Choosing a career is a big decision that shapes your personal and professional life. A satisfying career brings purpose, happiness, financial stability, security, personal development, and pride. It also helps achieve work-life balance. When selecting a career, avoid common advice like opting for prestige or a high income. Parents should support their child in choosing a career by:
- Respecting Their Individuality: Avoid forcing your own dreams on your child. Support their unique interests and goals. Help with decisions to achieve their career goals.
- Considering Personality and Interests: Identify your child’s personality traits and interests. This can guide them towards careers that suit them.
- Encouraging Exploration: Assist your child in discovering their strengths and passions. Let them explore various activities, hobbies, and courses.
- Promoting Independence: Expose your child to different activities and encourage them to take charge of their career choices. Teach them to research options, weigh pros and cons, and make informed decisions.
- Open and Honest Conversations: Discuss various career options, required skills, and education with your child. Brainstorm how their natural strengths can align with different careers.
- Real-world Exposure: Challenge your child to step out of their comfort zone. Encourage them to spend time with professionals in different fields to understand job responsibilities and work environments.
- Emphasizing Values: Be a positive example for your child. Encourage them to think about their values and how to integrate them into their career choices. Show how their career can have a positive impact on the world.
Develop a plan for your child’s future career
Explore various options with your child.
Understand that plans can change due to various reasons. Establish backup plans in case their preferred career path doesn’t materialize. Having alternative plans within the same field or a closely related one is more cost-effective and time-efficient. This ensures your child is well-prepared in case their initial career choice doesn’t work out. For example, if your child is considering a career as a physician, also consider alternative paths like becoming a high school biology teacher or a nurse.
Investigate the necessary education or training for the chosen career.
Familiarize yourself with the prerequisites for admission to the educational or training program. Additionally, understand the associated costs and formulate a strategy to fund the education or training. Consider seeking insights from individuals currently undergoing training in the field to gain a better understanding of their daily experiences. Schedule a visit to a college with your child or explore vocational training programs together.
Motivate your child to accumulate hands-on experience in their chosen field.
Emphasize that networking and practical experience hold equal importance to formal education and training. Explore various avenues for gaining experience and building connections, such as volunteering, shadowing, and internships. Clarify to your child that taking on leadership roles, whether paid or unpaid, enhances their credibility with future employers. Encourage teenagers to commence building their resumes early in order to establish a strong foundation for their future career endeavors.
