A Comprehensive Guide to Careers in The Sims 1

Securing employment for your adult Sims is essential in The Sims, especially with bills piling up and responsibilities to attend to. Whether you use the newspaper or access a computer, it’s important to find a job for your Sims as soon as possible.

Understanding what to expect from a job is beneficial, particularly since career options were limited in the original game. In The Sims Legacy Edition, you can choose from 21 different jobs, each with specific skill requirements that you must fulfill as you advance.

Finding a Manageable Job

Find a Job and Make Sure to Catch Your Ride on Time

Finding a job in the original Sims game is quite easy, but your options will be restricted each day. Unlike later versions of the series that let you choose any career freely, in The Sims, you must use the newspaper or a computer to look for work. The newspaper provides only one job opening each day, whereas the computer showcases three options. These listings refresh at midnight, so if nothing suits you today, you can check again tomorrow.

Each day, a notification will remind you that the carpool will arrive in one hour, signaling it’s time to prepare your Sim for work. A car will pick them up an hour before their shift starts. If you’re close to the car at the last moment but not inside as departure time hits, it will leave without you.

If you miss your ride, you can’t go to work that day. Plan to be ready earlier than you think, as Sims can take their time to reach the car, so heading out at least 20 minutes before pickup is wise, depending on your home’s layout.

As you advance in your career, the quality of your carpool improves, which can start as nothing fancy and progress to a limousine! While this upgrade doesn’t change your timing, it’s a fun touch. You can’t accompany your Sim to work, but it’s best to send them off in a positive mood, as being in a bad mood affects their promotion chances.

You’re Expected to Work Daily (But You Have Some Flexibility)

The original Sims does not feature a proper calendar system; thus, your Sim is scheduled to work every day. They don’t get time off, weekends don’t exist, and there’s no holiday pay. Regardless of their mood or the condition of their home, they are expected to show up to work on schedule each day.

If you miss a single day, expect a phone call from your job delivering a verbal warning for your absence. Fortunately, it seems there’s minimal consequence if you return to work the next day. So, while there are no days off, you might consider skipping work occasionally to address your Sim’s needs.

Since there isn’t much time left in the day after work to manage personal needs or skills, using workdays to build toward your next promotion can be advantageous. If you need more social connections for promotions but are short on time, consider missing a workday to socialize, meet new friends, and do what’s necessary before returning to work the next day.

Sims Need Family Friends for Promotions

Networking can be crucial in any job. In the original Sims game, you need a specific number of friends to earn promotions, so in addition to improving career skills, you’ll have to engage with others in your neighborhood to boost your relationships.

Fortunately, the game takes into account family friends instead of individual connections. Therefore, if you control multiple Sims in a household, they can all contribute to a stronger social network. Consider keeping an additional Sim in your household focused on making friends to support the whole family’s career advancement.

You’ll Get an Offer to Change Career Paths

Unlike the flexible career options available in later games, when your Sims reach advanced levels in their chosen career, they may receive an offer to switch jobs for a change of scenery. Often, these are positions with similar requirements; for example, a Sim in the Military might be offered a role in Law Enforcement, or a Medical professional could consider becoming a Scientist, while others seem randomly assigned, like how Musicians can shift to the Paranormal career.

This opportunity usually presents itself once you hit the top level of your current job. While the decision is up to you, this can be a great way to mix things up if you’re not fully committed to your initial career path.

All Careers in The Sims

Below is a comprehensive list of every job you can take in the original Sims game, including those available in the expansions that came with The Sims Legacy Edition. This guide outlines the skills you’ll need to develop and lists both starting and maximum daily earnings.

Every Job in The Sims