DD (Y8) wants something to aim for career wise, help me to give her some ideas.

Our school has a careers library where they use a program called Fast Tomato

If she likes languages what about living somewhere overseas or going to university overseas?
I have a son in y8 who is really enjoying Geography and the sciences. He thinks he might study sciences at A level at the moment.

My yr9 dd wants to be an architect. I'm not sure how likely this is, that's a competitive subject and she's an arty dreamer, but she also considers a variety of arty/technology subjects.

yr8 dd is very focused and wants to be Prime Minister. Or perhaps a word dictator. She's checked out entry routes into the cabinet and decided that PPE at Oxford is the best route in. I've warned her that this is a bit of a competitive course (and career aim), and she should consider alternatives, so she currently has computing and philosophy as an alternative degree.

But I do keep telling them they are too young to have a fixed career idea. I was set on medicine at that age, most young teens won't really know the range of jobs out there, nor the range of university options. I switched my ideas from medicine to philosophy and psychology at 16, and went into the social sciences. Which is a far better fit for me. Not many 12 year olds would consider social science degrees or careers. It can be quite limiting choosing a career based on what the average 12 year old has knowledge of.

My ds wants to go to Cambridge and read Law. This is largely because he thinks (not without reason!) that it's the best way into stand up comedy.

Petroleum is lucrative.

OP, my DD often worries about having no clear career goal (she's year 10), especially as some of her friends are quite set.

Most people assume that she wants to go into the performing arts, but she's not necessarily settled on that and often talks about taking an academic subject at university.

I just keep telling her not to worry. That not knowing is natural. Better that her goal is to keep all doors firmly open.

You could try the daydream approach: you ask what an ideal day would be, then deduce what you can about the motivations of the person. So if it's all about spending money and living luxuriously you know you shouldn't be recommending that they join the church.. I believe Bobbi Brown told her Mum that her day would be spent playing with make-up in a store.

My teen needs a high-earning career to fund his ideal day skiing! (He doesn't want to work in a resort..) To this end he knows he better work hard to get the grades for whatever lucrative career may beckon , for him maths and science seems be the route for the moment. I fully expect everything will turn on it's head in the next few years but if they are looking for motivation it helps to show possible scenarios.

We used the ucas website that has a questionnaire to help you decide course preferences and out of that possible jobs. It was v useful for son

The problem with manufacturing a goal - I am not sure there will be that raw passion which is what you are wanting - because that is what drives the focus.

If she focuses on what she loves and is good at then, although broad rather than specific, there is a sort of raw passion already there and it might work as you hope.

Also some children who are very good all-rounders aspire to a certain University, for example, rather than a career.

Found it, it is called u-explore.com and though to use regularly I think you need to get a sign in from school. It offers a 48 hour free access, if you use that linky.

DD only got her login this week (just starting the whole "options" process) but we were really impressed. She came home from school absolutely buzzing about it. Mainly I think because she doesn't have a clue, and this just had sooo much information!

Engineering is well paid

I can't remember what it is called, but will try to find out. DD (Y9) was shown a brilliant website career planner thing in school this week. It has endless permutations, and really accurate (for the industry DH & I work in anyway) careers info. It can deal with anything from suggestions based on your favourite subjects at school, so hobbies, or the vaguest of suggestions, and comes up with a massive range of suggestions - perfect for if like DD, and your DD, they really don't have a clue.

I'm report back when she gets home from school and tells me what it was called!

At the moment I have one (Y11) would be marine Biologist. Good at science and scuba dives.

And a (Y8) would be Y1/2 teacher (who I see teaching Y5 and being the deputy head).

She is brilliant with little DCs and feels learning to read etc. in infants is very important. I suspect she will eventually find very small DCs limiting and want some variety in conversations and some sort of role involving adults too.

Not at all sure if she'll do at Uni. Anything essay based, English, history, but psychology wouldn't surprise me.

My daughter was an average Joe (although worked very hard). She came home one night from a concert, age 15, and declared that she was going to be a photographer. Since that day she has never wavered and throws herself completely into everything she does to get to her goal.

My son is less sure. I agree that an aim gives focus and that is a very, very good thing. However, I am not sure it can or ought to be manufactured. In his case, we have picked on his strengths and loves (Maths, Sciences, Computers) and his aim is to nail those at high grades at GCSE to move on to A level and, if he still does not know, aim for those at a high level too.

So, personally, I wouldn't pick a career out of thin air. But I would try and create a focus that works for the child.

I fell into my career when I was offered a training contract so good I just couldn't turn down and, I suspect, many people have followed careers because of something that happened.

I would encourage technology. Engineeringscience as that is where the growth in jobs will be.

I would encourage technology. Engineeringscience as that is where the growth in jobs will be.