The 3 Best Careers for Oldest Children (and 2 They Should Probably Stay Away from)

Can we all just agree that “what do you want to be when you grow up?” is a totally loaded question? From the time we can compute a conscious thought to around age 17, we are pelted with pressure to determine what we’ll spend the rest of our lives doing until we retire. And while I do believe there’s some truth to the idea that we can be whatever we want, there’s more truth in the fact that our personalities do influence our aptitudes for some careers over others. For example, oldest siblings and youngest siblings may thrive in different roles because one is more cautious and responsible (oldest) while the other is game for risk (younger). Other traits that define the oldest sibling: nurturing, takes initiative, organized, pioneer. I recently sat down with Los Angeles-based life coach Elizabeth Hudson to chat about the best careers for oldest siblings—plus two that would make them totally miserable.

Elizabeth Hudson is a spiritual life coach, yoga instructor and meditation teacher. Hudson has led retreats for all ages and demographics, helping clients strategically focus on developing action plans to achieve their goals while nurturing healthy relationships with themselves. She hosts the Sexual Alchemy Podcast in conversation with healers, yogis and other experts about conscious sexuality. Hudson has been featured in Los Angeles Magazine, the podcasts I’m Glad You’re Here and In the Calm and others.

Given the fact that oldest children are 30 percent more likely to end up in management positions, entrepreneurship isn’t so far-fetched. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re launching Silicon Valley’s next soonicorn. (Though, props to you if that’s your jam.) That could also mean you’re crushing it on Etsy with custom-designed crochet dresses or rocking the world with the next Sonny Angel. Being an entrepreneur is generally compatible with the oldest child’s personality traits because they take initiative, are organized and responsible. Hudson agrees. “I'm a first born and I’m really entrepreneurial, taking leaps to forge trails to places I never thought I would end up in. [I] find outside of the box strategies for myself.” All of which are crucial when you’re starting a business and there’s no corporate roadmap for how to swim.

“There’s no one already setting the pace for you; you’re not in anyone else’s slipstream,” Hudson adds. “There is an inevitability to having to set your own pace and forge your own path.” And because oldest siblings are used to taking charge, being in any role where they’re not just feels wrong. As a business owner, they’ll get to flex all the parts of their personality that demand they be in the driver’s seat.

Though they are can-do and take charge, I’ll let you in on a secret. Oldest children (myself included) are big softies. It’s likely attributed to the fact that we often assume a burden of caring for younger siblings in some capacity, whether that means being the on-call, on-demand babysitter or literally raising them like your own. (Yup, classic case of Eldest Daughter Syndrome right here.) This nurturing aspect is what gives oldest siblings the potential to be great educators.

“They can be a little more careful, a little more conscientious. Certainly more concerned with the welfare of others,” Hudson notes. Whether you’re teaching elementary school or are corralling a class of hormonal teenagers (good luck), you’ll quickly find that the leadership qualities of entrepreneurship marry well with the caring, empathetic qualities needed to run a classroom. 

But not like *that* if you know what I mean. In its truest form, a politician is a public servant. The role requires leadership skills, confidence, vision and charisma. Don’t forget about the word servant in public servant, though. That means advocating for your constituents’ well-being. And, of course, rallying people around a cause.

“There are positive qualities of recognizing that you have to share your time, that you have to be flexible, that you have to be generous, patient,” Hudson says. “Those are all good leadership qualities,” and oldest children may come more naturally equipped with them due to their upbringing. (Though, many traits can be taught, too.)

Hudson and I both agree that oldest children most likely want to take responsibility and would be discontented to simply follow others around. Rote work, anything where the job requires you to stay in a lane—probably a no-go. That’s why I’d wager that oldest children probably don’t want to go into accounting—unless you’re on the partner track at a Big Four firm. Specifically, you may find yourself suffering acutely if you run payroll: strict deadlines, little variation, no vision. Nail in the oldest child’s coffin.

There’s a difference between information tech and straight up computer science. While knowledge of a coding language or two is helpful (and potentially required), you most likely won’t be using that knowledge to launch Facebook 2.0. Instead, this industry is focused on processes like storage, retrieval and data transmission for business operations. In other words, you’ll be spending a lot of time doing maintenance, troubleshooting and administrative work—things that may have oldest siblings feeling bored, fast.