Time to go out into the big, bad worldAlthough career choices are important for some young people, they're not a matter of life and death. In fact, most people don't get into a settled career until their mid-20s. If your child plans to be a doctor, lawyer or other professional, it's a long haul - as it always has been. For others, though, the route is likely to be much less predictable. But before your child starts a career, they'll probably have further and higher education to consider. Higher education costs money, which probably means a student loan, and students increasingly take part-time, often poorly-paid jobs to generate more cash. In terms of post-university work, employers are increasingly looking for experience as well as academic qualifications. It's as important to build a body of experience as it is to make good career choices.
Implications for youIf your child doesn't seem to have any concrete future plans, here are some ideas you might find helpful: - Don't worry yet - accept your child's career may be less predictable than your own.
- Inform yourself about the workplace - buy and read a careers book or talk to people in their early and mid-20s about their experiences.
- Support your child to learn to adapt to a changing world - your teen will need these skills to negotiate her working life, whichever career she chooses.
- Accept some people take longer than others to choose a career - some know at 11, others not until their mid-20s.
- Explore local professional careers services, within and outside of school and offer to go with your teen to seek advice.
This article was last reviewed by Heather Welford in September 2008.
Disclaimer: The BBC Parenting site is provided for your general information only. The information contained on this site should not be treated as a substitute for medical, legal or other professional advice. The BBC is not responsible or liable for the contents of any websites of third parties which are listed on this site. |
|
|
