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Career Planning for Youth
What do you want to be when you grow up? This question conjures up so many possibilities and holds so much potential. How we answer also reveals a lot about us. Yet it can be a daunting question, especially for young children and teens who are still in the process of discovering who they are.
This article aims to remove any confusion or trepidation about how to choose a career path. It provides a series of simple guiding questions and offers valuable insight to set you on your way to your dream career, whatever it may be.
What is career planning?
Career planning involves identifying the areas in which you want to work, making informed decisions, setting goals and then developing an action plan to achieve them.
Career planning is not choosing a single job as a fixed end point, nor does it set in concrete a path from which you can never stray. Regardless of your age, career planning is something that should occur throughout your life. Plans and goals change over time to reflect how you grow personally and professionally. Even the phrase “career path” implies that this is a journey – there are sure to be many twists, turns and crossroads along the way.
Why is career planning important?
Career planning is important as it gives your life direction, giving you purpose and goals to aim for. Youth career planning is primarily focused towards choosing appropriate subjects at school, as often there are entry requirements and criteria for universities, internships and apprenticeships.
Applications for jobs, scholarships and grants often include questions regarding your short and long term career goals, such as how the money or job opportunity would further your career. A well-thought out career path can separate you from other similar candidates competing for the same position.
Career planning: A step-by-step guide
- Discover who you are
We all know that everyone is unique. We have different opinions, interests, goals and skill sets. There are several key questions that you can ask yourself that will help you identify which careers and industries would best suit you. For example:
- What are your interests?
- What are you good at?
- What are your skills?
- What are your favourite subjects at school?
These are all significant factors that can influence your career choice. Thankfully, there are many youth career assessment tests and aptitude tests that you can use to help answer these questions.
Parents and teachers should encourage children and teens to experience a wide range of different activities, from academia to sporting and cultural pursuits. Perhaps you may not end up becoming an astronaut, but visiting a museum may inspire a passion for storytelling, for piecing together history or for unravelling the mysteries of science.
Research your options
The next step is to discover the possible career options available. Talk to people who work in those jobs or industries that align with your areas of interest. Volunteer work, apprenticeships and student jobs are all great ways to gain experience, bulk up your C.V. and ensure that the work possibilities investigated are those that you are interested in and passionate about. This is also the time to start asking more pragmatic questions, including:
- Which of my interests and skills can I turn into a job?
- Which professions are in high demand?
- What are their expected pay rates?
Speaking with a careers adviser can be helpful as they can open your eyes to entirely different options and can inform you about any specialty courses available in your area, including job training programs for at risk youth. With the rapid advances in technology, youth career choices are more varied than they have ever been before – and some jobs may not even exist yet!
- Make your decision
Choose an occupation, or at least an area of work, based on your answers to the questions in steps one and two. Even after you have a particular career in mind, it is wise to keep your options open for as long as possible. This especially relates to school subject choices and extracurricular activities. The more skills and general knowledge you acquire, the more attractive to potential employers you will be.
- Make your plan of action
Whether you aspire to be a hot-shot lawyer, a farmer or an IT whiz at Silicon Valley, divide your long-term goal into achievable, short-term goals. Ask yourself:
- How do I get there?
- What skills and experience do I need?
As this journey will not always be smooth, perseverance, resilience and adaptability are key attributes to any successful career plan. It is smart to keep in mind several alternatives as back-up options. Situations change and things may not always turn out as expected. Interests, goals and dreams can change as you learn and grow.
- Enjoy the journey
Youth career planning is useful tool to guide you on your journey towards a satisfying and fulfilling career. Always remember that no matter what your goals or how far along in your career you are, enjoy every day to the full.
Sofia Lockett is a passionate writer based in Auckland, New Zealand. Sofia predominantly writes about children and youth development, having written for organisations such as Auckland Kindergarten Association.