Image by timandkris via Flickr
Every parent wants their teenager to choose a perfect career – something which will make them proud, use their skills and keep them financially comfortable for their future. However, many teens aren’t sure what career they want to go into, and this can have an effect on the courses they choose to take – generic courses are less likely to be respected then specific ones which demonstrate an interest and knowledge in the area.
There are some things you can do to help your child choose a potential job. Consider their interests – if they love science, how about taking them to a sea-life centre, and talking about the jobs differnet people do there? Once your teen has done some research, if they are interested, ask about internships in different places, such as the centre or nearby marine science centres.
If your teen likes children, they may want to work with them in some way – in a nursery, as a nanny or in a school. Allow your teenager to experience children exactly how they are – ‘borrow’ a friends child for a few days, or help your teen to approach a local school about helping out for experience.
Be realistic. Sometimes teens have dreams which are very unlikely, such as playing basketball, or being an actress. Encourage these skills with extracurricular activities, but support your child in choosing other jobs they would like to do as a ‘back up’. For example, someone who loves children and loves drama might be great at teaching in a drama school for children, which would provide them with valuable work experience and a future career.
Finally, don’t push your child into anything. Try not to set your heart on them choosing a certain career, or following in your footsteps, and don’t influence your teen – you don’t want them to end up in a career they hate, or choosing a module they will struggle in just to keep you happy.
