The Sims 3 Ambitions Guide Walkthrough Careers
Skill-Based Careers
Ambitions allows Sims who choose to focus on creative endeavors to participate in a career-like system.
Skill-based careers are similar to professions in that you can seek promotions and advance, but instead of having specific responsibilities or metrics to manage, promotions are awarded based on the overall sold value of the objects created.
For example, if a Writer scribes a romance novel worth §6,700 of royalties, those Simoleons are placed in an overall pot (no matter whether or not they are spent on anything). When the Sim crosses a value threshold, a promotion is awarded.
A skill-based career is a good way to make a living doing what you love on your own schedule.
If you wish to embark on a skill-based career, go to City Hall and register as self-employed. The listed careers are based on your current skill set.
If you have multiple skills in development, you will see several skill-based career options. You may register for multiple skill-based careers, but it will not be easy to reach high-level promotions if you split your time across multiple careers.
Writer
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fan Fiction Drafter | 75 | |
| 2 | Small-Time Scrivve | 400 | |
| 3 | Tabloid Typist | 1,000 | |
| 4 | Paperback Pauper | 2,500 | |
| 5 | Work-for-Hire Wordsmith | 5,000 | 500 |
| 6 | Pretentious Poet | 8,000 | |
| 7 | Ghostwriter | 12,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Prize Winning Author | 19,000 | |
| 9 | Fiction Fantastico | 30,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Blockbuster Writer | 50,000 | 5,000 |
Painter
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paint Splasher | 50 | |
| 2 | Canvas Cretin | 75 | |
| 3 | Finger Painter | 250 | |
| 4 | Paintbrush Patsy | 750 | |
| 5 | Avant Guarde Poseur | 1,000 | 500 |
| 6 | Art Gallery Rookie | 2,500 | |
| 7 | Illustrious Illustrator | 5,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Prestigious Painter | 10,000 | |
| 9 | Acrylic Ace | 25,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Master of the Brush | 50,000 | 5,000 |
Gardener
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cucumber Smasher | 30 | |
| 2 | Dirt Digger | 75 | |
| 3 | Clodhopper | 500 | |
| 4 | Master Weeder | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Fertilizer Flinger | 2,500 | 500 |
| 6 | Bushwacker | 7,500 | |
| 7 | Seed Sewer | 15,00 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Famed Farmer | 30,000 | |
| 9 | Progency of the Harvest | 60,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Agricultural Mastermind | 80,000 | 5,000 |
Fisher
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rod and Reel Rookie | 30 | |
| 2 | Empty Net Trawler | 75 | |
| 3 | Hook Baiter | 500 | |
| 4 | Freshwater Freshman | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Saltwater Initiate | 2,500 | 500 |
| 6 | Chub Chucker | 7,500 | |
| 7 | Local Ahab | 15,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Deadliest Catcher | 30,000 | |
| 9 | Old Salty | 60,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Legendary Piscator | 80,000 | 5,000 |
Inventor
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrocution Victim | 30 | |
| 2 | Nuts and Bolts Combiner | 75 | |
| 3 | Duct Tape Rigger | 300 | |
| 4 | Whatchamahickey Designer | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Experienced Innovator | 2,500 | 500 |
| 6 | Hosebeast | 5,000 | |
| 7 | Father of Local Ingenuity | 10,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Feared Techie | 25,000 | |
| 9 | Robotics Dealer | 45,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Fourth Dimensional Architect | 60,000 | 5,000 |
Sculptor
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Questionable Potter | 50 | |
| 2 | Cro-magnon Clay Creator | 150 | |
| 3 | Sculpting Gozer | 300 | |
| 4 | Block Buster | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Obelisk Architect | 2,500 | 500 |
| 6 | Ice Guy/Gal | 5,000 | |
| 7 | Renaissance Sculptor | 10,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Chiseled Chisler | 25,000 | |
| 9 | Topiary Tantalizer | 45,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Master SCulptologist | 60,000 | 5,000 |
Photographer
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papa/Mama Paparazzi | 20 | |
| 2 | Dark Room Destroyer | 50 | |
| 3 | Awkwardly Close Zoomer | 150 | |
| 4 | Social Network Profile Photographer | 750 | |
| 5 | Disposable Debutante | 2,500 | 500 |
| 6 | Aperture Scientist | 5,000 | |
| 7 | Titan of Timelessness | 10,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Lens Lover | 25,000 | |
| 9 | Memory Catcher | 45,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Snap Dragon | 60,000 | 5,000 |
Nectar Maker
| Level | Title | Value for Advancement | Bonus Simoleon Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grape Kicker | 30 | |
| 2 | Tastebud Nullifier | 75 | |
| 3 | Nectar Taster | 150 | |
| 4 | Bottle Label Designer | 250 | |
| 5 | Nectar Makers Assistant | 1,000 | 500 |
| 6 | Ascendant Juicer | 5,000 | |
| 7 | High Quality Nectar Pairer | 9,000 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Chief of the Nectary Grounds | 14,000 | |
| 9 | Nectar Bottle Distributor | 25,000 | 2,500 |
| 10 | Master Nectar Craftsman | 35,000 | 5,000 |
Career Rewards
| Action | Reward |
|---|---|
| Make $25k from Writing | Author's Honor Trophy |
| Make $25k from Painting | Artist's Painted Ribbon |
| Make $25k from Gardening | Gardening Hero's Trophy |
| Make $25k from Fishing | Fabulous Angler Medal |
| Make $25k from Sculpting | Successful Sculptor's Medal |
| Make $25k from Photography | Photographer's Key to the Town |
| Make $25k from Nectar Making | Nectar Maker's Symbol of Honor |
Bake Sale
Remember that classic computer game, Lemonade Stand?
Well, a similar game exists inside Ambitions to give child Sims a "career" of their own. Kids can now set up bake sale tables (buy from the Toys tab in Build/Buy Mode) in the front yard of their family lots or in community lots and sell goods made in the toy oven.
To get started on this cute, lucrative enterprise, a child needs to bake up a batch of something in the toy oven, such as muffins. After the muffins have finished, click on the bake sale table and choose the Stock interaction.
Once the muffins are out, use the Tend interaction to start selling.
Almost immediately, friends and neighbors wander onto the lot, following the smell of those delicious muffins.
Children can then sell the muffins to other Sims for a few extra Simoleons. It's adorable and it gives children something to do other than watch TV.
Children are encouraged not to just let prices ride, though.
Tastes are fickle and by using the daily Baking Report in the newspaper (this is now an interaction on the newspaper), they can get an idea of where the collective sweet tooth is at that day.
Children set the prices for vanilla goods, chocolate goods, other goods, and all goods. If the goodies are priced right, they will almost fly off the table.
If business slows, though, consider lowering the price on some baked goods to see if the customer base responds better.
Sims older than toddlers can also interact with the bake sale. Use the Purchase interaction to buy something from the table. Child Sims can also attempt to steal money from the table.
If an adult is present when a child attempts to do this, though, they get a stern lecture about not thieving. Evil or Mean grown-up Sims may even try to pull this stunt!