We previously discussed how parents can get young children started on thinking about work and careers. This was a largely exploratory approach aimed at opening up the conversation with children for whom the prospect of work is still a distant one. As your child gets older, reach the cusp of adulthood, and become more independent, however, it is only natural that this approach will have to evolve.
To begin with, students at the secondary school and tertiary levels will face significant choices that will shape the rest of their schooling years and beyond. This is a crucial intermediate stage of life when deliberate and careful career planning can be the difference between a head start and a false start in the years to come. But what does career planning for young adults look like, and what role can parents play in the process? The key lies in setting achievable career goals that are appropriate for the current stage of life that young adults are going through.
Here are five tips from The Learning Lab that will help enterprising young adults build momentum for the future.
1. Take stock of the possibilities available
It is generally a good idea to be clear about where things stand in the present before starting to plan for the future. Before your child even start setting his or her career goals, take some time to think about past academic performances and find out about the available options. What is your child good at? What are his or her interests? The answers to these two questions might not necessarily be the same, and may lead both you and your child to explore different pathways that hadn’t been considered seriously before.
Information about some of these pathways is readily available on the Internet, from costs to admission requirements and the number of years needed to get the qualification. Making an informed decision that both you and your child have had a heart-to-heart talk about will boost your child’s confidence and determination with the knowledge that he or she has your full support.
2. Break the process down into smaller steps
It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed when as a 16 or 17 years old young adult and thinking about a goal that is six to eight years away. Unlike working adults who can set clearly defined short-term career goals, there’s a lot that could change in that amount of time. But you and your child also have to start somewhere, and the best way to make doing so easier is to break down the process into bite-sized chunks that run from the short-term to the mid-term and eventually the long-term.
For example, if your child wants to be a software engineer, the short-term goal might be to become familiar with Python as a hobby, and to maintain good enough grades so your child can read computer science in university. The mid-term goal might be to land an internship with a tech company once your child has graduated from tertiary education while the long-term goal, of course, is to secure a permanent position as a software engineer.
3. Be ambitious, but also practical
When coming up with achievable career goals, you and your child will want to find the balance between goals that challenge your child, and goals that he or she can achieve. This is a very exciting time of your child’s life, and it’s ok to shoot for the stars. Challenges are necessary for growth, and your child don’t want to regret not trying years later. At the same time, there is a clear distinction between impossible pipe dreams and tangible goals.
To turn the former into the latter you need to be aware of all the steps you have to take to reach your goal, and be prepared to put in the work and make the sacrifices required.
4. Be open to advice and guidance
Lastly, take advantage of the fact that your child is not a full-fledged adult yet and ask for help, advice and guidance freely from instructors and teachers! It’s okay to admit that you and your child may not know everything about specific career paths or even the right direction to head towards. Gathering information from various peoples will certainly help guide your child along.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
Nurturing Lifelong Learners Who Thrive in Their Chosen Career
The working world places a premium on employable skill sets, and by setting achievable career goals in the early going young adults can kick-start the process of acquiring the skills and knowledge that they will need in the future.
At The Learning Lab, we believe in complementing the acquisition of textbook knowledge with the mastery of fundamental soft skills when it comes to nurturing well-rounded and dynamic students who are not only excited to learn but confident in their abilities.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 67338711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.