When Choosing a Career

As a parent you serve a major influence in your child's career development and career decision-making. We know that your priority is your children's happiness and success. One important contributing factor to that being a career choice. Research also indicates that when learners feel supported and loved by their parents, they have more confidence in their own ability to research about careers and to choose a career that would be interesting and exciting to them. This is important because studies show that adolescents who feel competent regarding career decision-making tend to make more satisfying career choices later in life. (Keller 2004).

As a parent you play an influential role in the level of education or training that your child attains. This relates to the knowledge acquired about their work and different occupations; the beliefs and attitudes they have to working; and the motivation they have to succeed. Most of this is learned unconsciously - children and teenagers absorb their parent's attitudes and expectations of them as they grow up and as a result it is very important that as a parent you are aware of your child's awareness about their career aspirations and their ability to finding suitable careers for themselves, if not, you must be able to intervene early and help your child.

Helping your child find a suitable career

It's a changing world

The simple reality is the world today is very different to how it was when you were deciding on your career. New demands occur in the job market and careers are being created all the time. This implies that you need to be aware of what is happening out there or at least know of relevant information resources. In the 21st century, changing from one career to another throughout one's life is common. This means that a person will make a career choice more than once in their lives. As a parent or caregiver, you are likely to be the single biggest influence on your child's thoughts and feelings about their future career. You are reading this because you care deeply about the productive life of your child. It is really important that you are aware of the influence you have and do your best in make this a positive, supportive and empowering rather than negative, restricting and disempowering process.

A good parent helps their child the most when they:

• have a good general understanding of the available options
• listen carefully to their child's views without being judgmental or critical
• are open to new ideas and possibilities
• encourage them to explore all their options

How can you help your child with their career plans?

These are some possible ways to consider:

• Talk to them from time to time about possible careers they might be interested in and why they appeal to them. Don't make a big deal out of it. There will be plenty of opportunities for such an exchange of ideas that crop up naturally while you are doing something else. This way it won't seem forced or patronising to your child.
• Encourage them to take an interest in the occupations or past careers of grown up family members and other adults who they come into contact with. This doesn't mean they have to follow those careers but use interactions with those people to enquire about what the careers are about and the like.
• Ask them about the help available in their school. Is there a library? Are there careers programs they can access on the school's computers? Are there careers lessons or special sessions related to the world of work, job applications etc.?
• Some schools arrange for their students to complete a career interest's questionnaire. Check whether this will happen with your child. If so, it is an excellent opportunity to start a natural, unforced conversation about their future options.
• Help them to explore the possible employers, apprenticeship providers and further education courses available in your local area. You should be able to find lots of useful information on these things on the web site of your local council. Keep an eye out for things like open days (at colleges and training organisations) and careers fairs held locally.
• Encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities. These are valuable in them and will help greatly later on in giving a good impression to people like employers or course tutors.
• If a career adviser attends parents' evenings take advantage of this opportunity to gather useful information and broaden out your child's career thinking. They will probably find this a little embarrassing so hang back and give them the chance to ask their own questions in their own way.
• Encourage your child to seek advice when necessary from career advisers. Ensure that they prepare properly for this discussion.
• Check whether the school they are in has career days and encourage them to participate.

Remember that career choice is a personal decision. Do not try to steer your child to a particular career because you think you know best or because it is a job you might like.

Encourage and support

Support from you as parents is very important when key decisions such as subject choices are being made. While it may not always feel that way, young people do take notice of advice offered to them by their parents or carers. Just keep in mind that your child's decisions should be based on their personal interests, aspirations and abilities. It should not be about you running their life for them.

The more you know about the information, advice and guidance that is available and where it can be accessed the better. Don't be afraid to contact your school if you have any questions.

A good starting point to better understand the range of job options available and what skills employers are looking for.

You can also help by supporting your child as they discover where their non-academic strengths lie. Psychometric profiling is an effective means of doing this and provides an element of impartiality - something which is difficult for a parent to achieve.

Encourage individuality

Be careful that you don't unintentionally pressure your child to realise your own unfulfilled ambitions. They may not be suited to the career you once dreamed of, but remember they're an individual and need to be given the freedom and space to live their own life.

Where your concern over their career and study choices may be deeply held, it is vital that your advice and expertise remains impartial. You should be realistic about your child's potential, and seeking guidance from their school or college as to their likely educational achievements will help to identify appropriate routes out there.

Open your mind to alternatives

Don't assume that your child will follow your academic path. Today, more than ever, there are a myriad of options for breaking into different sectors. Earning while they learn on an apprenticeship may not only be better suited to your child, but will allow them to avoid the daunting student debts that so many young people experience.

There are a wealth of online resources which can help to explain the various paths that you and your child may wish to consider, including the Career Development Services Website for information on further Post School Education and Training Opportunities.

Encourage networking

A rich and varied CV can pique the interest of an admissions tutor or potential employer. You should encourage your child to seek out work experience placements, take up volunteering roles, attend taster days, or simply speak with people already working in a sector that they're interested in. It may be that your own professional and social networks can come in handy here.

It's never too early to start thinking about the future - encouraging your child to start a portfolio of experiences for use in a future CV or as part of a personal statement can be beneficial from as early as year 9. Remind them to record all their work experience placements and gain references from them, as well as include part-time jobs held and roles involving responsibility either at school or outside organisations.

It's also a good idea to ask someone not familiar with your child to appraise their CV/personal statement and review how it comes across given they won't have preconceived opinions of them as an individual.

Get to know key dates and be prepared for what's ahead - we all know teenagers aren't always the most communicative or organised, so there's no harm in equipping yourself with knowledge of the key dates for each stage of their academic career. By the time they've completed formal education you can be on hand to assist with preparing for, and travelling to, university and college open days or job interviews.

Be prepared to let go

There can be a fine balance between giving guidance and supporting your child and becoming a parent who can't resist taking over and organising everything for them. Up until 16 many decisions relating to their education will have been made for them, so it's a good idea to start encouraging some independence that will enable them to cope when the time comes. This doesn't have to mean a sink or swim scenario and you'll naturally want to discuss things with them - just make sure you are in the background.