If you are a parent who is passionate about helping your child enter their dream career, you are not alone!
Many parents want to support their children in pursuing their passions and turning them into successful careers. Unfortunately, many parents struggle with supporting their children as they navigate the often-confusing world of career choices.
Parents want their kids to have access to the best opportunities out there, and you can do some things to prepare them in this way.
Still, going above and beyond too much can backfire. If you are helping prepare them for their careers, getting too involved is a red flag. As a parent, you want to see your child succeed and be happy in their chosen career. But how can you help them achieve their dream job without getting too involved?
There is a fine balance between encouraging them along the way and doing the work for them. There are a few ways you can be supportive while still encouraging them to become their own person.
Here are some tips on helping your child enter their dream career:
1. Help Them Get the Necessary Experience and Education
Finding a good job can be difficult, so it pays to have the right experience and education. This can set a suitable applicant apart from a great applicant.
You can help your child look for volunteer or internship opportunities to round out their resume. You could also encourage them to get their degree in the field they are interested in.
Consider applying with them as a cosigner on a student loan to pay for their education. They could save money on interest rates, and are more likely to be approved when they have a co-signer.
2. Help Them Practice the Hiring Process
While you should never contact an employer on your child’s behalf, you can educate them on the soft skills that should be on a resume and help them go through a practice interview, so they understand how to speak about their work experience.
If they receive a job offer, you can help them go through it and explain benefits like health insurance and the 401(k) account.
Still, don’t try to push them toward a certain job or make the decision for them. While a job offer may seem perfect to you, it might not be what your child wants, and they are the ones who will have to work the job from day to day.
3. Create a Good Example
If you have work experience of your own, share stories of this experience to show a good work ethic. Tell them one of the best things they can do in their career is to work hard.
You may encourage them to work in the summers if they are in college. This helps them learn skills such as task management and taking directions.
Just make sure you don’t make this about yourself. Even if you are hoping your child follows in your footsteps or goes in a certain direction, avoid focusing too much on what you would like for them. Instead, try to remove yourself from the situation and see things from their perspective.
4. Encourage Them to Explore Different Career Options
Encourage your child to attend career workshops. Many campuses hold these and they may host speakers or other activities.
Every activity they attend can increase their knowledge, and they can learn about what excites them or does not interest them about certain careers. You could also ask your current employer if your child can shadow someone for the day to see how the job is done.
Just ensure you aren’t trying to get the job for your child or give them an unfair advantage over someone else.
I am Adeyemi Adetilewa, a media consultant, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Ideas Plus Business Magazine, online business resources for entrepreneurs. I help brands share unique and impactful stories through the use of public relations, advertising, and online marketing. My work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Addicted2Success, Hackernoon, The Good Men Project, and other publications.
About the Author
