The Right Track

I'm not the idol of millions. Kids don't line up to get my autographs or purchase sketches of my characters. These days, I create more art with a few clicks of a mouse than I do with a pencil, and instead of creating superheroes I'm creating advertisements for a variety of products. I like working in an office though, sitting at a computer and filling one daunting blank page after another with colors, shapes, and fonts. My career track didn't run in a straight line, and certainly not the course I predicted, but ultimately I'd say I'm content.

When choosing a major in college, I was motivated by more than the desire to create that which interested me. Even as a teenager, I realized most of us will spend more time at a job than at home, and I knew picking something I'd enjoy was as important if not more important than a fat paycheck. I've since wavered in that position over the years, but still believe the principle to be sound. I wouldn't want to be wealthy if it meant being miserable and stressed out, but any day I'll take a decent salary for work I like over a low salary for work I love.

My driver's education instructor, “Uncle Al”, thought I was mad when he learned I was majoring in art and had a four year average of 98/100 in mathematics and had taken advanced calculus. He wasn't really my uncle, but insisted we all call him that, so his credibility in career advice was questionable, especially given his profession. Sure, he had controls on the passenger side of his car as well, but kids are crazy.*

Looking back, did I make the right call? Am I in the right field, or general vicinity of where someone like me should be? Antick Musings had an interesting career meme that I decided to try:

1. Go here: http://www.careercruising.com/default.asp
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top results.

I found the quiz link in the upper left after logging in, and proceeded to answer 39 questions about my likes and dislikes. Some were blatant in which jobs they were referring to, but I'm not sure how much that skewed the results. I know I wouldn't want to be in an operating room or chasing criminals down an alley. I don't want to work nights and weekends, and I don't want to memorize law or history tomes. After getting my initial results, I took the option to answer another 54 questions and refine my results. I have to say it painted a pretty accurate portrait of who I am, and the top ten especially reflect my interests. There are different things I could be doing, but they all involve art and/or computers, so it's nice to see I'm basically on the right track.

1. Video Game Developer

2. Computer Support Person

3. Website Designer

4. Business Systems Analyst

5. Computer Animator

6. Artist

7. Computer Network Specialist

8. Animator

9. Cartoonist / Comic Illustrator

10. Illustrator

11. Film Editor

12. Computer Engineer

13. Web Developer

14. Desktop Publisher

15. Computer Programmer

16. Database Developer

17. Multimedia Developer

18. Technical Writer

19. Electronics Engineering Tech

20. Data Entry Clerk

21. Computer Trainer

22. Composer

23. Interior Designer

24. Craftsperson

25. Camera Operator

26. Optical / Ophthalmic Lab Technician

27. Electrical Engineering Tech

28. Electrician

29. Avionics Tech

30. Set Designer

31. Office Machine Repairer

32. Special Effects Technician

33. Model Maker

34. Jeweler

35. Bookbinder

36. Cable Installer and Repairer

37. Drafter

38. Film Processor

39. Security Systems Technician

40. Dental Lab Tech

* * * * *

* (I know someone else ran a light and hit B13, but those photos did too good a job illustrating my point not to link them. And B13 was a crazy kid, even if that accident wasn't his fault. ;))