Tips for Molding a Career-Minded Teen: Making the Most of Education in Formative Years
By: Mindy Bingham
One of the most common mistakes families make is assuming that students will naturally identify a well-informed career choice while in college. However, studies estimate that around 50% of new graduates still have no idea what they want to do for work. This often leads to squandering years of education as students may end up taking a haphazard approach to their coursework, enrolling in general education courses with the sole aim of getting a degree.
To avoid this, it is crucial to begin career exploration early and support it at home through continuous conversations and parenting strategies. Research has shown that students who enter college or post-secondary training with a clear career focus are more likely to graduate than those who have only considered themselves as good students. To encourage teens to become more career-minded and focused, we should engage them in envisioning a hopeful and productive future. This includes encouraging them to develop a 10-year education and career plan that guides them through high school, post-secondary education or training, and into the workforce, enabling them to be financially self-sufficient.
In today’s world of instant gratification, it’s essential to help teens take the long view and plan for their future. To do this, parents, family members, mentors, and educators should follow several strategies:
Expose Teens to Various Career Options: Make it a parenting goal to expose your child to as many different careers as possible. Discuss different jobs you encounter in your daily life and provide opportunities for them to shadow or talk to friends and family with diverse professions.
Connect Teens with Inspirational Mentors: Facilitate connections between your teen and adults who work in areas of their interest. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or someone at their school, such connections can foster growth and passion for their chosen field.
Encourage Exploration of Different Avenues and Interests: Allow your child to join various groups, clubs, organizations, and participate in community activities. The more diverse their experiences, the more likely they will discover their passions and aptitudes.
Cultivate Work Experience: Provide opportunities for your child to engage in jobs beyond their regular chores. Encourage age-appropriate teens to take on part-time jobs, even if it’s working for the family business or in a local retail shop. Work experience will help them gain insight into their career preferences and enhance their college applications.
Advocate for Comprehensive Guidance Courses in School: Encourage your school district to offer a comprehensive guidance course in the 8th or 9th grade. In this course, students can explore essential questions like “Who Am I?” and “What do I want?” which will help them make better educational and career choices.
By following these strategies, students can make more informed decisions about their careers early on, reducing the likelihood of changing majors in college and accumulating unnecessary debt. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that their career choices align with their passions, leading to greater life satisfaction and happiness in the long run.
About the Author:
Author of the renowned Career Choices series, Mindy Bingham has served as the CEO of her own educational publishing company for over 30 years. In that time, with the support of thousands of educators, Academic Innovations has positively impacted the lives of more than 2.5 million students, motivating and empowering them to become self-sufficient, productive citizens. She has been awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Innovative Approaches to Curricula by the United States Congress, as well as The Breaking Barriers Award of the Equity Council of the national Association for Career and Technical Education.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
