“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”
– Gail Sheehy
Transitional life stages affect career changes and affirm the importance of informed career selections.
People should follow their hearts when making career choices.
Children often reluctantly follow in a parent’s career footsteps and need our encouragement to search for a career choice best for them.
Independent studies on transitional psychology explain how life stages and events result in life-altering changes, including career changes. Almost all adults are guaranteed to experience these stages in varying degrees. The stages are about 10 years apart as we enter our 20s, 30s and the highest impact life stage – the 40s.
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At midlife we recognize that half our life has passed and we re-assess where we have been, where we are and where we are going. It is a time when adults often become caregivers for their parents and eventually experience their loss. We often acknowledge dissatisfaction with our choices in life, such as career and relationships.
How can we help our children make good decisions so they can enjoy a fulfilling career and perhaps avoid these pitfalls and midlife regrets?
Parents mentor their children and every day send messages regarding career choices through the jobs they do and their attitude about work.
School counsellors can help, but parents provide the greatest impact on their children and so have the greatest responsibility.
Start assisting your child in career planning as early as possible. Career selection should be emerging before Grade 9.
The safest route, if your child is uncertain, is to keep all options open and streamline course choices for the possibility of entering university or college.
It is bad planning for a student to finally discover a clear focus in Grade 12 and realize that the university entrance requirements are not met and an additional term or two in high school is required before an application can be made.
How can we help ourselves and our children discover their life calling and ultimately a job that provides contentment and a reasonable income?
Do not encourage a career based solely on salary or family tradition. That is paving a road to disaster.
Look for clues that emerge in early childhood.
Pay attention to favourite activities, not necessarily favourite classes, and interaction styles, such as whether the child tends toward introversion or extroversion.
Encourage them to do what they love.
As a child I played school, designed and created things and wrote books. As my career evolved I found my love was clearly to help people, facilitate learning and design and create learning programs.
I also still believe there is a book within me just waiting to be written.
Expose your child to a variety of experiences. If possible have them visit a work environment of interest to them.
Jobs for youth tend to be restricted in their variety and may not match your child’s set of interests.
I am a huge supporter of volunteering, no matter what your age. Encourage your child to volunteer in an area that interests them.
Service groups in small communities are looking for volunteers. These volunteers can gain phenomenal experience, network with a wide variety of people and ultimately gain part or full-time employment doing what they love.
Volunteer work looks great on a resume and employers select prospective employees who are well rounded with more than good marks or work experience.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– Confucius
Therri Papp is a career development educator offering on-line personal development programs and career consulting to individuals and business groups. For further information call 306-249-4937 or visit www.freeyesinfo.com.
