Author: admin_byc

“Parenting is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you’d have.” – Brene Brown.

Parents fear of making wrong decisions about their child’s career which can put them into a lot of pressure as they dont want the child to face failure. But sometimes it becomes overwhelming for their child and makes them feel pressured or unheard and the generation gap adds another struggle of understanding between parent and child. So it’s necessary to have an open conversation with their child, try to understand their point of view and then do their own research.

This can be best explained from very famous actor R.Madhavan who himself being a famous actor openly accepts his child career choice of being in sports, in which his son succeeded in achieving 5 gold in swimming. Another great example is portrayed from the movie ‘Gunjan Saxena’ based on real life story, where how father stood throughout the journey motivating his daughter to succeed in her field of interest of being a fighter pilot which during that period of time was a male dominated job, who after success served country in Kargil war.

PARENTS ROLE/ DILEMMA ON CHILD CAREER CHOICE

As a parent there needs to be balance between what they aspire from their child and what is the child’s actual interest and talent. Parents’ expectations sometimes burden children which lead them to become more rebellious and eventually give up on a career which they are good at.

Following are troubles which parent face during the journey of enhancement and guidance for child:

1. Child wants to study abroad

There was a rise of 68% in 2022 compared to 2021 in students shifting abroad for higher studies, due to various reasons for a child like a hype on social media about life outside ,better standard of living, colleagues recommendation or just to experience the adventure. But parents feel intimidated by the decision and often find it difficult to explain their worries of not only fear of distance but also sometimes due to financial constraint.

An open and appropriate conversation where both sides can discuss the decision taking into consideration the complete scenario from the expectation of the child and also of the parent should be discussed.

2. Parent aspire for child to choose a stable career for future

As there are many upcoming new career options available due to the changing environment like social media influencer or gamer where parents due to little insight find it unstable career choice and for a child just to earn success in a short period of time and become famous brings a difference in understanding between parent and child. Hence both sides should understand both pros and cons of the career choice or get guidance regarding the same from a professional career counselor who can give them overall understanding about their career choice.

3. Push to prestigious or high status career by parents

A very famous dialogue of every indian father,” kapoor sahab ka beta dekho IIT me select ho gaya hai, tum bhi itni mehnat karo” Comparisons from relatives and neighbors do not break the heart of a child as much as comparisons by our parents do and that too from our own friends or siblings Parents do want their child to be successful in whatever they do and think that through comparison they are trying to motivate but in reality it works as a negative feeling for the child and due to a lot of stress they focus only on proving their worth instead of enjoying the process.

4. Information overload navigation

Due to so many career options it is tough not only for children but for parents too to make a decision and there is always fear of choosing a wrong career option. It is majorly due to the lakhs of career options available and so many colleges giving the courses for the same, so the confusion arises majorly based on which is the best course where our efforts could bring the best outcome. Sometimes due to even lack of proper information about alternatives also affects the decision making for the career choice.

Here is when career counseling can help in clearing the doubts by getting insight about aptitude and interest and based on which the best career choice that aligns both the aptitude- interest and the present best available careers can be recommended.

5. Generational difference

Another major issue in today’s career path is the generation gap and as a child we always hear from parents about how they worked hard and studied under the street lights and crossing rivers to go to school, expecting the child to at least work hard in studies and choose a career that could bring stability and lots of job opportunities. Due to this generation gap the career choice also gets affected as parents only look for options which will provide high status in society but as a child they are more inclined towards career choice that will bring quick success.

Example that can better explain this scenario is one of the famous standup comedians Zakir Khan who belongs to the family of classical musicians went against the will of grandfather and chose to be a standup comedian.

6. Emotional involvement of parent

There are times when we hear our parents how they failed to achieve what they aspired to and somewhere unknowingly they expect their child to pursue the same career choice. They impose their own unfulfilled dreams and desires on children as they think they might later, with the help of child success, enjoy the same life they aspired to. And when they even do what their parents will them to do, later in life feel either too stressed or exhausted and this might even lead to depression as they think they failed their parents.

Also there are parents who want their child to pursue the already established career so that they can continue their legacy forward.

Like majority of the time we see doctor parents want their kids to pursue medicines or businessmen want their child to join family business but the child’s interest and even aptitude might not align the parents career choice.

STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS DILEMMA

We all know that every problem has a solution, it’s just that we have to look around for those solutions. The dilemma of parents for the child’s career and choices sometimes is the hard part to manage but few solutions not only bring out solutions but also provide insight about their strengths and thus build a strong bond and connect with the child.

Here are a few solutions that work best to not only bridge the gap between parent and child but also help both in getting a clear picture of what together they can do to fulfill the dream and aspiration of both child and parent.

1. Career counseling:

This is today’s most need of the hour option and even the government is making the effort to invest and spread awareness for the same. As it involves experienced professionals and few psychometric tests to know about the child’s aptitude and interest based on which, after thorough study on the result of the tests, the best career options is recommended. Career counseling can be conducted at school and colleges, at private institutes where parents are also involved in the process and online based counseling is also an option these days for ease.

