I saw someone make mention of Midheaven degrees being "deactivated" by not having a planet in the 10th house, suggesting that someone won't have a career, and honey, that's not how astrology works. BUCKLE IN.
Each house has a planetary ruler determined by the sign within which the corresponding cusp, or point of power related to that house, falls. The condition, position, motion, and relationships of that planet tell the story of a person's life in relationship to that house.
Find the house cusp, find its ruler, determine its condition, make a judgment. Houses can be more or less active by activation through timing techniques or through considerations of cadency, but nobody has a single house that just doesn't do anything.
Let's do an example! 
This individual's 10th house is empty save Fortuna and the south node. No planets. So does this person not have a career? WRONG, this person has been in their most recent position for sixteen years and is quite accomplished.
The tenth ruler is Venus, because the MC falls in Taurus. Venus is at 27 Capricorn, right around the 6th house cusp. Venus is also in a partile sextile to angular Saturn, closely associating Saturn with matters of career as well.
This individual's MC is in a fixed sign, connoting a need for stability and continuity in their professional life. Likewise because their 6th cusp is in a fixed air sign, they feel a strong cognitive sense of responsibility and duty to the areas which they manage.
Venus as the MC ruler accomplishes the purposes of the individual's career (10th) in a Capricorn style (initiating material structures and processes) from the 6th house, with Saturn's diligence bolstering her and amplifying the native's need/love of structure.
Because of the earth sign on the MC and the earth placement of the MC ruler, we might surmise that this individual's career has something to do with the land, and with establishing and maintaining material resources. Get ready for this:
This individual is the office manager of a major land development civil engineering firm near Washington DC.
Even though their 10th house is empty, this individual has a successful career and enjoys the benefits that a received sextile from Venus to Saturn can generate. #astrology #vocation
For those who would like me to cite my sources, my primary one is William Lilly, Christian Astrology books 2 and 3, on judgments pertaining to the tenth house.
Also, if you like this thread, book a consultation or ask a horary: live.vcita.com/site/jzo5ws83w…
