We’ve all heard the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life”, but is that entirely true? Being passionate about a career doesn’t necessarily make it easy; on the contrary, it makes us work even harder to achieve our professional goals.
If you are the parent of a student who is already thinking about their future career, here are some steps to identify and pursue a profession they will enjoy:
What Are Their Interests?
Having hobbies and interests will give students a good insight into what could be their ideal professional career. Discuss what interests your student like favorite classes and preferred extracurricular activities. These will all be significant indicators of what sparks their interest and ignites their passion.
Do They Have Any Special Skills?
We are born with particular skills, or we can develop them through hard work, so considering what they are good at is crucial when choosing a career. Helping them recognize their strengths will help narrow down their choices and help guide them to career paths that are interesting and practical.
Make A List & Research
Once you have identified their interests and strengths, it is time to make a list of potential careers that match. Writing these career options down will help them organize their possibilities and start turning those dream careers into attainable goals. Researching what each job entails and understanding what industry leaders are looking for when hiring these positions will give your student a more practical understanding of what their day-to-day might look like if they choose to pursue that career path.
Why Not Network A Little?
After gathering information about potential careers, help them get in contact with professionals you might know in that specific field. For example, if your child is interested in medicine, scheduling a chat with a doctor or even a quick visit to their clinic will help give your child a real insight into what a day in the life of a health professional looks like.
Now that you’ve helped your child pin down some career options, let’s get matching!. Matching their interests to career types will help guide them when starting their college education and internship opportunities.
Artistic🎨
Art careers come in different shapes and sizes. This industry focuses on creating original works of art, selling, promoting, performing, or displaying them to the public in different ways. There are also jobs of teaching or helping others express themselves through art. This career path involves a great deal of creativity, versatility, and sometimes a lack of structure. Some careers within this industry include photography, illustration, art therapy, gallery curation, performance, or fine art.
Investigative🔎
Research professions require independent thinking, curiosity, analysis, and mathematical or scientific inclinations. Most professionals in this field enjoy reading, studying, and researching instead of doing hands-on work. This industry includes investigative journalism, anthropology, engineering, laboratory analysis, and archeology, amongst many others.
Entrepreneurial💡
Does your student have innovative ideas to solve common problems? Being an entrepreneur requires creativity, confidence, leadership, planning, and decision-making skills. Entrepreneurs are usually the pioneers of their own businesses, assuming all the risks and rewards that come with it, but they could also work with other established organizations as independent partners. Entrepreneurs can find work in almost any field; they also may to create policies, set goals, network with other professionals, and attend speaking events.
Conventional🏢
A conventional career requires structure and routine. This type of career can be ideal for students who enjoy organization, set procedures, attention to detail, and stability. Some careers in this category include accounting, business administration, organizational leadership, elementary education, or insurance.
Your child’s unique needs, skills, interests, and passions are crucial for making the right career decision. As parents, we are here to help, guide, and encourage our children to find their own path in life. If you are a parent reading this, that means you are on track to supporting your child’s future. Congrats! At Schola, we can help you find educational opportunities to serve your student’s interests and help them achieve their ultimate career goals.