What age is best to give the child an over view of various careers and business lines? and how do you give them a realistic idea of what different careers entail , the challenges etc ?
Re: Career Counselling
just before graduating from High School.
Re: Career Counselling
There is no fixed age but I think 17-18 years. We see those who have their own business, they hand over some responciblities to their children when they are in teenage. Mind in this age is capable to think analytically, they can look into various career options and able to pros -cons. Most important thing here is to develop a habit of reading all sections of any good newspaper so that they have an outlook of what is happening in world and country. I insist newspaper 'coz they get aware of frauds, govt rules/policies, business/market happenings, economy. You see many newspaper publish expert/sepecialists' forecast and opinion in editorial section which sometimes include analysis on career growth in various fields. They will see different reports. This helps in thinking process. At the age of 17-18 yrs we are generally mature enough to think (see their school books :) )
Re: Career Counselling
I strongly think that you should start talking about career options from the middle school and the first step is to familiarise them with the processes as what happens in the real world. Then the second step would be to tell them their options and third will be the challenges that they are going to face. Now this whole process should be handled with care as we have to make sure that we pump in the motivation and aspiration and remove any negativity.
Here in US, students start preparing for the first major test that is PSAT right from the middle. Thats when they should know wut usually happens in real world.
Re: Career Counselling
I too feel kids should be provided extensive over views of various career lines from very early on and they should even be allowed to shadow some of the people in their social circle , like family friends or school friends parents etc .. so they get an idea of what goes on in the real world and how each career carried different opportunities and perspectives .
Re: Career Counselling
Middle School (7/8th grade). If you are in the US, these days, the graduation plan and courses you choose in high school pretty much determine your education trajectory going forward. In Texas at least, you have to declare your graduation plan prior to starting 9th grade. 17 & 18 is too late IMO. With all the fierce completion to get into colleges these days, the sooner the better.
Now once someone is in college and after taking courses decides to change their major that's different.
Re: Career Counselling
when they start high school ... expose them to different areas e.g. have them volunteer is hospital, shadow a doctor, work as a cashier during summer break, take them with you to work, ask them to think what they like to do
Re: Career Counselling
and just to add , if kids then , show interest in a specific career. While Shadowing someone in the same field is an option , it can be very helpful to let them read various job descriptions posted on various job sites . It gives them an idea of the skills required in that specific field and this can be a brilliant insight for them.