Ai FM InterviewThe consulting psychologist supervisor, Ms. Lee Li Li, shares about the topic "Importance on Teen Career Planning" at 10:00a.m. at Ai FM (Live) on 4th April 2017 (Tuesday).
Teen Career Planning
As we’re awaiting for SPM results, most parents would start surveying colleges and courses for their child, not necessarily knowing what the child would like to pursue. At times, these youths are also being dragged into a course subject or profession that satisfy the parents' dreams. At times, it is the youths whom are not able to decide the career path to pursue, and felt lost in this transition from secondary school to college.
How Could Teen Decide His/Her Career Path?
What would you want to do for the rest of your life?
  • When the children do not know the interest they would like to pursue, as they are capable of everything and has a slight interest in the things they experienced, the child should ask, what is one thing that he/she would like to do for the rest of his/her life.
  • Rather than thinking of types of occupation (e.g. doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc.), a better answer would be based on verbs (e.g. helping out patients, traveling the world, designing materials, etc.). This would allow the child to have a wider scope of the options available. It also reduce potential discouragement that could probably a barrier towards the career goal (e.g. family background, academic results, financial capability, etc.).
  • When planning for career path, we should consider both of the internal and external factors to make decisions.
Tennager Life Direction
What are the values in your life?
  • The child could make a decision based on his/her values in life by reasoning the motives of choosing this path, whether it is fame, fortune, compassion, respect, etc.
  • By asking “what kind of person would I want to be in the future?” it allows the child to gain a clearer perspective of his/her future goal. It would also provide the personal satisfactions in studying the course subject and also pursuing the career goal rather than chasing a materialistic goal that would only be temporary.
Teenager Personalities
Are your personality traits suitable for the career?
  • By answering the questions such as “What kind of person are you” “How do you describe yourself?” are capable to find the right choice to our dream career.
  • Personality trait could give the child a hint of the industry that is suitable for him/her. It allows the child to quickly adapt in the industry and also allowing him/her to further contribute to the industry. For example, a career that requires an outgoing personality would not be suitable for a person who has a reserved personality, but he/she could pursue a career that is more analytical.
Note: There’s no good or bad personality trait towards a job, it is the matter of suitability and compatibility towards a job.
What are your mastery skill?
  • A mastery skill would bring you internal satisfaction while performing it; it gives you the urge to continuously improve.
  • Children can develop their skills based on their different levels of abilities. Moreover, they also have to understand that there should not be any occupational segregation when deciding their career pathway, as long they put in effort and sincere heart they are capable to contribute and help others.
Parents worried about their childrenParents’ Concerns on children’s indecisiveness on career pathway
Children are confused, lost and unable to make the right decision to their career path. Parents are feeling helpless toward children’s indecisiveness. It would further worries them especially when a child does not seem to be bothered of the career choices that is supposed to be made. This phenomenon happens due to two reasons:
  • The child was not exposed to the career they know other than the exposure they gained from textbooks. The essays on “My Ambition” that always given in school does not actually dwell in them as for them, it is just another essay needed to be written rather than a sincere thought from the heart.
  • The child was used to having decisions made by parents since birth and do not have his/her mindset when it comes to making important decisions independently. Parents should cultivate their children’s making decision skill since they were four or five years old and continue to develop this skill throughout their developmental stages. This is to avoid children from falling into confusion, indecisive, as well as laziness when comes to make decisions in their live. When children are lost, parents may guide the children to think from different perspectives to analyse the available choices to make the final decision.
Mum LoveAdvice to Parents
Parents could start preparing your child and guide them towards a career goal at a young age through the exposure to various experiences gained through field trips or camps. This would allow your child to learn and gain a clearer outlook on the career choices available.

For parents whose child are at the crossroad of choosing a career path, it could be frustrating to look at your child’s indecisiveness, but it would be the best, that parents could continue to be patient with them and guide them on making a choice rather than making a decision for them.

Note: The above content was received from Ai FM on the topic “Importance on Teen Career Planning” on 4th April 2017 (Tuesday). For more details, please contact our administration office. We will have our psychologist to advice you further. Thank you.