by ZEB SHAFI
To pursue a career that teens really want, the desire should be present first and foremost because there’s no use pushing something that doesn’t appeal to one’s taste. That desire can be achieved if teens have the right resources such as reliable information from their teachers and parents.
Don’t wait till your children finish their studies and then think about the career they choose. After finishing 10th it is important to help them decide on the right career choice for them. As a parent, no one knows your child better than you. At the same time, parents tend to force their unfulfilled expectations on their kids. The trick here is to balance it out.
You can logically arrive at the career choice that is best for your teen. It is a combination of interest, aptitude and personality. You need all three in order to be good in a particular field. For instance, your child may be able to communicate well (aptitude) but she may be shy (personality). So a job in Public Relations isn’t the best thing for her.
Careful selection of subject choices for students of classes X, XI and XII is very important, therefore, it is essential that students make informed decisions based on their ability and levels of achievement when choosing subjects. Career counseling seminars for students of classes X, XI and XII in the school should be held on regular basis to help students make an informed decision with the help of quality advice.
Parents should have a process of dialoguing to understand their teens. This will help you make out where your teen’s interest lies. But more important is to know why your teenager wants to take up a particular course. Once you pinpoint what he is interested in, it will give you an insight into how serious he is about it. You can then advise and guide him accordingly. As a parent you can help your teen make subject choices and select an appropriate institution. Being part of this process is privilege as you can help your teen to become the best that he or she can be in the occupation and industry field most suitable for reaching his or her goals and dreams.
CAREER COUNSELLING
Today there are plenty of new career opportunities available for teens. But before choosing the right kind of career for oneself it is required to do a little research. For that you don’t have to run around, simply just search on the net. Another good place to look would be career supplements and specials that come with your daily paper. These will give you an idea of the careers that are popular at the moment, along with the finer details like ideal courses, institutes, fees, how to apply, future prospects, etc.
In today’s world – you cannot afford to forget the rapidly changing job market. When you’re planning a career a few years from now – you need to know whether that particular line would still be popular at that time. Would the skills you need change? How different would things be? Of course, one can never come up with the perfect answer – but it’s necessary to keep these things in mind. It’s important to set the right goal at the right time as well as the importance of reliable advice is emphasised because it will create a big impact once the moment will come where the teen decides on what to do with his or her life after school.
Gone are the days when graduates could easily find work. In order to get a stable or a high-paying job, one must have a good track record. The best way to achieve that is for teens to do well while in school. To study well means finding the resources that can enhance their respective strengths and diminish their weakness. Knowing one’s abilities is very crucial especially in entry level positions because once it is determined, then the teenager will know where to go when the time comes to climb the corporate ladder.
Teenagers should decide what’s right or wrong for them. Talk to your seniors in school and college who are already into their careers. How did they prepare, what does their job require, etc. Is there anybody specialising in the field you’re interested in? For example, if you want to become an interior designer then you should meet and ask for guidance from a person who is already working as an interior designer.
Ask yourself these questions – What courses or training I need in order to get the job I want? What working style or skills do I have to learn? What kind of part-time job or internship would I have to do? Who can help me in what I want to do? Once you find out answers to the above questions, you will have a powerful career plan sitting right in front of you.
MEET JOB REQUIREMENTS
Once you take up a course, give your full commitment to it from day one. Do not fall for any kind of distractions lest you should pay for them with your career. Try your best to improve your percentage as it is the one factor based on which you could be short listed by companies in your job search. The job market looks out for students who can cater to the requirements of their job profile, which lie reasonably above the knowledge gained from your course content. Thus, students constantly try to keep themselves abreast with the latest technologies.
With the trend of online counselling, things have become more smooth and convenient. Sitting in front of a computer, you also tend to be a lot more relaxed and forthcoming. This way, the entire process is accelerated. The counsellor gets invaluable insights into your personality, is able to draw logical conclusions, and advise you on a range of careers.
