Choosing a career path is certainly one of life’s big decisions -- one that can be overwhelming for any teenager. Even though schools and colleges do offer career advice, often it is limited and not individualised enough to be inspiring. Here at Tutor Doctor we know how important it is that your teens get useful career advice and know all their options before making big decisions. As parents, you can help guide them through this important time and make sure they have all the tools they need. Here’s some great ways to get started:
Talk to your teen
A great place to start is by talking to your teen about what they actually want to do. Chat about their ideas, what they want to achieve, where they see themselves in the future and about their hopes and dreams. Remember these conversations can start as early as Years 9 and 10 at school, since during this time your teens are thinking about college and beyond. Exploring their options early will help them focus and guide them in choosing subjects that are relevant to their aspirations.
A little research goes a long way!
Encourage your teen to do a little bit of career research online, because a ton of information is out there waiting for them! Encourage them to look at job descriptions of roles that might interest them and see how they can turn their passions into a career. It’s also a great idea to research fields they admire -- the route to those careers might even surprise them. Not only will research broaden your teen’s horizons, it gives them ideas, prospects and information on how they can get there. If anything it should be inspiring!
Explore routes now
If your teen is interested in a specific field, why not start exploring some paths to that field? Look out for events or talks they could attend to find out more information or simply for inspiration. Reaching out and meeting people in careers of interest can also be extremely beneficial. Encourage your teen to ask questions or even see if they can job-shadow for a day or two. Internships and part-time jobs also provide invaluable work experience and help young people discover whether that particular career path is what they really want to pursue.
Offer realistic advice
When helping your teenager discover what career path they may want to head down it’s essential to offer them realistic advice. Remember to let them know that no career is set in stone and they are only just starting to explore different options. There’s no need for them to panic and they certainly don’t have to decide anytime soon! It’s equally important to let them know that pursuing a career takes hard work, dedication and it can take years to land a dream job. Finally, if there’s one piece of advice to give your teen, it’s to remind them they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it!
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