Everyone’s been doing this, and with my interest in careers advice generally, I thiought I should give it a whirl.

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

And they are:

1. Anthropologist
2. Historian
3. Lobbyist
4. Criminologist
5. Professor
6. Curator
7. Activist
8. Writer
9. Public Policy Analyst
10. Communications Specialist

Oddly enough, I studied for my history PhD in an anthropology department, and my current job combines elements of #3, #7, #9 and #10 (though not really in that order). Also it requires a fair bit of writing (#8). And my Visiting Fellowship in Belfast puts me a part of the way along to #5. But I have never taken any career steps leading me in the direction of #4 and #6.

I remember that back in my student days I tried the Cambridge Careers Service’s GRADSCOPE software, which recommended I go for “non-technical research”, which is essentially what I have done for all but three of the years since I graduated (though usually with a fair bit of political activism, either on the side or integrated into the work).

The best possible careers advice I can give is still to read What Color is Your Parachute?, by Richard Nelson Bolles.