Sound advice?

Last week the Magazine did a story on careers advisers and the tricky job of dealing with young people's dreams and careers aspirations. Do they ever get it right? You let us know.

Wanted to be an actor, doctor, fashion designer? If most anecdotes are to be believed, you would have been told a firm "no" by your careers adviser.

When I grow up...

They regularly come in for stick for raining on youngsters' parades. Just last week they came under fire for not doing enough to push girls towards well paid jobs.

But those who do the job say this common stereotype of a careers adviser is wrong and unfair.

So do they get it right? Do they match ability and aspiration and set pupils on the path to their ideal job? Read on and find out from some of our readers.

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Become an ambulance driver and work your way to doctor

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Doctor

I went to a secondary modern school in the early 1970s. The school's careers adviser didn't take my ambition to become a doctor seriously and suggested that I think about becoming an ambulance driver and working my way up. Fortunately that career's office had zero influence on my career and I am now a senior teaching hospital consultant.
Philip, London

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Deep sea diver or radio producer

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Deep sea diver and radio producer

During my final year of university, studying a Masters degree in Musicology, I was confused about my career path. I went to the careers office and took the computer test, which came up with "deep sea diver" and "radio producer" as my ideal jobs. I didn't even think twice about it - they were useless suggestions. Ten years later, I have worked as a dive master and currently work for an advertising agency producing radio commercials.
Tanya, London

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Be an actuary

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Actuary

I was really good at maths at school and when I saw my careers adviser he suggested that I should think about becoming an actuary. I wasn't interested at all and thought it sounded really dull. Ten years later and I am now half way through my professional actuarial exams. I guess sometimes they do get it right!
Emma, Edinburgh

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Have work experience at McDonald's

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Journalist

When I was at school I always wanted to be a journalist. For years it was all I ever talked about and did my utmost to get as much experience as possible. Imagine my frustration when my careers adviser at school was organising our work experience and, despite making it quite obvious that I wanted to be at a newspaper or broadcast place, she tried to send me to McDonalds. I took matters into my own hands and now work at a well known local newspaper, I think I advised myself better to be honest.
Danielle, Portsmouth

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Be a parole officer.

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Science researcher

I can remember on various questionnaires writing that I did not want to work with lots of other people (I was very shy at the time). The careers services suggestion? Parole Officer. I'm now a science researcher which I love. It never once came up as a suggestion.
Rachel, Manchester

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Don't be a writer, be a civil servant

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Writer

I have known since I was seven that I wanted to write fiction. At 15 I told my careers guidance councillor this, she suggested I would like working for the civil service. At the time I assumed that I was an idiot for even thinking I could be writer. But I ended up doing various editorial jobs and now I'm writing full time. I've got my first book coming out in the spring.
Clare Grant, Tunbridge Wells

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: You'll never be a computer programmer

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: A computer programmer

I'm almost 42 now but way back when I was in secondary school personal computers were quite new and very rare, but I was pushed into joining the school computer club by my father who was a keen amateur electronics enthusiast. After initially struggling to grasp programming I and my younger brother were lucky enough to receive a Sinclair ZX Spectrum for Christmas and having the computer at home really boosted my confidence and suddenly I was writing my own programs. However, the school career advisor almost burst out laughing when I told him I wanted to be a programmer. He basically told me to forget the idea as the qualifications required for the computing industry were extremely onerous and a minimum of a degree in maths was required. I'm happy to say that despite not having the necessary qualifications I left school and have enjoyed an IT career for much of my adult life. Around nine years ago I went into business for myself and currently run a £6m pa IT company specialising in networking.
Alan Gould, Manchester

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Crematorium worker

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Petrol industry analyst

I remember being sat in front of a computer about 15 years ago and being told by the careers advisor that the careers program was extremely accurate and would match me to my ideal professional based on the answers I gave. I came back with - crematorium worker! Luckily I took no notice and am now happily employed an analyst in the petrol industry.
Chris, Altringham, Cheshire

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Woodwork

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Became a local councillor

I told my careers advisor I intended to do A levels, do a degree, join a big five (as it was then) firm of accountants, and then go into politics. He asked if I had considered woodwork. I did my A levels and degree, joined a big five firm, and then went into politics. I currently combine work with serving as a local councillor. It wasn't as easy to do as I thought 15 years ago and I do work 90 hours a week, but I'm sure it's working out better than woodwork.
Matt, Yorkshire

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Study metallurgy and become an engineer

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Studied metallurgy and became an engineer

I was exceedingly lucky with my careers adviser at school. With studying the sciences for A level I found that I liked the materials and metals modules and said this to my careers adviser, who luckily had read about a metallurgy and materials engineering degree course the day before. I have just completed my doctorate in materials engineering and loved my degree subject. I am not sure how I would have found my unusual degree course without that careers adviser.
Eirian, Bristol

CAREERS ADVISER SAID: Don't be an engineer, be a hairdresser

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID: Became an engineer

I'm a female aeronautical engineer. My careers advisor told me that I had no chance of getting any job in engineering and told me I should train to be either a hairdresser or a shop assistant. I'd love to see them again and show them how very wrong they were. Determination and grit will get you much further than a careers adviser ever will.
Gill, Swindon