Career Tips for Parents of Middle School Students
Help your child find the road to a rewarding career!
Does your child know what he wants to do for a living?
Probably not - at least not for sure. And that's not surprising. There are lots of choices - many of which your son or daughter may not even know about - and how they decide and then achieve their goals can be very mystifying.
As a parent, you can play a big role in helping your child find the road to a successful career. Believe it or not, you're one of the most powerful influences in his or her life. What you say and the opportunities you provide to your child to learn more about careers can be very important.
Career planning
Career planning is an organized process that may be repeated again and again as you explore careers.
- Step 1: Learn about yourself.
- Step 2: Explore careers.
- Step 3: Pursue educational training.
- Step 4: Look for and accept a job.
How parents can help
- Discuss your child's skills, talents, interests, abilities and goals to help plan for the future.
- Encourage participation in service-oriented activities in the community.
- Help your child meet a variety of workers by arranging job shadows, field trips or personal interviews.
- Use guided money management and allow your child to make buying choices.
- Allow children to work part-time outside the home.
- Listen as your child makes decisions. Keep peer pressure in mind.
- Participate in the school's career education program.
- Help your child make independent decisions.
- Involve yourself in your child's future planning.
- Give certain economic responsibilities, such as an allowance for chores.
- Encourage job awareness.
- Be flexible, as the decision-making process evolves. It takes patience and numerous modifications.
- Stress to your child that school is their work. Attendance is important.
- Provide as many opportunities as you can for your child to learn new technology.
Click here for the middle school CTE application.
How our schools help
Our career preparation system is designed to help all students move smoothly from high school to further education and meaningful employment. It helps students explore multiple options and begin to make decisions about the career path that might be best.
Schools and employers work together to make the learning experience realistic and effective.
School-Based Learning
- Career-exploration and counseling.
- A career-major focus.
- A high school program of study with high standards that prepares students for post-secondary education.
- Options students can choose to earn a skills certificate, showing future employers what the students know and can do.
- A much closer relationship between academic and vocational subjects.
- Formal arrangements that allow students to obtain college credit while in high school.
Work-Based Learning
- Work experience (paid or unpaid).
- Reinforcement of school-based learning through the work experience.
- Workplace monitoring.
- Instruction in general workplace skills.
- Learning about all aspects of an industry.
What does it take to succeed in a career today?
Requirements are changing as work becomes more dependent on technology and employers compete in a global economy. Each career has its unique qualifications, but in general, all employees need:
- Academic knowledge
- Technical proficiency
- Productive work habits
- The ability to think logically
- Communication skills
- The ability to work in teams
- Problem-solving skills
For a printable brochure, click here.
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