This is a sub-page of Development:The Sims (Windows).

thesimscareers.pdf While The Sims was still under development, Maxis released a sneak-peek PDF for the community. This document contained the complete set of in-game texts for all ten base-game career tracks, along with information about the Sim skills and chance-in cards for each job. It's believed that the PDF first appeared on the website of Maxis enthusiast and SimWatch co-founder Peter Naughton, before being re-hosted by other fan sites.

Created in March 1999. about eleven months before the game's release, the PDF offers a glimpse into a portion of The Sims' early texts. They reflect their older development stages, often referencing features that weren't implemented in the final game and exhibiting a general lack of polish.

(Source: LUCPIX)

Skill Descriptions

Analyzing these early versions of The Sims' skill-related in-game texts reveals an initial intent for skills to have a broader impact on gameplay, extending beyond workplace performance. While this concept was kept for Cooking and Mechanical skills, other skills lack significant influence on a Sim's home life or social interactions in the base game.

Cooking#

Mechanical#

Document

Final

This skill is useful both in the home and workplace. More than simply an aptitude for fixing things, Repair also covers using and maintaining tools, equipment, and so on that are specific to career tracks such as Law Enforcement, Life of Crime, Military, and Science. In Medicine, the skill refers to the Player’s ability to “repair” patients.

Being handy around the house can save money in expensive repair costs. It's also necessary to advance in certain careers. Improve this skill by studying do-it-yourself books from a bookshelf.

Charisma#

You would think that, at this point, improving this skill would benefit the Sims' ability to have successful relationships more easily when, in the final product, it does not impact Sim-to-Sim interactions.

Document

Final

Charisma indicates a character’s effectiveness at and building relationships, persuading others, mediating quarrels, and successfully resenting one’s ideas or “vision”. Also effects leadership capability and the manipulation of others. Charisma setting has more weight in certain career tracks, such as Entertainment, Politics, and Life of Crime, and possibly Law Enforcement.

Good communications and public speaking ability are essential for several careers, especially if you are considering Politics. Spend time practicing in front of any mirror to improve this skill.

Body#

Sims in the base game can not get sick or injured. In the same way as the early text above, it implies that improving this skill would somewhat affect Sim-to-Sim interactions.

Document

Final

This skill covers strength and dexterity. Sexuality is also part of the equation, and would effect romantic relationships. Could also include physical speed, and regulate the ability to ward off or recover from illness, fatigue, hunger and injury. This skill would be especially important in the Pro Athlete, Military, Law Enforcement, and X-treme Career tracks.

Strength, dexterity and speed - these are improved by swimming or working out on the exercise machine. The body skill is especially valued in the Pro Athlete and Military career tracks.

Logic#

Document

Final

Logic includes reasoning abilities and organizational skill, which are effective in the home as well as the workplace. This skill would have a more weighted effect in the career tracks of Medicine, Business, and Science.

Logic combines "reasoning abilities" with "organizational" skill. It is especially useful in the Medicine and Science career tracks. Playing Chess is a great way to improve this skill.

Creativity#

Document

Final

Creativity is the ability to generate ideas and concepts. The skill also considers artistic ability and potential for invention or “new thinking”. Has an effect on nearly all career tracks.

This skill includes artistic ability as well as the potential for invention and "new thinking." It's important for several different career tracks. Try your hand at painting and playing the piano to improve this skill.

Career Tracks

Previously, all career tracks only offered 6 career levels instead of the current 10. In addition to adding four career levels for each track, the final descriptions also contain (mostly minor) rewordings and addition of information about what skills to improve for promotion. They also remove various lines that suggest that originally the plan was for careers to feature additional gameplay events at home (as would eventually be implemented in The Sims 3), such as International Spies receiving secret messages or Scientists having to throw a fundraising party.

Curiously, some final-level career texts repeatedly reference Sims being moved to a pre-made "big house on the hill" as a supposed job reward, even though such feature does not exist in the final product. Players may relocate their Sims at any time, regardless of their career advancement (as long as the families can afford it).

Business Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
1 - Business strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Entertainment Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
2 - Entertainment strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|23
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Law Enforcement Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
3 - Law Enforcement strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|25
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Life of Crime Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
4 - Life of Crime strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Medicine Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
5 - Medicine strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Military Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
6 - Military strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Politics Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
7 - Politics strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Pro Athlete Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
8 - Pro Athlete strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

Scientist Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
9 - Science strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22

X-Treme Career#

**`Careers.iff`**
10 - X-Treme Career strings
ID
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|3
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|4
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|5
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|6
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|7
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|8
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|9
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|10
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|11
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|12
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|13
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|14
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|15
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|16
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|17
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|18
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|19
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|20
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|21
style="text-align: center; background-color:#DADADA;color:#4D4D4D\|22