<p>See the thing is, we can’t know what will be secure or a good job in the future. Sure we can predict maybe a decade out, using what we know today…but our kids are going to be in the workforce for 40 plus years. I think we are fooling ourselves that we can possibly imagine what those years are going to be like. So while going with the ‘do what you love’ or ‘focus on your strengths’ career does not guarantee job security, nor do the other supposed ‘safe’ careers that parents direct their children into. This is why I think focusing on the former route is so important. </p>
<p>I also think it’s important to creating environments for our children that maximize their abilities to adapt, continually learn, and change with changing circumstances throughout their life.</p>
<p>Finally, I think it’s very important for students to develop their talents/strengths/interests, rather than train for a particular occupation per se (though certainly one can do both at the same time). Students need to avoid occupational myopia, for lack of a better word for it. Particular industries and occupations may come and go (and many will exist that we do not yet know about), but however the world evolves, what students will always have and take with them through their life are their unique talents and strengths which can morph into different occupations.</p>
<p>Starbright, while I agree with you (and I put my money where my mouth is, both of my kids have attended private independent liberal arts K-12 schools, and older D goes to a liberal arts college), I also think that far too many adults fail to ever find a profession that fits their skills and personalities. Those that do often stumble into them by luck rather than through any structured career evaluation process. I would rather give more career information to older teens so they have a more realistic view of what is available and what it is really like to work in a profession (pros and cons) than our current approach of almost no direction at all. </p>
<p>Of course they also need to be told that they will very likely end up with more than one (maybe lots more!) career in their lives, and that they should not focus their skills so narrowly that they can’t be nimble in the job market.</p>
<p>I am somewhat ambivalent about giving career advice to my children. It is like trying to pick who they should marry. But just like I don’t want them to marry someone without knowing them well, I don’t want them to pick a career path based on ignorance and luck.</p>
<p>Intparent, you and I don’t disagree at all. I was just adding to your advice about exposure to careers- which I think is excellent- not meaning to contradict it. I think both can be useful. I should have said that. You are absolutely right, so many people really do not discover their fit and its a real shame (not just for them, but also for society as a whole: to the extent people collectively find their niche(s) and excel, everyone benefits). most of us see only a tiny fraction of occupations, and even the ones we have heard about, we have false stereotypes about what the job actually entails (in some cases dismissing them, and in some cases embracing them: but both are problems if students don’t really understand the occupations they are dismissing and embracing).</p>
<p>I think our students need so much more information. In the region we live, the career planning requirement covers four years and every HS graduate has to produce a graduation portfolio as part of their diploma (one that is based on structured activities and research over an extensive period of time). This is true whether they want to go to college, or enter a trade or start work after HS. I used to think it was fluff, but now realize how valuable it is because its not just lip service, the work they do on this is pretty serious. The biggest challenge however is whether one can appreciate the true nature of a job from secondhand information alone vs. firsthand (doing it). So many things sound great until you try them for years! But information of any kind is far better than nothing at all.</p>
<p>Jobs related to Medicine will be secure for few generations at least.</p>
<p>I agree with MiamiDAP that medicine-related jobs are more secure. However, I’d go with Starbright in general regarding how to direct our kids. Being a doctor for the wrong reason makes one a not-so-good doctor (for everyone involved).</p>
<p>I’m not a MD and won’t encourage my kids to be one UNLESS they love it or no other fields are more enjoyable, even though I know they are capable of getting into medicine.</p>
<p>^How anyone knows if they love it or hate it before they actually do it. Even all those medically related ECs like volunteering at the hospital, shadowing docs, Medical research, hot-lines…etc. do not give one very good idea. In addtion, at the age of 17 - 25 people change so much, that whatever 17 years old hates, the same person might love at 25. It is impossible to tell, except, if kids are not well above average academically, they simply cannot get thru the system to become an MD. However, there are other medically related fields that are very accessible to most reasonably good / average students.</p>
<p>While there is lots of error in both directions: we can’t fully know what cranks our crank, I do think it’s not the case that its random! There are some fundamental differences in interests and aptitude that show up very early if children are allowed and encouraged to identify them. Kids given the privilege throughout their childhood to pursue their OWN interests- in terms of activities and electives- learn to distinguish what turns them on and it does matter. </p>
<p>I suppose if you’ve been training your kids to focus on the instrumental their whole lives, they may not have a sense of what they like and dislike. I see the same parents from the time their kids were young, determining all their children’s extra-curriculars, all the courses they would take: a child’s interest had nothing to do with it. The idea of such kids taking say ‘circus’ in the summer instead of math lessons and violin, would be absurd! How will THAT land you a spot at Harvard med school! Those same parents I see then push their kids toward particular careers as well, regardless of whether the child shows interest or talent. Some parents won’t even pay for some majors. The idea I guess- which I completely disagree with- is that one can learn to tolerate any job, so long as it’s stable and provides money and prestige, that is all that matters. </p>
<p>I think it’s very sad and completely unnecessary. At least in this country (not so in others). I’ve met way too many very miserable engineers, doctors, and investment bankers in my lifetime. What a completely waste of talent and a life.</p>
<p>^I do not know why one stay misearable, why not change jobs. I have, went back to school. I hated engineering and love my current job in IT - I got 3 degrees for it, went to school forever, it was not needed, but companies paid for education, why not. Having graduate degree helps you find your next job. The point is that one can switch at any point in their life. My friends was close to her 50s when she went back to school after she finally realized that no job is stable unless it is related to medicine. It was her professional carrier #3 or #4, the first one was engineering also.</p>
<p>Well that is a good point MD^. I agree about changing jobs and it should probably be planned for more. Given you obviously appreciate and value doing something that suits you well, why not aim for your best bet in terms of fit to begin with? Isn’t that what we are saying? Spending four years in college in just whatever seems most secure, and then counting on some random employer to buy your next degree is not realistic for most people. Sure with hindsight and a lot of luck, it worked for you, but such idiosyncratic life experiences can’t be used as guidance for everyone else. Just like it would be pointless for me to tell everyone to choose my educational path, which had no obvious job prospects at the time but since I ended up with lifetime job security and earning a high income, everyone should choose my major. That would be crazy advice.</p>
<p>starbright,
I had pointed out before in post #26, that there is no way to know if you going to like it or not before you actually start working. I stated all my reasons in post #26. Being in both positions, not being happy with first choice and being very happy with the second, I cannot find anything that would indicate to me ahead of the time if I would hate first and love second. In terms of college, I did not hate engineering, most of my relatives were engineeres too. Jumping into second carrier was a big risk, so I took it and got it right. My friend was not that lucky with her choice #2 (way into her adulthood also and being able to evaluate herself much better than any 17 years old). Her luck came with choice #3 or #4, not sure. Yes, one can say, do not go to engineering if you hate math, that one is obvious. Yes, do not try medicine if you absolutely cannot absorb Chemistry and Bio and genenrally not very open to others’ problems. Other than very obvious reasons, it is very difficult to assess for 17 years old, what he/she likes and what not. Just have to go into something that brings you the best possible security under circumstances and stay very open minded and flexible. In case of my own children, their future was more or less apparent based on their preferences, academic performance and talents. However, it has been evaluated at every stage when decision needed to be made.</p>