|
Career Planning For Teenagers
From ABC 7 Chicago Morning News Segment "Connect with
Kids"
Interview with anchor, Judy Hsu
April 10, 2005 - With high school and college graduations
just around the corner, now is the time for parents to discuss
career planning with their children. Yet, most parents feel
unprepared to have these conversations.
Peg Hendershot is the Director of Career Vision, a non-profit
career services organization based in Glen Ellyn. Hendershot
contends that the sooner teens can explore possible careers,
the faster they will be able to choose a college major or
profession that leads to success and satisfaction. Hendershot
says ideally parents should start career planning discussions
when their children are as young as kindergarten! At a very
young age, children begin to absorb everything a parent says,
including remarks and attitudes about their job. At this age,
it's not so much of a discussion as it is to plant the seed
that there are many different jobs out there that children
can learn to like.
By high school age, children should begin to have a clear
idea of what interests them as they prepare for the career
path. During this time, Hendershot says it's important for
the students to explore as much as possible the different
types of jobs out there through extra curricular activates,
job shadowing and internships. For the parents, it's important,
she says, to encourage children to go outside of the box and
try something new. This will give them a chance to try something
they otherwise might not have.
Hendershot suggests the following conversation starters and
tips to begin talking with your teenager about a career/college
major choice:
What do you think you'd like to be involved in next year
(such as sports, music lessons, other activities)?
What do you like about that activity?
Do you have a particular goal in mind for what you'd like
to accomplish in doing that activity?
Who do you know that really enjoys their job?
What kinds of jobs seem interesting to you?
What makes them interesting to you?
What would you like to learn more about?
What do you like to do in your free time?
What kinds of kids do you like to hang around?
What do they do or say that makes you want to be with
them?
Parents or the parents of a teen's friends can initiate
experiences, such as trips to museums, special exhibits
like an Auto or Home Show, or arrange for factory tours
while on vacations
Ask a teacher or school guidance counselor for suggestions
of activities that you can do with your teen to develop
readiness to provide help with career exploration
Biographies, autobiographies, movies and videos can all
serve as "windows to the world of work"
Pay attention when you teen talks
Ask more questions and give fewer answers
Notice your reaction to what your teen says
Just listen and hold your opinion
Patience builds trust
For more information on Career Vision and their free seminars
around the Chicago area check out www.careervision.org and
look under Career Literacy Programs.
From: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/connectwithkids/041105_cwk_careers.html
|
