“What do you want to do later?” is the career question that haunts many students from the ninth grade onwards. While the answer seemed obvious to them in primary school: “teacher, nurse, firefighter, airplane pilot…”, at 15 it often boils down to “Well, I don’t know…?” And we understand why: how can you accurately imagine your future when your only professional experience is a one-week work observation internship?
And yet, he will have to make a choice at the end of middle school: general or professional stream (BEP, CAP, bac pro). Again at the end of the second year : general or technological stream (STI, STT, STPA, etc.) with also the choice of three specializations and finally after the final year .
In these conditions, how can you support your child when he has no idea what career he could pursue? How can you help him overcome his fears of embarking on a path without any guarantee of real prospects?
Dialogue above all
The first thing to do is to talk to your teenager to help them think, to encourage them to ask themselves the right questions, as early as possible so that they have time to mature their project. It will not be easy for them to project themselves into a job or a sector of activity, so the earlier you support them, the less helpless they will feel.
What are the realities of the job market today and what will be the growth sectors tomorrow?
It is important not to limit yourself to your report card; you can be an average student one year and much better the next. List with him his gifts, his interests, what he does with pleasure, spontaneously, what motivates him on a daily basis. Does he approach others easily, is he popular, does he speak with ease or is he on the contrary discreet or even shy, is he creative, manual…? These reflections can already give you leads towards which to direct his research.
It is important to know how to listen to him objectively.
As a parent, you think you know what is good for your child. You want the best, even if it means setting ambitious goals and unconsciously projecting onto them what you have not achieved yourself. What you imagine for your child is not always what they want themselves! Don’t lose sight of the fact that it is their future professional life that is at stake, not yours.
Building a professional project together rather than a very specific job
Few teenagers are able at 16 years old to say what is in their eyes “the ideal job”. They can be attracted by a profession without really knowing its outlines or the path to get there, due to lack of sufficient information.
To help them build their project, the best thing is to talk to professionals in the sector or students involved in the fields that interest them.
How? By meeting them at the various career fairs organized at different times of the year (Student Fair, Studyrama, etc.).
Reassure him because no choice is ever final
In the event of a “misdirection”, reorientations are always possible, even if they are sometimes complicated. There are bridges that will allow him, if he is really motivated, to change course or training.
