I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up… so I made up a quiz to tell me

Teacher, Marine Biologist, Environmental Activist, Cruise Ship Performer, Novelist, Talent-Show –winner-turned-Australian-Soap-actress who is discovered by a big-time movie producer and flies out to Hollywood to star in a huge Harry Potter-scale franchise only to reject fame, go off grid, live amongst nature and form a bond with a wolf or a bear or something…

This is what immediately comes to mind whenever I am asked about my career path.

At the ripe old age of 25, you’d think I’d have SOMETHING figured out by now but, alas, questions like “Where do you want to be in 5 years?” and “What do you want to do in the future?” have always left my mind blank. I’m not sure I ever really had an answer. My response is always some variation of “Uhhh I don’t know? We’ll see.” whilst I nervously laugh and fight the urge to cry.

Aptitude tests, M.A.T.C.H. and astrological birth charts can only tell me so much about my future, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I made up a totally legit, scientific and super serious quiz that will FINALLY give me an answer to the question: “What should I be when I grow up?”

1. Pick your ultimate work song
     A. Morning Train (Nine to Five) by Sheena Easton
     B. She Works Hard for the Money by Donna Summer
     C. Work by Rihanna
     D. 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

2. Pick a 00’s teen girl sitcom lead whose ambition inspires you
     A. Lizzie McGuire
     B. Raven Baxter
     C. Carly Shay
     D. Miley Stewart

3. Your star sign is:
     A. Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces
     B. Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn
     C. Aries, Leo or Sagittarius
     D. Gemini, Libra or Aquarius

4. Select your ideal work shoes
     A. Cruggs
     B. Stilettos
     C. Bare feet
     D. Moccasins

5. Pick your Spiderman:
     A. Tobey Maguire
     B. Andrew Garfield
     C. Tom Holland
     D. Miles Morales

6. Which Chris would you most like to team up with?
     A. Chris Hemsworth
     B. Chris Evans
     C. Chris Pine
     D. Chris Pratt

7. What’s your morning brew?
     A. Flat white
     B. Tea
     C. Orange Mocha Frappuccino
     D. Long black

8. If you could pick an office pet, what would it be?
     A. Iguana
     B. Dog
     C. Hermit Crabs
     D. Shark

9. Your Hogwarts house is: 
     A. Slytherin
     B. Gryffindor
     C. Hufflepuff
     D. Ravenclaw

10. Who do you want to be your boss?
     A. Montgomery Burns
     B. Michael Scott
     C. YOU – you are your own boss
     D. Liz Lemon

11. Which 2000 Angel are you?
     A. Alex (Lucy Liu)
     B. Actually, I’m a total Bosley (Bill Murray/Bernie Mac)
     C. Dylan (Drew Barrymore)
     D. Natalie (Cameron Diaz)

Mostly A’s: You should be a Surgeon! Don’t let your fear of blood and shaky hands hold you back. You’d be perfect for the job!

Mostly B’s: You should be an Apiarist! Bees are where it’s at and the world definitely needs them right now. Who cares if you’re allergic to bee stings? Just throw on your beekeeping suit and get that honey, honey.

Mostly C’s: You probably saw this coming but…you should be a Psychic! I’m not sure why you took this quiz because you already know everything I was going to say.

Mostly D’s: You should be a Food Critic! Getting paid to eat fancy food and write about how it didn’t meet your expectations? Yes please. And bonus: you get to make friends with a rat named Remy who is an amazing chef that makes you your childhood favourite meal every time you visit!

Did this totally legit, scientific quiz fail you? Me too. Still not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Me too. That’s OK!

If my short time working for UTS Careers has taught me anything it’s that there’s nothing wrong with not knowing, as long as you don’t let it hold you back. Keep learning and growing and adding new skills and experiences to your repertoire, you never know when they may come in handy.

If you took this quiz and relate even a little to my struggle, I encourage you to reach out to your Careers Service for support, they’re here to help guide you on your journey. It’s ok if it’s not straight forward.

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash