What career for my son?
Discussion
One of my children has yet to consider what to do for a career. There's time yet, but I'd like him to start thinking about it.
He is strongest at:
Music
English
History
Geography
Languages
He is competent in, but doesn't excel at:
Maths
Physics
He is okay at:
Chemistry and biology.
His personality strengths: Kind, sensitive, witty, charming, courageous.
His weaknesses: Ditzy, a worrier, and lacks confidence sometimes (though he is improving).
I've considered property surveyor, family law, PR.
Any suggestions I've not considered for the above skills?
Many thanks
I’d agree with this- my son is nearly 17 and he chose his A levels on what he liked doing. He is looking to go into some sort of “sport” which in all likelyhood won’t be well paid but at least he will enjoy it.
Any youngster is unlikely to have a career in the traditional sense anyway as some traditional roles will disappear and new roles will appear
Any youngster is unlikely to have a career in the traditional sense anyway as some traditional roles will disappear and new roles will appear
DuraAce said:
spikeyhead said:
What does he enjoy?
This is crucial surely? Pushing him into something you'd like him to be will lead to disaster.
I love my current job. I could certainly earn more doing something else but I'd rather be happy in my work.
As someone who took the sensible and dull choice of university degree as recommended by my father, ask him first. If he doesn't know then get him to look through some university degree choices and give him advice. Don't give him a choice of just two or three things, let him decide for himself. This generation of kids will likely change career several times. He's much better off picking something he will enjoy learning about than something that will bore him. Nothing worse than being in a job you find boring.
I heard of a school having "a careers guidance evening" at which they asked parents not to give career advice to their children as they were likely to give the wrong advice.
Their point were most of the parents in the room were in their late 40s/ early 50s, had probably had one (perhaps two) careers and half a dozen or so jobs.
Whereas their children were likely to have half a dozen careers by the time they were their parents age.
Their point were most of the parents in the room were in their late 40s/ early 50s, had probably had one (perhaps two) careers and half a dozen or so jobs.
Whereas their children were likely to have half a dozen careers by the time they were their parents age.
Marcellus said:
I heard of a school having "a careers guidance evening" at which they asked parents not to give career advice to their children as they were likely to give the wrong advice.
Their point were most of the parents in the room were in their late 40s/ early 50s, had probably had one (perhaps two) careers and half a dozen or so jobs.
Whereas their children were likely to have half a dozen careers by the time they were their parents age.
Things have moved on no doubt, but my school careers advice was disastrous.Their point were most of the parents in the room were in their late 40s/ early 50s, had probably had one (perhaps two) careers and half a dozen or so jobs.
Whereas their children were likely to have half a dozen careers by the time they were their parents age.
You would think a half clued up parent would have some idea what their child would do well at and enjoy. Being that half clued up parent I think he would make a good surveyor or maybe a planning officeR.
He is about 13 BTW. At his age I had an idea what I wanted to do but it took several decades before I pursued it.
He still has a while to decide, I wouldn't worry yet. At 13 (only 6 years ago) I had no idea what I wanted to do, now I have started studying mechanical engineering.
Even GCSEs he will not need to make a massive amount of decisions as usually schools will make maths, english, 2/3 sciences and a humanity or two compulsory, and maybe a language.
At this age I knew very few guys in my year that had their mind set on anything.
Even GCSEs he will not need to make a massive amount of decisions as usually schools will make maths, english, 2/3 sciences and a humanity or two compulsory, and maybe a language.
At this age I knew very few guys in my year that had their mind set on anything.
So said:
He is about 13 BTW.
I don't think he should be thinking about it at all, if he has a dream profession already then go for it, but there's no need to consider what career you want to do at 13 otherwise. He should focus on personal development and studying things that interest him. He can work out what kind of career he wants in a few years.So said:
Things have moved on no doubt, but my school careers advice was disastrous.
You would think a half clued up parent would have some idea what their child would do well at and enjoy. Being that half clued up parent I think he would make a good surveyor or maybe a planning officeR.
He is about 13 BTW. At his age I had an idea what I wanted to do but it took several decades before I pursued it.
Given the School where this advice was given to the parents is firmly in the Top 10 in the UK and the audience was full of Legal people, accountants, bankers etc etc etc you'd think the room was full of "clued up" parents but even so that was the advice given.You would think a half clued up parent would have some idea what their child would do well at and enjoy. Being that half clued up parent I think he would make a good surveyor or maybe a planning officeR.
He is about 13 BTW. At his age I had an idea what I wanted to do but it took several decades before I pursued it.
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