Talking To Your Teenager About Their Career Options
The older your child gets, the more likely they are to get questions about what they want to do when they finish school, what they want to study and much more. It can be a lot of stress for your child to think about.
However, you’re in good hands, with this guide from the top London sixth form college.
Discuss with your child their A Level prospects
Most careers, though not all, are defined by the A Level subjects students take. It’s a good starting point to discuss with your children about what they want out of their A Levels, as they will define the courses they’ll be able to take in University or other Higher Education qualifications.
They may already have a clear idea of what they want to study before their GCSEs begin, but having those conversations early will determine what they’re looking for in a career.
Talk to them about getting a part time job
When they pass the age of 16 they’re able to get a job, so giving them the chance to work on the weekends is a great way of giving them necessary skills in their career ladder. It also gives teenagers the chance to learn about what they don’t mind doing in a job and what they dislike.
Work experience opportunities
A great way of seeing how things operate is by signing up to do work experience. This is usually encouraged within your child’s school years but it can be conducted in their own time if they choose to.
Work experience can be going to work on a placement in the hospital, shadowing a workplace engineer or seeing how a day in the life of an office worker is. It gives your children the chance to see how they could be working and if it is something they’re keen to pursue. It also looks great on their CV when attending job interviews and university interviews.
Attend open days or career fairs
Many career fairs happen during your child’s university years, but they can also scope out interest at the many open days there are nationwide.
These fairs give them the opportunity to talk to real employees that work in their chosen field about how they enjoy their job and the biggest perks. It also tends to alleviate a lot of nerves for teenagers looking for advice and support.