My 15 yr old son wants some career thoughts. Thoughts beyond school career counselor or univ. guides? Serious.

Question

Love to hear how some late teens or those in university have determined their career choices. He has average marks and no real passion for anything in particular. Great but typical teen and I'd love to help him. He truly wants something he'll be passionate about but doesn't know what that is yet. I'd love some creative ideas to share with him. Serious responses only...please.

Answer 1

Umm, if he is only 15 try what I did that helped me find a job that I am passionate about. As a sixteen year old I did an internship wanting to go into police work and stuff, but was unable to get that internship and ended up in the medical feild, 4 months of learing about it made me want to persue this career. Not even expecting it. So have him get out there and try new things, for fun, and he will find something he has a passion for.

Good luck

Answer 2

I COMPLETELY feel the pain. I too was in the same situation, I wanted passion, a fabulous career, but wasn't very passionate about anything. I went to college and took a wide array of classes, law, political science, social science, international studies, engineering, marketing, lots of physics, chemistry and maths. I learned a lot and mostly learned I can tolerate a lot of boring instructors.

I came to a point in college where I decided, I don't love anything. Chinese was interesting, but not fabulous. Art was fun but I struggle with stick figures. I enjoy playing the piano, but when forced to practice x hours a day I tired of it. I decided jobs, careers and hobbies are very different things but people sometimes confuse them. Some people are unable to make their hobby a career and suffer with a low paying job and unable to sustain the lifestyle they are acustom to.

Next step, what lifestyle do I want? I like designer things. I love to shop, I like the spas, but I also love adventure trips. I'm expensive, I needed a job that could support my tastes. I did a search. Doctors made a lot of money a year, but school was too long, and I would many times work 80 hours in a single week. I didn't want to work those hours. I wanted to be a suspension design engineer. That's great, but it's difficult to penetrate the market. So I figured, I'm personable, a bad liar and good at math. I did research. I wanted a good paying job. That would mean, I need a growing industry that is already desperate for professionals. Accounting is what I found.

Now in my early 20's. I don't have an amazing passion for my work. But I go to work usually with a smile, and rarely come home frustrated. I'm also able to do the extra things I enjoy. Finding work after college was relatively easy. I love the people I work for.

I said all that to say this, a passionate career is awesome, but many times passion does not pay the bills. With any luck maybe a job can pay for the passion. I can do the things I love, and I do enjoy my work.

Anyway, hope it helped :)

Answer 3

When my son graduated from High School he really had no idea what he wanted for a career. He decided he would go to a Junior College and get a general AA degree. He started taking classes that interested him while completing requirements for a university bound student. After his first year he realized what he enjoyed most was the challenge of Math classes, He tutored others in the Math Lab and also private tutoring. He went on to a State University and obtained a BA, MA and PhD in Mathematics. He is now teaching Math and doing research at a Major University.

Answer 4

Let him travel for a year before college..

it really puts things into perspective.. my friend ending up helping out people in the poor regions of Africa..

Another friend got a job IN travel..

one person taught for a year in china or something and got the cultural thing as well as teaching experiance...
Let him try out different things..

i mean i am the same.. i have no idea what i want to do.. i plan to get small jobs or non paid doing things like helping out a photographer.. or get experience working for a magazine\newspaper... even going for a mechanic course! o_0
Erm what else.. i am taking a glass making course..and jewellry...shadowing a doctor for a day.. i AM planning on going travelling.. i feel thats an important part of life.. and finding yourself

Try out as many things as possible.. and train in as many things as poss.. like a varied subjects.. so even if he doesnt know yet - at least he might have qualifications for it when he does decide..

Answer 5

i my self am i teen and i love technology. you can make so much money with this career right now due to the lack of knowledge of computers out there right now. you can make video games, websites, weapons mechanic. there are just so many cool options out there. i am studying game and graphic design, and i am so happy with it. And the lowest ten percent make 60,000 dollars a year. you need to know math. and you have to love to think out of the box. I'm sure you son is good at that. there are 2 kinds of people book smart. And the usually successful ones are the creative.

i hoped this help

Answer 6

if you're basing your decision on "safe practices", indexed less than are some data: The military has lost ninety human beings in the course of the Iraqi conflict out of appoximately 4100 conflict useless. the military has lost about 2900 and the Marine Corps has lost about a 1000. in accordance to those numbers, and depending on the scale of the facilities (military 2.6 million consisting of reserves, and Marine Corps 100 seventy 5,000), the Marine Corps is the unsafest at a 5 situations higher mortality fee at the same time as length of service is taken under consideration. For the Vietnam conflict, the casualties were as follows: protection pressure service branch type of files Air pressure 2,584 military 38,209 Coast preserve 7 Marine Corps 14,838 military 2,555 entire fifty 8,193 So, if you're truly searching for the most secure branch, per chance you should guide him to the Coast preserve - no disrespect meant, yet we lost extra women, 8, than Coast preserve workers, notwithstanding the CG does have a diverse challenge and they fall less than fatherland safe practices not the DoD. good success in attempting to save the skirt strings tied on your son. Edit - For Buckeye bill - proper on!

Answer 7

Tell him to think back to when he was much younger..what did he like when he was a kid? What kind of things did he do as a youngster that he enjoyed. Then branch out off of that idea.

Answer 8

A lot of adults don't know what they want to dor either. Expose to as many different careers as possible and he will find one eventually.

Answer 9

i'm only 16 right now but what helped me somewhat was a test that my dad had me take online its kinda expencive but it was kinda worth it for me for many reasons it wasnt necesarily TRUE but it really made me realize things that i really DONT want to be and characteristics that i have and potential try it out it might help its called myers briggs might have heard of it http://cpp.com/Products/index.asp


GOOD LUCK!! =]