Are you worried about your child’s career and keen on taking the proper steps? Well, you are not alone, as all the parents wish to do the same to ensure their child a promising career. Right from the day your child starts their education, you start planning their futures. Common concerns are - what stream they will go into, what college they will take admission in, what career path they’ll follow, etc. Your choices and opinions matter a whole lot in your child’s life as you have been an eyewitness to all their strengths and their weaknesses. You always have their best interest at heart, and thus, they are confident to trust you completely. 

This article discusses the role of parents and explores the factors that you need to keep in mind while choosing a career for your children.

As parents, it is your responsibility to be the catalyst in shaping your child’s future. While the academic grading system starts at school, the close analysis of your children’s behavior patterns, interests, hobbies, etc. begins from you. Hence, you must actively observe, understand and plan your child’s life from the beginning. There are some critical factors involved in this process. Let us take you through them below:

Factors To Consider While Deciding Your Child’s Career

There are many factors that you should consider, as a parent, while deciding your child’s career. But, it might look impossible to have the best of both worlds, right? Below is a list of the 7 most important factors you should consider without a second thought. Trust us, and you wouldn’t want to overlook them. 

1. Be Open and Approachable

You must give your child a safe space. Give them the comfort and ambiance to talk to you about their likes, dislikes and future plans without the fear of being judged. This will help them build a trustworthy relationship with you, leading to a healthy and open conversation. Because when the discussion is frank, the outcome is always positive and rewarding. 

2. Focus on Aptitude

Choosing the right career is more than academic grades. The high figures on your child’s mark sheet are not the only deciding factor when it comes to choosing their career. For instance, your child might be scoring high marks in Science, and everybody thinks they should definitely become a doctor or engineer. But is that the only field your child excels at? Perhaps they might be even better at communication, debating, researching, etc., which would make them a great lawyer or orator. So, make sure to let your child take an aptitude test before leading them to a particular career direction. 

Suggested: Ways to Encourage Your Child to Follow their Passion

3. Don’t Force Your Whims on Them

Like every parent, you will also have some set of expectations from your child. It is also highly possible that you would want them to fulfill your unfulfilled personal dream. But are your child’s aspirations the same as yours? Does it excite them equally like it did to you as a teenager? Every child is born with individual talent. So, help your child recognize their dreams, desires, and qualities and be their pillar of strength in achieving them. 

4. Start Early

Don’t wait until your child finishes high school or college. You should start considering different options and start early career planning in 8 or 9 itself. That is when their skillset begins to develop. It is the perfect time to get a fair idea about the path to choose for your child. This way you will choose the right stream, then the right college, and eventually the right career. Remember, career is not a one-step thing but a gradual process.

5. Be Self-Aware and Open-Minded

In today’s ever-evolving world, there are a lot of careers that are budding into successful ones. The chances are that you might not have heard of them, but don’t worry, career is a widely spread pool, and there are many options out there. You should not keep a narrow mind and let your child explore all possible options depending on their interests.

6. Always Listen 

You are older and have much more experience, but you shouldn’t let this be a reason not to listen to your child. Let them speak; let them put forward their viewpoints. They might be low on experience, but does it negate their creativity and innocence? Hence, every parent must be a patient listener and analyze their children’s thoughts with care.

7. Have a Plan B

Plan B is like the life jacket in a sea of furious waves. Failures and disappointments are inevitable companions in the journey of life. But with a plan B there is always something to fall back upon. Besides, keeping choices will give you a broader arena to choose from. If the first plan doesn't work out, you always have something to rely on. This goes for selecting the college, stream, and ultimately the career. 

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Except for these, there are some more factors that you as parents should always keep in mind. Your guidance and opinion play a huge role in your child’s life. Remember to allow them to explore more than just studies. 

Encourage your child to participate in extra-curricular activities. Urge them to socialize, to get to know other people. Have frequent talks with them. Set time for all kinds of activities. And lastly, be there for them always. 

We at Yocket are here to help you and your child choose the right career. Our learned and experienced counselors at Yocket will guide you through each step. We will help you identify your child’s aptitude, avoid the common mistakes, and pave the way for the right career.