2. Open communication:

One of the major reasons for confusion and dilemma is also the miscommunication or no communication at all between the parent and child. As both parents are working and have not enough time, they face this issue the most as the topic of career needs lots of listening and patience. Also due to that many students through little information form here and there get attracted to the career choice which does not align their aptitude. Thus through open communication and equal involvement of the parent makes the decision less tedious.

3. Support and flexibility:

Since the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 by the government, a policy that aims in the development of student potential interest and creating holistic education has given a chance to school going students to choose subjects from science, commerce and arts according to their interest subjects. Also for college students, if they find a field of interest in some other field, they can switch in between and can get credit scores added after 50% completion of the course from the previous degree course. This gives the flexibility and sense of relief of not losing years in earlier courses and hence get a chance to explore and understand their field of interest.

4. Research and awareness:

There are career institutes who through proper in detail research and staying updated with the progression of the field can provide counseling and information to students and parents and make their work a little easy and also provide an authentic career path to achieve the end goal.

CONCLUSION

There is an institute outside India on career counseling in which not only psychometric tests are conducted by the psychologists along with one-to-one counseling but also there are 1 week to 1 month course practical experience to have insight about the complete career path which makes their journey a little easy and are also mentally prepared for the kind of efforts that will be required.

Such an effort if begun in India can help students to feel empowered to explore their options. The collaborative effort of both parents and children can embrace the path of both stability and fulfillment. This also makes the relationship healthier and a satisfying career path for children.

 

Introduction

The world today is changing at a very fast rate and hence it has become very important for one to
choose the right career path. The results of the latest investigations show high levels of discontent
with one’s career in countries all over the world. A survey carried out by CareerBuilder showed that
73 % of workers indicated that they were not in their dream career, another survey by Gallup showed
that only 15% of workers globally are actively engaged in their work. These statistics reveal a
disturbing state of affairs in the world of work, where people are unhappy and disengaged from their
work.

As parents, we have the power to change this narrative for the next generation. By actively supporting
and guiding our children in their career choices, we can help them avoid the pitfalls that lead to job
dissatisfaction and unfulfilled potential. This blog post explores why parental support in career
decisions is crucial and how it can positively impact a child’s future.

A Personal Story: The Impact of Parental Influence

To emphasis the significance of this topic I would like to recall a story from my life that contributed
to development of career guidance. It was during my 10th standard when the typical question of what
subject I wanted to choose as a stream arose, my mother particularly wanted me to do commerce if
not science. Nonetheless, the desire to pursue arts was replaced with the fear of being judged by
society thus opting for commerce. The outcome was a fight that led to me passing my Accounts paper
by only 45 marks. This misalignment between my interests and chosen field led to unnecessary stress
and academic difficulties. Eventually, I followed my heart and opted for a Bachelor of Arts for my
graduation. This experience taught me the vital importance of aligning education and career choices
with one’s true interests and aptitudes.

My story cannot be regarded as special or extraordinary. It is actually common for many young
generation to receive the same pressure and land themselves in a wrong profession. This means that
as parents we have to ensure that we learn from such experiences and be in a better position to guide
our children appropriately.

The Changing Landscape of Career Options

The 21st century has seen an unprecedented transformation in the world of work and the employment
opportunities available. Along with the advancement of technology and globalization new future
career opportunities are coming up at a very high pace. Today’s students are privileged to have more
career opportunities than those who were in school a decade ago. This could be an advantage and a
disadvantage at the same time to the young minds as they are faced with a lot of options. At the end
of class 12 many a times students find themselves at a crossroads in their life. It can also be said that
the traditional question of What after 12th? is no longer limited to one or two answers. Be it the
traditional ones right after 12th or new courses that are coming up every year, there’s a plethora of
courses to choose from. This is where the direction given by the parents becomes so important.

Along with general and developing professions, one should focus on freelance jobs and possibilities
of a working from home. New opportunities for freelancing and digital nomadism have emerged with
the gig economy and advancements in technology. These paradigms of work should be explained and
made comprehensible to the children by their parents depending on the way that could be suitable for
their desires and life priorities. Identify some of benefits and difficulties which such careers offer, for
example, the need for discipline and organization, self-employment talents. In pondering over these
solutions, the children should be in a better position to make better decisions regarding their working
future due to the understanding of the current employment world.

The Importance of Career Clarity

One of the primary reasons why parents should actively participate in their child’s career decisions is
to help them gain career clarity. Many students struggle with uncertainty about their professional
future, leading to stress and anxiety. By engaging in open discussions about various career options,
parents can help their children identify their strengths and passions, explore upcoming career options,
and understand the pros and cons of different career choices.

