Childhood Ambitions

What did you want to be?

We asked 800 people about their early aspirations… and the jobs they ended up with

Astronaut

13.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 16% Finance/Business
  2. 12% Software Development
  3. 11% Education
  4.  8% I.T.
  5.  7% Science

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.1
Pilot

12.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 21% I.T.
  2. 13% Software Development
  3.  9% Education
  4.  7% Medicine/Health
  5.  6% Engineering

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.5
Scientist

10.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 17% Software Development
  2. 12% Education
  3. 10% Finance/Business
  4. 10% Science
  5.  8% Admin/Management

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Doctor

7.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 12% Finance/Business
  2. 12% Medicine/Health
  3. 10% Education
  4.  8% Construction/Manufacturing
  5.  8% Science

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.5
Musician

7.1% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 14% Education
  2. 12% Finance/Business
  3. 11% I.T.
  4. 11% Software Development
  5.  9% Entertainment

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Vet

6.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 17% Education
  2. 13% Medicine/Health
  3. 11% Software Development
  4.  9% Engineering
  5.  7% Design/Creative Arts

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Author

6.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 13% Education
  2. 13% Software Development
  3. 13% Writing/Editing
  4.  9% Marketing/Advertising
  5.  6% Admin/Management

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Artist

6.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 18% Design/Creative Arts
  2. 12% I.T.
  3. 10% Admin/Management
  4. 10% Software Development
  5.  8% Government/Politics

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Sportsperson

6.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 14% Finance/Business
  2. 12% I.T.
  3. 10% Software Development
  4.  8% Admin/Management
  5.  8% Engineering

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Teacher

5.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 26% Education
  2. 17% Software Development
  3. 15% Finance/Business
  4.  9% Retail/Hospitality
  5.  7% I.T.

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.5
Engineer

5.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 21% I.T.
  2. 12% Design/Creative Arts
  3. 10% Education
  4. 10% Software Development
  5.  7% Journalism/Media

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.4
Actor

5.1% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 15% Finance/Business
  2. 10% Education
  3. 10% Writing/Editing
  4.  7% Community/Charity
  5.  7% Marketing/Advertising

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Train Driver

4.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 22% Software Development
  2. 11% Education
  3. 11% I.T.
  4. 11% Medicine/Health
  5.  8% Journalism/Media

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.4
Van/Bus/Truck Driver

4.1% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 15% Science
  2. 12% Finance/Business
  3.  9% Software Development
  4.  6% Admin/Management
  5.  6% Design/Creative Arts

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Soldier

3.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 16% Engineering
  2. 13% I.T.
  3. 10% Design/Creative Arts
  4. 10% Education
  5. 10% Finance/Business

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Archaeologist

3.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 27% Education
  2. 23% Software Development
  3. 17% Marketing/Advertising
  4. 10% Writing/Editing
  5.  3% Admin/Management

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.0
Architect

3.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 23% Design/Creative Arts
  2. 13% Engineering
  3. 13% Software Development
  4. 10% Education
  5.  7% Construction/Manufacturing

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.8
Journalist

3.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 13% Marketing/Advertising
  2. 10% Admin/Management
  3. 10% Government/Politics
  4. 10% I.T.
  5. 10% Journalism/Media

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Police Officer

3.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 17% Finance/Business
  2. 14% Retail/Hospitality
  3. 10% Admin/Management
  4. 10% Education
  5. 10% Marketing/Advertising

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.1
Lawyer

3.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 15% Finance/Business
  2. 15% Retail/Hospitality
  3. 11% Legal System
  4. 11% Software Development
  5.  7% Community/Charity

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.8
Racing Driver

3.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 13% Design/Creative Arts
  2. 13% I.T.
  3.  8% Finance/Business
  4.  8% Legal System
  5.  8% Marketing/Advertising

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.1
TV/Film Maker

3.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 21% Education
  2. 17% Marketing/Advertising
  3. 13% I.T.
  4. 13% Medicine/Health
  5. 13% Software Development

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.4
Programmer

2.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 57% Software Development
  2. 17% I.T.
  3.  9% Retail/Hospitality
  4.  4% Engineering
  5.  4% None

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Firefighter

2.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 14% Engineering
  2. 14% Finance/Business
  3. 10% Community/Charity
  4. 10% Construction/Manufacturing
  5. 10% Education

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.5
Designer

1.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 21% Design/Creative Arts
  2. 21% Medicine/Health
  3. 14% Finance/Business
  4. 14% Writing/Editing
  5.  7% Engineering

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.4
TV/Radio Presenter

1.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

  1. 21% I.T.
  2. 14% None
  3.  7% Admin/Management
  4.  7% Construction/Manufacturing
  5.  7% Education

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Builder

1.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.6
Chef

1.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Fictional Character

1.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.6
Shop Worker

1.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Vicar/Priest

1.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Librarian

1.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.7
Zookeeper

1.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.8
Astronomer

1.1% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.4
Politician

1.1% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.2
Bank Manager/Finance

1.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.5
Bin Person

1.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.3
Farmer

1.0% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.9
Animal

0.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Cowboy

0.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.1
Magician

0.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.3
Spy

0.9% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.9
Diver

0.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.8
Millionaire

0.8% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.3
Dancer

0.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.6
Dentist

0.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.6
Hairdresser

0.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.6
Lumberjack

0.6% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.0
Cartographer

0.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.8
Criminal

0.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.5
Lock Keeper

0.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.5
Parent

0.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.5
Pathologist

0.5% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.5
Clown

0.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.7
Comedian

0.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Gold Miner

0.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

1.7
Philosopher

0.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.7
Translator

0.4% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.3
Air Traffic Controller

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.0
Boss

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Explorer

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.0
Royalty

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

2.5
Servant

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

3.0
Theatre Director

0.3% had this ambition

Jobs they ended up doing:

Not enough data

How they think their younger selves would feel about the outcome:

4.0
Ambition with highest rating for how proud younger self would be (excluding those with minimal data):
4.4 Designer
Ambition with lowest rating:
3.0 Musician
Actual job with highest rating for how proud younger self would be (excluding those with minimal data):
4.4 Entertainment
Actual job with lowest rating:
2.5 Retail/Hospitality

800 survey respondents specified 1–3 childhood ambitions, the main job they now do and a rating representing how their younger selves would feel about that outcome (ranging from 1:Disappointed to 5:Proud). Ambitions and jobs were then manually categorised.