don't even know what those words mean.
Yes, I mind! I want to be around smart people so my brain is stimulated! Are you kidding?

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What sort of injury wouldn't you mind getting as a result of your work?
My head bit off
A paper cut
Chafing
Gout

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Do you mind wearing a uniform?
I'd prefer a costume to a uniform.
I don't mind having to wear a suit, if that's what you mean.
I don't mind that at all.
I'm all about the tweed.

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Do you mind being surrounded by very competitive people you may not like?
I don't like the sound of that at all.
I'd love that.
I wouldn't mind that.
As long as they aren't competing for my job, I'm fine with it.

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How much do you mind people judging you on totally superficial characteristics?
Well, if those are my showmanship, that's OK.
I hope to be judged by how much money I have.
I like the idea of being judged on looks.
No, I want to be judged on the content of my soul.

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How much do you like to be pedantic?
A little bit
Only with people who ask me about my work
I don't know what pedantic means.
I'd love it if I could be a total pedagogue every day.

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How would you like to be respected by others?
For my nerve
For my power
For my style
For the depths of my soul

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What sort of lifestyle would you like to live?
Always on the move
Living in a palace that costs a fortune
Spend every day being pampered, with beautiful people
Total job security

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What single thing would you like people to remember about you after having met you in a professional setting?
The coolest person in the world
I'm more successful than them.
I'm gorgeous.
I'm really well read.

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What would you like to spend most of your job doing?
Working with animals
Reading spreadsheets
Keeping fit
Reading poetry

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In what industry do you currently work?
Insurance
Show business
Medical
IT

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How would you describe your current job position?
Bean counter
Creative
Middle management
CEO

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How long have you been at your current career?
10 years
Five years
Two years
30 years

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What is the biggest challenge you face in your current job?
Boredom
Getting the flu from someone at work
Getting time off
Feeling like a person and not a machine

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What do you think of your current coworkers?
I try not to
They're lovely people.
They're tragic.
They're sharks, every one of them.

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How are you seen in your current workplace?
I'm not.
I'm a respected nobody.
I'm seen as a part of a machine.
I'm a feared master of the universe.

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Which of these is closest to what you wanted to be "when you grew up"?
Astronaut
Entrepreneur
Actor
Novelist

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How happy are you in your current job?
I'm too tired to be happy.
I'm miserable.
I'm so bored. Happiness is a mystery to me.
I feel like all the happiness in my soul was sucked out.

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How close have you come to meeting your family's expectations?
I'm doing exactly as expected.
I'm bucking their vision for me.
I'm slightly underwhelming them.
I've exceeded all expectations.

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How close have you come to meeting your own professional goals?
I'm far off.
I did it, but they didn't make me secure.
I'm never going to
I've met them, and they didn't make me happy.

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