Are you helping a young adult get ready for the working world? Here’s how you can help them prepare for career success—without doing it all for them. From creating mock interview questions to introducing them to LinkedIn, these five steps will build their confidence and independence.
Here are five ways parents and teachers can support teens and young adults in developing their career paths:
Help teens identify their interests and strengths, even if they seem unrelated to traditional career paths. Encourage participation in activities like clubs, part-time jobs, or volunteer work that expose them to different roles and responsibilities, allowing them to explore potential career interests.
Support their growth by helping them with practical skills, like writing a basic resume, preparing for interviews, and even explaining professional etiquette. Mock interviews and resume workshops, whether at home or in school, can give them a head start on what employers look for.
Offer introductions to friends, family, or community members in different professions. Networking is often intimidating for young people, but meeting people in various fields can inspire them and even lead to internships or mentorships. Teachers can help by inviting guest speakers or arranging job shadowing days.
Emphasize skills that are essential in any job, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Encourage them to take on leadership roles in projects, sports teams, or clubs to develop these skills. Practicing these in real situations gives them confidence in the workplace.
Encourage resilience by normalizing setbacks as part of learning. Help them see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than roadblocks. Sharing personal stories of career ups and downs can also make these lessons relatable and less daunting.