Many parents don’t imagine career conversations are important for pre-college kids. While vast career options exist, narrowing the opportunities can be tough for young students. Finding that sweet spot where skills, interests, and qualifications overlap is the key to connecting the dots for a possible career path.
If your child has difficulty choosing the best career, try to guide them in the decision-making. Knowing what they are passionate about can help you build connections to boost their career prospects. Here are some practical ways to help your kid select a great career.
Avoid imposing your dreams on your child
Your son or daughter may have a unique talent. Resist the tendency to treat them like an extended version of yourself or force dreams on them.
Rather, support and encourage them to set their own career goals. Assist them with important decisions and resources to realize their career goals. Imposing your dreams on your child can affect their job satisfaction, which is not what you want.
Let them consider their interests
You can help your kid identify their interests, providing practical clues that may fit them. Instead of clipping their wings, let them explore and discover their strengths and passions. Consider their hobbies and extracurricular activities that excite them.
For instance, if they have a penchant for drawing, they probably will thrive as artists. Likewise, their interest in building things can signify a good career in engineering. You may also orient them to research various career options, helping them weigh the pros and cons to make smarter decisions.
Use career assessment tools
Sometimes, you may require the assistance of assessment tools to determine your child’s future career. Parents can use options like the FIRO-B assessment to augment a child’s career development strategies and enhance their interpersonal relationships behavior, a key trait to succeed in any corporate environment.
The answers you generate from these test evaluations can also help promote healthy relationships at home and school. Personality assessment tools and standardized tests like the SAT can help identify a child’s strengths.
Understanding their behavioral traits and personalities will allow your child to consider the best professions to utilize their talents. For example, kids with a knack for tech may find IT fields exciting.
Discuss the deal breakers
Every individual has one or two things they resent. Discuss the deal breakers with your child to help recognize careers that are not for them. If you know what they hate, you can encourage them to avoid bad career choices.
Bring up conversations on things your child struggles with in school and how to factor that into their career option. For instance, a parent can tell his son, “I know you complain about math homework weekly. Do you think an accountant is a good career choice?’ I wish I had a parent tell me this. I actually did this exact thing. I hated math but was an accounting major for a short time.
Final thoughts
Finding the right career path for your child is easier than you might think. By taking steps to understand their interests, goals, and skills, and guiding them to explore different fields, they can create an individualized path to success.
To help open up conversations and research with your child, try asking them questions such as “What do you enjoy doing?” and “What do you feel you excel at?”.
Encouraging your child to observe professionals in their potential field or interview for internships or part-time jobs will also help them narrow down their career aspirations. By providing support and guidance, you can help them navigate the path to success and inspire them to reach their highest potential.
I think career assessment tools are helpful, but letting your child explore their interests and pursue their passions from a young age, teaching them to follow through with hobbies they’ve already started helps.
Yes! Def following your interests helps in finding a career you will love rather than just tolerate