Choosing a career path is one of the most challenging and important decisions your child will ever make.
As parents, we all hope that by the time our children graduate from high school, they will have a good understanding of who they are, and at least some idea of their future career direction.
Yet, research indicates that most high school students have no clue what they want to do when they grow up. Of those who enter college or university, many will change their majors one or more times. Some will drop out only to re-enter at a later date, in the hope of selecting a more suitable major the second or third time around¹.
The confusion surrounding career direction is compounded by some harsh economic realities. In the past, earning an undergraduate degree was enough to guarantee entrance into the job market. Nowadays, this is no longer the case. The current job market is more competitive than even before. Employer demands for education and training have gone up, while tuition costs have also risen. As a result, choosing a career path through trial and error can prove to be very costly, frustrating, and inefficient.
As a parent, you play an important role in your child’s education and career choices. Yet, you may not feel like you have all the answers. In a world of constant change, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to keep up with job market trends and the wide array of education and career options available. You may know your child, but have no idea which career(s) would fit them best.
How do you help your child make the right choice, without giving too much outdated advice or too little direction?
One of the most important investments you can make in your child’s future is to offer them access to career counselling. Inspired Growth provides professional, objective career assessment and counselling services that take the guesswork out of career planning, and empower your child to successfully and confidently launch their career journey.
¹Campbell, C, and Dutton, P. (2015). Career crafting the decade after high school: Professional’s guide. Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC): Toronto, ON.
Develop Self-Awareness
I use the leading career assessments to clarify your child’s talents, skills, personality, interests and values. I then help them relate these aspects of their identity to careers that are likely to be a good fit for them.
Expand the Range of Career Options
Nowadays, there are more career options than ever before. I help your child consider the full array of options available to them, including ones they may not even know exist!
Map Out the Most Effective Academic-Career Path
Once your child has chosen a career direction, I help them figure out the most efficient way to get there, while still building some flexibility into their plans to account for changing circumstances.
Select the Right Post-Secondary Program
The type of program your child chooses can play an important role in their overall success and enjoyment of their studies. I guide them in selecting the university or college program that will best meet their personal and academic needs.
Create a Plan to Meet Their Goals
I help your child set realistic short-term and long-term career goals, and identify the action steps they’ll need to take to accomplish their goals and stay on track. This includes choosing the right high school and academic majors to keep their options open.
University education is expensive enough as it is. Why invest in career counselling?
Many students graduate from high school with little clarity about what they want to do when they grow up. Of those who move on to university, many switch programs or drop out and re-enter at a later date in the hope that their second or third choice of major will better suit them. In the process, they rack up significant debt and experience a great deal of anxiety about their future.
By undergoing career counselling prior to making important career and educational decisions, students can find a meaningful and fulfilling career direction much faster than with the trial-and-error approach to counseling, saving money and stress in the long run.
Who is a good candidate for career counselling?
Career counselling can be very beneficial for the following groups of people:
- High school students who are planning their career path and academic studies for the first time
- University/college students who are unsure about their choice of major or don’t know what they can do with their degree after graduation
- Professionals who feel stuck or unfulfilled in their current career and are considering making a career change
- Stay at home parents who are re-entering the work force after an extended absence
- Retired adults who are looking for meaningful activities to occupy their time
If an individual has significant disabilities, ADD/ADHD, learning difficulties, or mental health issues, career counselling may need to be postponed until these issues have been clarified or addressed.
What kind of career tests are offered?
I administer and interpret career assessments offered by Psychometrics Canada, which include:
- Myers Briggs Type Indicator
- Career Values Scale
- Strong Interest Inventory
- California Psychological Inventory 260
- Career Interest Profiler
- FIRO-B
- Stress Profile
- Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument
- Work Personality Index
The specific combination of assessments selected for you will depend on your individual goals.
See the Career Tests page for further information.
Ready to Empower Your Child’s Career Journey?
Call now to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
It’s never to early to start thinking about your career.
