Why Your Career Test Results Says You Should Be a Farmer (and That's Okay!)
- 15 May 2025
You took a career assessment expecting recommendations for office work, healthcare, or perhaps technology—and instead, your results suggest farming, landscaping, or other outdoor, hands-on fields. Before dismissing these unexpected results as irrelevant or inaccurate, consider that they may reveal important patterns about your work preferences and values that can guide your career decisions in surprising and valuable ways.
Unexpected career test results often highlight fundamental aspects of your work style, values, and skills that you might have overlooked or undervalued. By exploring why certain unconventional recommendations appeared in your results, you can gain deeper insights applicable across many potential career paths.
What "Farmer" Really Means in Your Results
When career assessments recommend agricultural or other hands-on fields, they're typically identifying specific work patterns and preferences rather than literally suggesting you buy a farm. These recommendations often highlight values like:
- Tangible Results - Preference for work where you can directly see the outcomes of your efforts
- Independence and Self-Direction - Desire for autonomy in planning and executing work
- Connection to Natural Systems - Appreciation for natural processes and outdoor environments
- Holistic Problem-Solving - Tendency to consider multiple factors and see entire systems
- Physical Engagement - Preference for incorporating movement and hands-on work rather than purely sedentary activities
Translating Unexpected Results to Modern Career Contexts
| If Your Test Suggested | The Core Pattern Might Be | Modern Applications Beyond the Literal Role |
|---|---|---|
| Farmer or Rancher | Independent, results-oriented work with natural systems | Environmental consulting, sustainable business, project management, entrepreneurship |
| Craftsperson or Artisan | Creating tangible products with precision and creativity | Product design, UX/UI design, specialized manufacturing, quality assurance |
| Park Ranger or Forester | Protecting resources and educating others in varied environments | Environmental compliance, corporate sustainability, outdoor education, conservation technology |
| Tradesperson or Builder | Solving practical problems through technical skills | Engineering, technical project management, systems administration, operations |
Historical Context of Career Assessment Categories
Many career assessments were developed during eras when occupational categories were more rigidly defined and fewer hybrid roles existed. The "farmer" category in older assessment frameworks often represents what we might now call entrepreneurship, sustainability work, or project management in natural systems.
Similarly, recommendations for trades or crafts in traditional assessments often translate to modern roles in design, technical specialization, or quality-focused positions that might not have existed when the assessment categories were created.
Finding the Pattern Behind Unexpected Results
To extract maximum value from surprising career suggestions, ask yourself these questions:
- What specific aspects of this recommended field might appeal to me? (Independence? Tangible results? Problem-solving?)
- What core values or work preferences does this recommendation reflect? (Working outdoors? Creating physical products? Managing living systems?)
- How could I incorporate these elements into careers that also align with my other priorities? (Education level? Income requirements? Location preferences?)
- What roles in my current field might incorporate these same valued elements?
The Value of Metaphorical Career Thinking
Sometimes the most valuable aspect of unexpected career recommendations is the metaphorical insight they provide about your preferred work style. "Farmer" might really mean you value nurturing growth over time, prefer varied daily tasks, and want to see concrete results from your efforts.
By identifying these patterns, you can look for roles across many industries that incorporate similar elements. The specific field matters less than finding work environments and responsibilities that align with your fundamental preferences and strengths.
Rather than dismissing unexpected career suggestions as assessment errors, consider them invitations to explore patterns in your preferences you might have overlooked. The most valuable career insights often come from unexpected directions, revealing authentic aspects of your ideal work that conventional thinking might have caused you to dismiss or undervalue.
