I was on the wrong side of the demand curve: the supply of economics graduates vastly outstrips the number of traineeships for economists. This was my epiphany during my second year reading the dismal science. Seeking an alternative path, I found myself in the careers centre, taking a job suitability test. While indulging in the great university pastime of fantasising about my potential future importance to society, I confessed all manner of preferences and tendencies. Was I actually meant to be a surgeon? Maybe a barrister? Perhaps a chief executive? The test disagreed on all counts. I would make an excellent prison warden, it declared.
當年我處於需求曲線的錯誤一端：經濟學畢業生的供應遠遠超過經濟學家的實習崗位數量。這是我在讀這門「沉悶科學」第二年時的頓悟。爲了尋找替代之路，我來到了一家職業中心，參加了一場職業適宜性測試。就像一般的大學生那樣，我沉溺於想像自己未來對社會有多麼重要，於是坦承了所有的偏好和傾向。我其實應該努力成爲一名外科醫生？或許是一名律師？或許是執行長？測試結果顯示這些全都不行。結果稱，我將是一名優秀的監獄看守。