Guiding a Teen's Career Path: Expert Tips from a Career Counselor
Navigating the modern career landscape becomes a challenge for many teenagers as new professions emerge, and freelancing and remote work gain popularity. Here's some advice on finding a promising career path from Ekaterina Khmara, a young psychologist, and career counselor.
Adolescence: Small yet pivotal
Most psychologists consider the teenage period to span between nine and twenty-four years old. However, it's the years from thirteen to seventeen when significant changes occur concerning physiology, psychology, and hormones. Yet, this isn't always the case.
Three groups of teens and parents
Teenagers are broken down into three major categories.
The first group doesn't seek help from psychologists, understanding their children's abilities, potential, and educational choices. Parents support these teens, and they correctly identify their strengths.
"I've worked with several such cases, and the results confirmed the chosen specialty and educational institution," Ekaterina notes.
The second group consists of anxious parents and teens, who might doubt their career choices. Both parties might look for guidance from a specialist.
The modern approach to career guidance
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It's unusual to think that a specialist could answer a young person's educational path in just an hour.
"I believe that career guidance based on one or two tests is pseudo-guidance. Modern times offer many methods, forms, tools, and tests to study personality. Therefore, a specialist's approach should be holistic," Ekaterina points out.
A multi-dimensional approach allows for multiple investigations using various methods, reducing the error margin.
Preparing for career guidance
Ensure that both the parent and child are psychologically ready before starting the investigation. If their mental state is satisfactory, the process can begin.
Career guidance should not be confused with therapy. It's a collaborative process where the career counselor provides guidance, and the teen thinks, analyzes, proposes options, and asks questions when necessary.
"I like to call my approach the 'Rubik's Cube' because, over time, there's a wealth of material accumulated for both me and the teenager," explains Ekaterina.
Multiple types of a profession
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It's not uncommon for a teenager to have several professional types, which is the norm in the modern world. Nevertheless, it's not feasible to choose just one and disregard the others.
"For example, we may find that a teenager requires a medical education but also has creative potential. In such cases, we suggest that the second type can be pursued as a hobby during their free time," advises Ekaterina.
Always emphasize developing hobbies and interests. They will enhance a person's personality and offer mental relaxation.
Multiple professional types may arise. Further research is necessary in such cases. If the research fails to provide answers, reevaluate the situation after six months. It might be necessary to consult a psychologist for therapy.
Self-professional orientation
Parents and teenagers can independently explore the realm of professions, as it's more accessible than ever! Here are some suggestions:
- Consider your child's childhood: What were their personality traits? What did they enjoy? What did they like to do? This can help you identify the right professional type.
- Ask the school psychologist to prepare a couple of career guidance tests for the teenager or the entire class.
- Visit career and education exhibitions and professional orientation exhibitions. Show the teenager the variety of universities and colleges available in our country.
- Once a future specialty is determined, attend the open day at the educational institution. Pay attention to the subjects the teenager will be studying. Sometimes, the specialty may seem appealing, but the list of subjects suggests a different format of education.
- Inform the teenager about the functions of their future job. Introduce them to a specialist in the chosen field, perhaps at an exhibition. Watch movies and TV shows about the work of a lawyer, economist, tiler, etc.
- Approach the choice of your child's future profession seriously and positively. Remember that even if they make a mistake, it's not the end of the world!
"Always be ready with a story about how a classmate enrolled in a part-time program and eventually became a top-notch specialist," advises an astute psychologist.
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There are always alternatives for admission. Remember this as a parent and offer your support in challenging situations.
- To foster personal growth and career development, Ekaterina suggests a self-professional orientation where parents and teenagers explore the realm of professions together, using methods such as considering their child's childhood traits, school career guidance tests, visiting educational exhibitions, and researching future job functions.
- In the process of career development, Ekaterina emphasizes the importance of a multi-dimensional approach for career guidance, involving various methods and tools to study personality, and a collaborative process where both the career counselor and the teen think, analyze, propose options, and ask questions when necessary, rather than relying on one or two tests for guidance.
