Parents:
Your teenager should be deciding on a college major during their junior and senior years of high school. Many teenagers feel they have all the time in the world, and it is important for us as parents to guide our teenagers toward deciding on a major without pressuring them too much. Research shows that parents have more influence than anyone on their children's career choices, so let's look at some steps that can help you provide guidance.
Step 1:
Help your middle school children relate their interests and talents to possible career options and encourage them to use high school to set their college goals.
Step 2
Discover Assessment Tool: This tool helps users identify their strengths and needs, make good career decisions and build plans based on their personal profiles. The best time for a student to use this tool is during high school or the first year of college.
Step 3
OCIS (Ohio Career information System): This valuable website will help your teenager research the following:
- Different career fields
- Knowledge needed
- Relevant skills and abilities
- Required education
- Employment and outlook
- Common work activities
- Working conditions
- Physical demands
- Advancement opportunities
- Wages
Step 4
The Reality Check Game: This exercise helps teenagers determine how they envision their futures. This is found on the OCIS website as well.
Step 5
Informal Interviewing/Job Shadowing/Volunteering: Your teenager can benefit greatly by talking to or working with professionals in their area of interest. You can help arrange this by networking through social resources like family, friends or local professionals. Activities like job shadowing can be listed on your teenager's resume as volunteer experience.
Step 6
Help set goals and encourage development by visiting Sinclair Community College's Career Services department and speaking to a specialist.
Location: 444 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Career Services, Building 10, Room 10312
937-512-277
