the 3 worst career advice tips for high school seniors

1. Take a break and relax!  Really?  Once you get off the wagon, do you know how hard is to get back?

According to the US Department of Labor, out of 3.2 million youth age 16 to 24 who graduated from high school between January and October 2012, about 2.1 million were enroll in college.  Does it make you wonder...if 2.1 million did enroll in college, what happens to the rest of our youth?  Labor Department says they have a 34.4 percent unemployment rate compared to 17.7 for the youth enrolled in-college.  So, if they are not ready for a formal college setting, take the time to find out why.  Be a good listener and brain storm to find solutions and answers to your new grad concerns.

2. Just take a few General Ed classes until you figure it out...  That is the worst college advice you will ever give someone, college cost money and time is priceless.  I personally did not enjoy my sleepless nights trying to get all the statistical assignments done, but I knew I had to get them done to get to my goal.  College topics provide the basic tools you will need to perform your professional duties.  For example, cosmetologist at trade schools have to endure lessons on anatomy and physiology of skin, nails and hair; and the list goes on for any vocational school and college enrolled student.  It is just like when you had to do circles and lines as the foundation to writing skills (I bet you didn't like that when you were 5 years-old either). Holland's Theory on personality types and jobs is a good reference to understand how our personality does relate to a career field.  Setting career goals is a MUST do before enrolling in a college or a vocational school.  14 year olds are able to start figuring out what they would like to do in their career life, and it is our duty as parents and career coaches to provide them with sufficient information to assist with the decision making process, such as taking the time to explain roles and duties on different jobs, finding summer jobs related to their fields of interest.  And what I mean by that, is a summer job in a company where  there are individuals performing the jobs of interest, so your soon to be a high school grad gets to see a glance of what the field and the job could look like after training.  Perhaps, you have a friend that could talk about their professional experience with your career ready young adult.

3. You have to be just like dad (or mom, or grandpa...)  Do you remember those days?  Did you feel good about it?  Exactly!

I recently had a college-ready client that was unsure of his career goal.  After talking with him for a few minutes, we identified that he had little guidance during his Junior and Senior years, and his family expected him to follow his parent's footsteps.  With the help of vocational testing we were able to identify that he wanted something in the healthcare field, just like his parents, but on a different occupation.  Young adults are able to make educated decision, once we give them sufficient information to assess the situation.  Trust your children...they are just like you, but with a different DNA mix!  Just tell them to excel at the occupation they choose to pursue: Olympic athletes don't get medals for their lack of effort and poor performance, and JT started his singing and acting career at a very young age.

Written by: Veriuska Corso, BS, CDMS, CDF  Vocational Consultant and Career Planner/ Capital Voc Consulting 2013

Sources:

US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2012).  The Condition of Education 2012 (NCES 2012-034); Indicator 34.

US Department of Labor, Economic News Releases USDL-0670, College Enrollment and Work Activity 2012

National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), Science and Engineering indicators 2012

National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Facts: Immediate transition to college.