Why Your Student Should Research Careers Now

Wed, Mar 8, 2023 11:30 AM

Choosing a career path in high school can be overwhelming for many students. It may also be scary for your student to find a college major if they haven’t done their research or found something they find interesting. To ensure your student doesn’t change their major halfway through college, make sure they are fully invested in their chosen degree or career path from the start. Students should not decide on a school, major, or career unless they are reasonably sure it’s a suitable choice for them.

To help your student discover what their future career could entail, it is important to know what they are good at and enjoy in the first place. Take the time to walk through possible career paths with them to see what they would like to do, and also what they can’t stand doing. If they are still unsure about their future, advise them to write down their likes and dislikes to gauge career opportunities that might fit them. When in doubt, have your student take the time to complete a career assessment program where they may discover college majors and/or careers that match them. Be sure to have them take a future career for a test drive by doing an internship or co-op, so they know what they are getting into.

If your student does have a general idea of what they would like to do, have them do a search on LinkedIn to identify someone in their chosen field. Consider reaching out to this person and ask if they would be willing to answer a few questions about their education and career path. This will help your student discover what their day-to-day routines might be like in their future job and allow them to map out a career trajectory. Finding out the good, the bad, and the ugly side of a career from the beginning is much better than waking up one day and realizing they are in a career they can’t stand.

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