Parent’s role in career guidance

I BELIEVE today’s parents are aware that career guidance is not the duty of schools only. Parents have to play a big part in guiding their children to successful careers. Teachers at schools play their part but if parents and their children have different views, whatever schools suggest falls by the wayside. This is evident when students make subject choices for areas they want to pursue leading to career selections.

Teachers through evidence gathered over some years on the capabilities of students would suggest subjects for students be it arts, commercial or science biased. Students knowing fully well that they have not been working hard enough to face the challenges offered by other subjects resist the subject or class allocations given to them. Some go to the extent of shedding tears as if great harm has been done to them. But, all along, through reports it has been clear that the concerned students were not working hence their performance leaves teachers with no choice but to choose classes for them.

What follows is war with students resisting the allocated class. Parents therefore come in. In most cases parents understand the situation and calm their children down. However, some parents side with their children, the next thing the child is transferred to another school, whether that works or not your guess is good and mine. What is suggested concerning career guidance is that students need to know themselves. They should also know their opinion and make a good decision.

In the abstract, students need to understand their personalities, values, skills and abilities. Value is a person’s principles or standards of behaviour, one’s judgement of what is important in life. On skills it means students know that they have the ability, talent or expertise to do something well. On ability they need to understand that they have the power or capacity to do or act in a certain way. In other words ability means the quality or state of being able to do something.

Students have to undergo self-examination following these suggested points so as to gauge their capabilities on various career choices. Parents should not be left out on career guidance because in some ways they affect their children’s career choices. There is no doubt that there are challenges the parents may face. Researchers talk of the attitudes and behaviour parents reward and punish, approve or disapprove of has a bearing on the children’s career choices.

On top of all this, as parents what expectations do you have for your children’s education and career? Are you over expectant, setting standards that are too high for your children? If so make sure you calm down and move with ease. Do not set extreme standards for your children for they might not achieve intended goals. What examples do you set for your children? You might blame children for moving off track yet they are following your example. Set positive and achievable examples for your children.

What influence as a parent do you exert on who is around your children? Are you a liberal parent who allows children to mix with anybody or you are over-protective, always eager to find out where your children are and who is with them? These are the potential challenges parents encounter hence affecting their children’s career choices. What opportunities do you offer your children to learn and develop? Are you the type of parent who expects a lot from the children, yet, offering little in return? Provide enough resources and a conducive atmosphere for children to learn than merely condemn everything they do.

It is also important to take note of the kind of parent-child relationship you develop with your children. Be fair and firm. Do not spoil the children as they might take advantage and relax. In most cases spoilt children do not put much effort on learning. Teachers struggle to motivate them at school. There is no relationship between what happens at school and at home. Yet, home and school work together for the success of the students.

Following are suggested ways of what parents can do to help their children’s career development. They should encourage their children to get the most education possible and strengthen their self-understanding. Parents might as well develop their children’s knowledge about work, teach them decision-making skills, and make them aware of career resources. Parents can also assist students learn about skills and together observe the effects of part-time work.

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