| Answer: Choosing a future career path is probably the most important education related decision your child will ever make. Their choice of high school electives and college depend entirely on that often asked question, \"What do you want to be when you grow up?\"
The key to making a smooth transition from college into the real world comes years earlier, and it can be as simple as starting a dialogue with your kids while they are still formulating ideas about what they want to do when they grow up. The earlier you begin talking to your children about their future, the more prepared they will be for what lies ahead. It also may be helpful to include others in the conversation, such as counselors at the high school and university levels, who may provide insight and perspective during a stressful time for parents and their children. Area career counselors agree that the best way to open the discussion is to do some research and keep an open mind.
You need to do following things:
- Evaluate your child\'s school transcripts. Look for subjects she is particularly good in, regardless of whether she enjoys the subject.
Talk to your child about the extra-curricular activities he excels in. Find out what activities are especially easy for him, which ones seem frustrating or overly challenging.
- Talk to your child\'s teachers, work supervisor, or volunteer supervisor to find out their perception of your child\'s strengths.
Talk to your child about how she handles challenges, frustration and difficult people or situations. Make notes on what she sees and her strengths and weaknesses in these areas. Also make notes on your observations of your child in these areas.
- Talk to your child about his school subjects. Find out what he likes and dislikes about each one. Things like \"enjoys researching for papers, but hates writing papers\" or, \"enjoys writing fiction, but hates writing about literature, \" can be very useful.
- Find out which extra-curricular activities your child enjoys most, and most importantly, find out why he enjoys those activities.
Encourage your child to have hobbies. Hobbies allow people to explore new fields of study on an informal basis.
- Help your child read through and identify jobs or fields she would be interested in. Have her identify academic and extra-curricular interests. Make a list of each job and field your child marks.
The asnwers to all these would help you to choose a right career for your child.
All the best
CareerAge Counselor |
