How to help your child navigate a route to career success

EY, the global professional services organisation, reported in January 2014 almost half of parents are unaware of the range of options open to young people turning 18, and that more than half didn't fully understand the long-term implications for their children's careers.

While most parents are well intentioned in supporting their children at key stages in their academic career, the simple reality is that in a rapidly changing world, they're not always fully equipped with the resources to do so successfully.

Here is my guide for parents on how best to support their children in their career choices:

It's a changing world

The simple reality is the world is a very different place today to the one you will have faced when making study, training and career-related decisions. New roles are being created all the time, and it seems many jobs open to young people today didn't even exist 10 years ago. While a report from the Education Endowment Fountation last year found non-cognitive skills are increasingly seen at least as important as cognitive skills or IQ in determining job prospects. These equally important other factors include character, persistence, ability to cope with failure, to make connections and to think critically.

A good starting point to better understand the range of job options available and what skills employers are looking for is to visit the job profiles section of the National Careers Service website, where specific roles are categorised by occupation. This resource will enable you both to examine some of the specific roles in the sector your child is most interested in.

You can also help by supporting your child as they discover where their non-academic strengths lie. Psychometric profiling is an effective means of doing this and provides an element of impartiality – something which is difficult for a parent to achieve. There are a range of tests but to find out more information, visit Futurewise New Generation.

Encourage individuality

Be careful that you don't unintentionally pressure your child to realise your own unfulfilled ambitions. They may not be suited to the career you once dreamed of, but remember they're an individual and need to be given the freedom and space to live their own life.

Where your concern over their career and study choices may be deeply held, it is vital that your advice and expertise remains impartial. You should be realistic about your child's potential, and seeking guidance from their school or college as to their likely educational achievements will help to identify appropriate routes out there.

Open your mind to alternatives

Don't assume that your child will follow your academic path. Today, more than ever, there are a myriad of options for breaking into different sectors. Earning while they learn on an apprenticeship may not only be better suited to your child, but will allow them to avoid the daunting student debts that so many young people experience.

There are a wealth of online resources which can help to explain the various paths that you and your child may wish to consider, including the UCAS Progress website for information on further education and college options, Which? University, or the notgoingtouni site which provides details on alternative options such as apprenticeships, employment options and sponsored degrees.

Encourage networking

A rich and varied CV can pique the interest of an admissions tutor or potential employer. You should encourage your child to seek out work experience placements, take up volunteering roles, attend taster days, or simply speak with people already working in a sector that they're interested in. It may be that your own professional and social networks can come in handy here.

It's never too early to start thinking about the future – encouraging your child to start a portfolio of experiences for use in a future CV or as part of a personal statement can be beneficial from as early as year 9. Remind them to record all their work experience placements and gain references from them, as well as include part-time jobs held and roles involving responsibility either at school or outside organisations.

It's also a good idea to ask someone not familiar with your child to appraise their CV/personal statement and review how it comes across given they won't have preconceived opinions of them as an individual.

Get to know key dates and be prepared for what's ahead – we all know teenagers aren't always the most communicative or organised, so there's no harm in equipping yourself with knowledge of the key dates for each stage of their academic career. From as early as 13 you can support them by attending subject option evenings for GCSE (or equivalent) choices. By 14 or 15 they should be thinking about first work experience placements and you'll undoubtedly be able to help with this. By the time they've completed formal education you can be on hand to assist with preparing for, and travelling to, university and college open days or job interviews.

Be prepared to let go

There can be a fine balance between giving guidance and supporting your child and becoming a parent who can't resist taking over and organising everything for them. Up until 16 many decisions relating to their education will have been made for them, so it's a good idea to start encouraging some independence that will enable them to cope when the time comes. This doesn't have to mean a sink or swim scenario and you'll naturally want to discuss things with them – just make sure you are in the background.

What about school?

There is quite a variation in the level and sophistication of guidance and support offered by schools in the UK – an issue often discussed in the media – and it may be you feel that your child's own school isn't providing this to a sufficient level, or to meet their bespoke needs. If this is the case, Careers Advice for Parents, Parental Guidance and the National Careers Service all serve as a useful starting point offering guidance and signposting parents to both free and paid-for services. However, in the same way as some parents choose to invest in private tuition for their child, you might also decide to seek professional careers guidance when subject or career choices need to be made.

Virginia Isaac is CEO of the The Inspiring Futures Foundation which provides impartial, expert careers guidance. Its Futurewise programme is now available for parents to buy directly.

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