Discussing career paths with your teen

Adolescence is a time of change and uncertainty. Over the past few months, your teen has likely been grappling with a lot of questions about their future career. Here are some ideas on how to discuss choosing a career with your teen.

Should I take arts or science in Secondary V? Should I enrol in a vocational, technical, or pre-university program next year? These and countless other questions may have been on your teen’s mind this spring. 

The decisions they’re facing may seem simple, but each one is an important step toward choosing a career path—a process that your child may find stressful. It could be that they have a hard time picturing themselves in the future. If that’s the case, what’s the best way to support them? The key is to talk to your child, give them the resources they need, and help them recognize their strengths and achievements. It’s not up to you to be their career counsellor; your job is to be there for them and listen to what’s on their mind. 

As a parent, you can offer inspiration and reassurance to your child by discussing your own academic and professional journey. Tell them about your experiences and ask about theirs. One way of doing this is to prepare a list of questions and take turns answering them. Talking about the choices you made as a teenager in relation to your education and career will help your child gain perspective on their own situation. Don’t worry about having all the answers. Simply focus on sharing your experiences and, most of all, on reassuring your child that there’s no such thing as a perfect decision.

• Academic interests
• Available electives
• Other people’s opinions
• The stress of decision-making 
• Personal interests
• Salary expectations
• Personal values
• Your own choice of career
• Etc.

The important thing is for your child to understand that they have a wealth of options, and that they can always change their mind or choose a different path later on. Everything they go through will only add to their experience and help them get to know themselves.

Talking to your child about their future has a bigger impact than you may realize, particularly when it comes to crucial areas such as their motivation and perseverance at school. Indeed, academic and professional aspirations play a big part in whether kids stay in school. Studies have shown that students with clear academic and professional objectives are more motivated to stick with their studies and achieve their goals. 

Many considerations go into choosing a career, from areas of interest and innate talents to personal limitations. But the biggest influence on a young person’s choice of education and profession is their family. Your support and presence are therefore essential to guiding your child through the decision-making process and helping them make choices that are right for them!