Many young people do not know what to do after they graduate from school. Maybe just follow in your father’s or mother’s professional footsteps? Then you know what to expect. Or?
Architect like dad, carpenter like mom. In some cases it seems obvious to be inspired by the career of your own parents when choosing a career. After all, you got the talent for drawing or manual skills anyway in the cradle. But can it really be that simple?
School graduates shouldn’t make the decision on a career path quite that simple. Johannes Wilbert, career counselor and founder of the Institute for Career Choices in Wetter an der Ruhr, points out that before looking for a job, there must first be a reflection: “If you are looking for a job and have not even reflected on what your interests are, the job search has little point.”
If you don’t have a plan yet as to where you want to go, you can get your first impressions during an internship while still at school. Many young adults are not even aware of the opportunities that exist on the job market. “We particularly recommend completing internships during the holidays,” says Stephan Schneider, who works as a consultant at the youth employment agency in Berlin-Mitte. In many federal states, there is also a two-week internship in the 9th grade.
Part-time jobs are also available from a certain age. “In addition to skills such as punctuality, reliability, empathy and dealing with authorities, young people get one thing above all from their first job assignments: appreciation outside their family,” says Katja von Glinowiecki, who works as a careers advisor and coach.
It usually becomes difficult when parents and offspring have different ideas and expectations about the professional future. But young adults should also be able to decide for themselves whether parenting actually suits them or not. As career counselor Wilbert says, most parents want secure jobs for their children. “I’m a teacher, it’s a secure job, so my children should also become teachers.” These thought steps are not wrong in themselves, but they are not necessarily helpful either. Wilbert advises focusing on encouragement above all else.
According to Schneider, parents generally only want what is best for their child. “During the conversation you notice immediately whether there is a consensus between parents and children. If not, we have to mediate between them,” says the careers adviser.
If the question arises as to whether children should really take up their parents’ jobs, Wilbert advises an exchange. “Many children don’t know exactly what their parents do. They know the company, but not their jobs.” Empathetic conversations would ensure that the children are presented with different options for the future.
Important: Parents should under no circumstances exert pressure if they themselves absolutely want the offspring to continue running the architect’s office or the craft business. “When people get the impression that their freedom of choice is being restricted, people do the opposite,” says psychologist and coach Madeleine Leitner. In psychology, this phenomenon is described as reactance.
And even if the work and the professional environment of the parents are familiar to the children to a certain extent and the parents’ networks can open doors: young people who follow their parents’ career path often make high demands on themselves, according to the portal abi. en. This can put pressure on and, in the worst case, increase the fear of failure. This should also be taken into account when weighing up the pros and cons of being a parent.
According to the article, parents also set an example for their children in terms of lifestyle, social status or financial success. Anyone who chooses to be a parent is often under additional pressure to be at least as successful as mum or dad or to be compared to the previous generation.
Children do not always meet the demands of their parents. “Even if it’s difficult: The focus is on the interests and skills of the young people,” says Schneider. Glinowiecki also appealed to parents to take the pressure off their children. “It’s not a bad thing not knowing immediately after graduation what to do next.”
If there is healthy communication in the family, parents can help their children to find their way in different directions. Especially with presence and understanding. This is the best way for them to find a job, says Schneider. “I’m here for you, but you decide” should be the motto.
