Helping Child Choose a Career

Parents Are Leaders in Helping Their Child Choose a Career

Who is helping your child choose a career path? The good news is that there are actually many people involved in the process, including teachers, guidance counselors, coaches and tutors. The challenge is that they each have their own perspective. The college and career search process has become much more complex over the last couple of decades. What is missing is someone who can see the big picture and provide leadership for all the different deadlines and decisions families face.

Did you know parents are the #1 influence on helping their child choose a career? At Career Vision, we advocate a “parent as leader” philosophy. Does that mean you need to have all the answers? No. It means that you are in a great position to help your child choose a career and college major. Think about a big project — volunteer or work — that you worked on or led. What did you need to do?

Have a vision.

What do you want it to look like when your student heads off to school? You’ll build your own vision, but here is an idea: We would like to have selected colleges and college majors that support careers that excite our child and offer opportunities for the future. We know how long it should take to graduate and the budget needed to make it work. Our child is confident and motivated because goals are achievable. We know what types of internships and work our child can look for after graduation.

Align goals and expectations.

Know what your resources are.

Guide and encourage necessary actions.

Be clear about time and cost constraints, and communicate them frequently.

As leaders, it is helpful to know the time points at which expert guidance from Career Vision can provide a strategic advantage in helping your child choose a career.

Start Early, Start SMART Career Readiness Program is typically appropriate for high school through sophomore in college students.

Start SMART Career Launch and Early Career Program is typically appropriate for college students approaching graduation and early career adults.