Career decisions can be very sensitive for children, be they preschoolers, teenagers or young adults. While your kids are still little, your may wonder at some of the ideas they dream up with regards to their careers; careers ranging from astronauts and the popular “doctor” to footballers and musicians are very common. Now, it may all be a joke to laugh off at this stage but soon, the jokes will wear of and the reality of your child’s need to pick a suitable career will be staring you in the face. It is often tough for these young ones, which is why you need to be there and ready to see them through this phase of their lives. It could also be a hard time for you the parent but here are a few pointers to help you out.
1. Observation: this is the first step to take in preparing for when your child will have to make a career choice. Observation points out a lot in your child’s personality; his/her strengths, weaknesses, interests and disinterests. Know that your child could have a weakness in his/her interests while displaying strength in areas they are not necessarily interested in. At this point, your observations over time will come in handy in guiding them towards the right direction. Also consult with close relatives who can help as they can open your eyes to a whole new perspective which you never noticed.
2. Match interests with facts and figures: this has become very important, especially in recent times. Sometimes, a child’s interest may tilt towards careers that do not seem commercially viable or socially acceptable. Other times, they may not display the mental ability required to back their interests and vice versa. This is when you as a parent will need to lovingly place them back on track. Take time to let them know that there other fun careers asides from the traditional ones – medicine, engineering, law and accounting. Get statistics and facts on other lucrative career opportunities and the annual pay ranges. This should make things easier for them.
3. Reserve your opinions: Yes, we know you are the parent and you have big dreams of introducing your child in the future as “Doctor this or Engineer that”. As a matter of fact, you’ve got it all figured and planned out down to the brand of car they’ll buy when they hit their first million. While this may be good, you may be confusing your kids and using them to live your own dream. It is bad because children at that age are often given to pleasing their parents and will thus not object to your choices. So, take a chill pill and step back a bit on your opinions. Remember, your duty is to guide them not choose for them.
4. Grade isn’t all that matters: A child might be good in a particular subject e.g. technical drawing; making a career path in architecture might look promising but if his persona does not blend with the world of designs, any force or push towards such career path will may damage such child. See grades as a way of modifying a career path. After all, children have being known to learn the ropes and answer questions impeccably because contrary to what you may think, children do know what you want to hear or see and will give you exactly that to avoid confrontation. Other children are just naturally gifted and will do well in almost any field they go into. As a result, try to combine grades with what you know makes them happy as you guide them through their options.
5. Ask lots and lots of questions: A Nigerian adage says “he who asks questions doesn’t miss his way.” Ask your children loads of questions and you’ll be surprised at their answers. Try to get their thoughts and opinions on issues from which you can deduce what line of work will be suitable for them. The fact that dad is an engineer doesn’t mean the son has the same calling. Also ask questions from family, friends and colleagues who have done this before or who are into some of the professions your child is interested in. They may have some helpful insights. Remember, don’t conclude based on a single answer. And the only way to have a pool of answers from which to guide your child is to ask lots of questions.
As parents or legal guardians, it is only right to have a high level of empathy when it comes to guiding children towards a career path. Think like a child and conclude like a parent. Learn to see things through their eyes, ask questions and observe without assumptions.
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This article was first published on 31st January 2014
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