|
|
|
by Jim Davis
Most teens have little idea of what they want to do with their lives when they finish high school. Those who have decided have often made their choices based on how much money they think they can make in a particular job. And, they often have only a sketchy idea of what the job actually involves or what education and training is required. This is probably the main reason why so many college students change their majors at least once before they graduate. That gets expensive! And, even if they don't plan to go to college, they usually still don't know what kind of work they want to do.
If you are a parent of a high school student, you are probably aware that individual career guidance in most high schools (and some colleges) is quite limited. Most high school guidance counselors have hundreds of students assigned to them. Their time is consumed by students' academic problems, testing, record keeping, etc. In addition, counseling for personal issues, class choices, interpersonal conflicts, and other duties leave little time for them to give your son or daughter the kind of one-on-one help they really need for career planning. About all guidance counselors usually have time for on an individual basis is to make sure students have the right credits for graduation. Most career guidance usually has to be done in groups.
You can provide the help your teen needs.
The Family Corner can help you assist your son or daughter in developing their career plans, even if they don't know what kind of work they want to do when they grow up. What most people don't realize about career planning is that it involves a lot more than deciding what career they want. It involves examining interests, capabilities, talents, values, and aspirations. It requires some basic life decisions, such as what your work ethic will be. When you get down to it, career planning involves deciding what kind of person you are going to be as much as it does what kind of work you want to do.
You can help your teen to assess their interests (see assessment links,) examine the skills they will need to develop, and determine the various possibilities they may want to pursue. You can also introduce them to other potential interests that neither you nor they may have even thought of.
Then, together, you and your teen can develop plans for each of the alternatives you have come up with, including how jobs they have as students can be part of the plans.
Becoming your teen's career coach can have many benefits for you and your family, as well as for the young adult you are helping to start an independent, successful life. Plus, you'll be able to use what you learn for your own career development, as well.