Yet another area of career decision-matrix is the ability to explain the issue of transferable skills to
children. The fluidity of today’s job market requires the employee to be as versatile as possible
possibly able to move from one career field to another Hamm (1993). Thus, parents can assist their
children to recognize and enhance these portable skills including critical thinking, communication,
leadership, and problem solving skills that are useful in almost every field. This way, parents can
prepare their kids for different careers by ensuring that they master these simple underlying skills. In
addition to improving career stage awareness, this approach increases confidence because children
learn that they possess relevant skills that can be useful in different occupations. Help your child to
get involved into various activities, set leadership responsibilities at school or community
organizations, or discuss what skills are being acquired by your child. This broader way of thinking
about skills and uses for them can go a long way toward helping to improve the clarity of core career
self-direction, as well as to make career decisions wiser.

Leveraging Professional Career Guidance

Having your parents to encourage and guide you is helpful, but career counseling may give more
specific information. There are many career institutes and counseling institutes that provide expert
services to the students with the help of which they can take the right decisions. Parents should think
of taking children for career guidance sessions as they consider reputable career coaching programs
as well as career direction online resources.

Career guidance can also avail professional psychometric tests, abilities and aptitude tests. These
tools may help in getting objective information about the child as to his abilities and limitations,
interest, personality and traits which may in turn help in determining the right kind of careers to be
adopted by him. Career counselors can help make sense of these scores and assist in giving career
advice based on such results. They can also inform the society on latest developments within the
industry, average salary rates, and the qualification needed to a particular line of work. If on one hand
children can receive professional help with their desired career on the other hand they can receive
parental support for the same hence providing them with the best of both worlds in terms of career
help which is based on the emotions of the child as well as data analysis that helps children in their
decisions.

Also, another reason is that career guidance professionals can present the students with numerous
career paths that the parents themselves may have no clue about. They can also coordinate various
experiential learning activities such as job shadowing, internships, or mentorship programmes
enabling students to engage in careers of their interests. Such a practical exposure can go hand in
hand in ensuring that young people make better career choices within the society. Remind your child
to seek interaction with career counselors and professionals, seek clarification from them where
necessary and follow up on their advices. It may be important to know to avoid delegating the decision
making process but instead, to assemble as much information and support possible so that your child
get to make his/her decisions on such matters

Embracing New and Unconventional Career Paths

In today’s dynamic job market, unconventional career paths often lead to great success. Parents should
be open to exploring new and emerging fields with their children. This might involve researching
upcoming career options in technology, sustainability, or creative industries, discussing the potential
of entrepreneurship and start-up culture, and exploring interdisciplinary fields that combine multiple
areas of study.

It’s also important to discuss the concept of portfolio careers with your children. In this model,
individuals combine multiple part-time jobs or freelance gigs instead of having a single full-time job.
This approach can offer variety, flexibility, and the opportunity to pursue multiple interests
simultaneously. However, it also requires strong time management skills and the ability to handle
income fluctuations. By exploring these unconventional paths, parents can help their children think
creatively about their careers and consider options that might be a better fit for their diverse interests
and skills. Encourage your child to think about how they might combine their various passions into a
unique and fulfilling career path.

The Long-Term Benefits of Choosing the Right Career

When parents encourage their children to make rational decisions for the choice of their careers, the
gains go beyond employment opportunities. Selecting the best career ensures that one gets better job
satisfaction and actually fulfills his or her dreams besides balancing between work and other areas of
life, getting motivated and advancing in his or her career and finally getting better salary in future.

In the long run, one of the greatest advantages of making the right choice of a career is that not only
does it assist in preventing stressful conditions from occurring, but also has a highly beneficial effect
on the general quality of one’s life. When people are doing the things they love, they are likely to be
happy because they are given an opportunity to do what they are good at while at the same time
meeting their needs of purpose. This may result in decreased levels of stress, a healthier balance
between work and personal life, and proper relationships. Parents should inform their children that a
job does not necessarily mean one earns good money but it becomes something one enjoys doing.
Examine how people should seek employment with a view of enhancing their personal development
and growth. Such considerations can help children make personal decisions on their careers which
can enhance their general well-being and happiness hence leading to better lives in future.

Conclusion: Empowering the Next Generation

Parents’ involvement in their children’s career journey should not be authoritative but rather advisory.
If we allow our children to roam free, give them information on how to go about career choices, and
encourage them to speak about their experiences, then we can be able to see our children transformed
when it comes to career selections in the future.

Note that the purpose is not to help them get any job available, but to help them establish and be
successful in a career of their choice. As we engage in this process, let us not only be training and
placing individual’s to be gainfully employed but also to create a more skilled, passionate and
adaptive workforce for the future.

Are you prepared for your child to help him or her begin the working life? First, you should discuss
what they want for themselves and what do they like; then search for options for career counseling in
your area and maybe watch online resources for this process together. In this context, right guidance
can produce a fruitful job in future, and everyone must know, what he or she would like to do after
finishing school.

Bear in mind that as parents, our responsibility is not to guide our children towards a particular job,
yet we need to equip them with the right tools which they need to make the right decisions. Openness,
exploration, the use of self and other professionals’ experiences and knowledge are just what we
should try to ensure for guiding our children through the labyrinth of professions available in the
contemporary world. Career development goes on over the life cycle and thus preparing our children
with the correct attitude and aptitude prepares them for a job, for life.