How to help your teen choose the right career path

Is your teen unsure about their future career path? Guide them through the process and learn how to support their journey to find a fulfilling and lucrative career.

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Follow these tips to support your teen in finding their dream job. (Source: Freepik)

As our children grow, we naturally begin to worry about what professional path they are going to choose. The constant oscillation between choosing something fulfilling yet economically lucrative often leads to either a conflict or complete dismissal of a career choice. In an age where side hustles are common, it’s important to have multiple options for your child.

Here are a few ways that can be used to facilitate your child’s education and decision-making process:

1. Begin with an aptitude test: A lot of teens make the mistake of randomly choosing a career looking at only future prospects or what their friends are choosing without putting in much thought. The scientifically objective way is to know what are your academic strengths and weaknesses. An aptitude test gives you an insight into what fields your child has the potential to be good at.

2. Identify personal interests and skills: Only an aptitude test is not enough to solely determine the professional aspect. Personal interests and preferences are equally essential. If a child has an aptitude for medicine but doesn’t really have a personal interest, chances of success are radically low. However, if the child is happy experimenting in labs, one can converge aptitude and interest and explore unconventional fields like biotechnology. Therefore, as parents, be aware of your child’s likes and dislikes.

3. Real-world simulation: Once you have a couple of options, the teen can be encouraged to spend a month or a few weeks working in a similar setup as a volunteer or intern where they can get a sense of what kind of work curtails in what fields. Having an experiential education will help in overall decision-making.

4. Avoid comparisons in the face of confusion: Often, parents, when the child is not able to zero down on any option, unintentionally compare their child to other children who are sorted and have decided. Please understand each child’s trajectory to choose will differ out respect to time and place. In the face of confusion, try to support and create encouragement zones of exploration.

Still, in case of any doubt, don’t hesitate to approach a psychologist for career counseling and guidance. It will open up newer avenues and opportunities for you and your child.

Nishtha Grover is a child and adolescent psychologist, and a doctoral research scholar based in New Delhi