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Take Control of your Teenager | No Thanks |
| Career guidance: Showing your teen the way |
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If you’ve got a teen who’s a senior in high school then, as a parent, you may just be feeling the graduation jitters. Every month that passes by brings your teen closer to a time of many choices. And as a parent, you may want to provide your teen with as much help as he/she may need in order to make the right choices for him/herself. As soon as you hear your teenager mention a certain career choice or direction that he/she may wish to pursue, it’s up to you to provide your teen with the information he/she may need in order to come to terms with that path. For example if your teen mentions that she’s interested in the medical field, why not have her volunteer at a nearby medical facility. Submersing her in the field of her choice actually gives her a chance to see her career choice up-close and personal. Actual experience is something he/she cannot get from reading any book. Consult a guidance counselor at school You may opt to consult with your teenager’s guidance counselor concerning internship programs or on-the-job training programs which offer an inside look at various careers for your teen. Certain programs are actually worth academic credits in school. These programs can provide smooth transition for your teenager and his/her career choices. The work experience that your teenager may acquire from his/her on-the-job training is a good thing for a future boss to see on your child’s resume. Be aware: listen to your teen It’s important to listen to your teen and the signals that he/she may be giving off with regards to a desired career path. Once you’ve caught the signs, it’s up to you to be supportive. Help your teen get to know his/her career interests in order to let a fuzzy direction appear clear before him/her. If your child has several career choices, have him/her explore each one under your supervision. Through training programs or volunteer work, he/she may get a taste of the reality behind each career path and come to understand a certain choice’s pros and cons. Once he/she has become more acquainted with his/her choices, the likelihood of 1 choice rising above the others becomes greater. Show respect for his/her interests Remember parents, even if you may not quite agree with your son/daughter’s interest in a certain field, it’s important to show some respect for his/her interests. Instead of rushing to argue with him/her about a career option, it would be a good idea to let him/her have a real look into the field in order for your teen to see for him/herself that the path may not be as good as it seems. |




