Richard Littler4d ago
Just recalled my school work experience.
Career advisor: "What's your dream placement? Think big!"
Me: "I'd like to work in TV, film or..."
Career advisor: "What's your dad's job?"
Me: "Sales rep in a menswear firm"
Career advisor: "Ok, so I'm placing you in a dept store in menswear. Have fun!"
Show threadCharlie Stross

@Richard_Littler

That sounds familiar!

Careers: what do you want to do?
Me: I want to be an SF novelist.
Careers: hmm, there's no path in for that. Have you considered becoming a pharmacist?

(Reader: I became a pharmacist. You do not want a pharmacist with undiagnosed AuDHD, and the pharmacist with undiagnosed AuDHD does not want to deal with two police stake-outs in one month. I went back to study computer science, which hadn't been available first time round ...)

Mar 24 at 10:24amWeb
Show threadAdvanced Persistent Teapot4d ago

@cstross @Richard_Littler they told me I should be a librarian, and this was when comp sci *was* already a thing (presumably because my answers to their quiz said I liked books)

Those things are so desperately inadequate I've had a repeated urge to go back to my old school and tell all the current kids not to be disheartened by it

Show threadColman Reilly4d ago

@http_error_418 @cstross @Richard_Littler complete perplexity when I said I wanted to do a mathematics degree but had no interest in being a teacher.

In those days Maths in Trinity College Dublin was minimum points entry due to lack of demand: no one had invented “STEM” yet. If I didn’t get that I wasn’t getting anything else. They still insisted I fill out nine other options. Would I consider applying for actuarial training? <sigh>

Useless.

Show threadQuinn Norton4d ago

@cstross @Richard_Littler I was told that I'd never be a writer by my guidance counselor, who suggested I get a low wage job that I could hold down and focus on staying out of prison.

She expected too much of me. Never was able to hold down that day job.

Show threadChris Hanson4d ago
@quinn @cstross @Richard_Littler All of this potential wasted at the alter of profit for the aristocracy. Federation communism now.
Show threadCharlie Stross4d ago
@eschaton @quinn @Richard_Littler I'm holding out for the Culture.
Show threadQuinn Norton4d ago

@cstross @eschaton @Richard_Littler word.

Though I really don't want to end up in Use of Weapons thankyouverymuch

Show threadChris Hanson4d ago
@cstross @quinn @Richard_Littler I don’t want to let the better be the enemy of the good.