Sparking Interests
So your teen doodles all over your phone book, spends hours at the computer and is quick with a funny joke? That's great! You may be doing laundry for the next successful computer animator. People who choose a career which strongly matches their interests, values and skills enjoy their work more, and are more likely to meet their career and personal goals.
Finding life's work is a challenging process. Teens are often asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?' The common anxious response is, "I don't know". Help your teen realize that there is not always one big career decision to make, but rather several small decisions which develop a career. Many experiences provide building blocks and opportunities to develop skills. On average, the transition from school to life's work takes 10 years. Your teen should realize that there is often more than one way to get to where they want to go. During a career people combine a variety of activities and experiences which develop work skills and knowledge.
Help your teen match future work options that reflect their interests, skills and values.
Parent Strategies
Guide your teen to success in the year 2000 by helping them sort out what they like about their school work and hobbies and how they might be applied to a field of work. Try opening up the conversation with the question "What do you think you will do first after you leave school, and how does that fit into the bigger picture of your career plans and life goals?"
- Career
Development Manual - check out the career planning manual to assist
in your career planning.
- Mazemaster
- to undertake a self assessment to match values, skills and interest
with future work click on Self Assessment.
