If your kid knows what she wants to do in college, you’re lucky. But if not, what do you do? How long can you wait until he/she finds out what they like?
Unfortunately, you can’t wait for ever. By the time they hit 14, they need to choose their papers for their higher secondary school level. And that will decide the options open to them when they apply to college.
As a parent, if you dont know where to start, here is a simple 3 step guide to help:
- Give them exposure: Take them to a higher education fair, an industry expo, or a museum. It helps children learn about what’s out there and the myriad careers that are available to them. Don’t stop with the visit. Discuss with them what they saw, what they liked, and what questions they have.
- Identify strengths and interests: Use one of the various career assessment tools and personality tests available that can help identify her strengths, interests, and potential career paths. Tools like the CliftonStrenghts for Students, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory, or Holland Code (RIASEC) are great for identifying the natural strengths of children.
- Encourage short term work after school: Encourage children to find opportunities for short term work during their school breaks. This will help them gain real world experience of work and identify the alignment between their strengths and work.