Research suggests the average Brit will find themselves in six different job roles during their working life.
Politics is a more precarious profession than most, with voters having the opportunity to deliver a P45 to their employee every few years.
With this in mind, it is perhaps sensible for our elected representatives to have their options open for a wide variety of career paths.
After The Courier revealed a flagship scheme to help teenagers think about the industries they might want to work in had suggested to one 13-year-old she should consider either being a bodyguard or a chimney sweep, we decided to get political leaders to take the test.
Unexpected results followed, not least the idea of Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie as a stuntman.
Skills Development Scotland’s online personality survey, My World of Work, is supposed to compliment in depth face-to-face engagement with a trained careers adviser.
Mr Harvie said that during his time at school, careers advisers tried to keep everyone’s expectations low, regardless of pupils’ interests or abilities.
SDS says the current system is aimed at providing “engaging exercise aimed at stimulating discussion around many and varied careers.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie’s online suggestions included being an art teacher.
He said: “Having failed my O level, my decision to go into politics was no great loss to art but the World of Work website seems to think otherwise.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale’s suggested “job profile” was an administrative assistant, advising her to “run an organised and efficient office so your colleagues can get their work done”.
The former Harris Academy pupil said: “At school, my career guidance suggested I should become a doctor or a lawyer. Unfortunately, the advice failed to take into account that I hate the sight of blood. So I went to Aberdeen University and studied law.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “When I was at school we all had to fill in a tick box exercise which was fed through a computer and your ideal job was sent back to you.
“I was advised that I should become a fish farmer. In the event, I studied English literature at university, became a journalist and then got elected as an MSP.”
The results…
Name: Alyn Smith
Job: SNP MEP and depute leader candidate
Suggested career by school: Teacher
Suggested career by My World of Work: Film director, stage manager
Name: Ruth Davidson
Job: Leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Suggested career by school: Fish farmer
Suggested career by My World of Work: Didn’t take test
Name: Kezia Dugdale
Job: Leader of Scottish Labour
Suggested career by school: Doctor or lawyer
Suggested career by My World of Work: Administrative assistant
Name: Patrick Harvie
Job: Co-convener of the Scottish Greens
Suggested career by school: Work for a publishing company
Suggested careers by My World of Work: Aerospace engineer, stunt performer, hairdresser, botanist.
Name: Willie Rennie
Job: Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Suggested career by school: In the sciences, led to degree in biology
Suggested career by My World of Work: Art gallery curator, conservator, art teacher
