Christmas parties are coming around and for young people, there is the inevitable question from older family members and friends – What do you want to be when you grow up?
Your well-meaning family aren’t asking you what your hobbies are, or to ascertain that you want to grow up to be a good person with nice manners. They are asking you about how you are going to earn a living so that you can support yourself and then your own family in the future.
It’s a lot, that pressure to come up with something to say
What can you say, especially when you have no idea? And if you are reaching the end of formal schooling and decisions need to be made about whether to continue with some form of tertiary study; that really piles on the pressure. And don’t start on about what to actually study!
Everyone has an opinion. And not all are helpful!
Changing workplaces, career patterns and future needs
And what doesn’t help at all is the general ignorance about the ever evolving workplace(s), new jobs that are appearing that have never existed previously and the usual waxing and waning of professions and industries.
As well as that, individuals are more likely to completely change careers nowadays than previously, so any decision made now will be unlikely to “stick” forever anyway. Predictions now are that young people will have about 5-7 different careers and approximately 15-17 jobs in their working lives.
Other variables have an impact too
The other variables are the unknown and chance. The reasons why career trajectories are non-linear are also because an opportunity seized in one direction will lead to something unforeseen and unable to have been predicted. You can try to plan, but ask anyone, they will tell you about the instances where someone offered them an opportunity when they weren’t even looking.
Young people can sharpen their focus
But there is a very real need regardless of chance and the marketplace circumstances. A young person does need direction or help at times. Not all of them know what to do or how to figure it all out for themselves.
If you have a young person in your life that has no idea about their career direction, and you would like to help, suggest they have a career session with a career counsellor or coach. They would undergo some career tests and career discussion to help then figure it all out. There are often services offered through the schools in group situations. Otherwise a few sessions one on one with a career coach may be beneficial. This could be a Christmas present from you to them.
Find out more about Career Coaching by calling the CIRCLE offices on 1300 923 000 and you will be put into contact with Maria Cordi, Career Coach at CIRCLE.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Science, with a Psychology major and a Master of Applied Science (Psychology of Coaching) from the University of Sydney. She has a background in Human Resources and Career Planning with Westpac, worked as a Training & Development Consultant with Psychological Assessments Australia, and spent some years working with CIRCLE Recruitment & HR.
Career Coach
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