To ask how old your dc were when they knew what they wanted for a career

[GladTurtle]

dd1 knew for sure in year 8. ds2 is in year 9 now and still has no clue

I didn’t know til I was in uni! My husband didn’t know til after uni and working for 2 years. I’m not sure many people who ‘know’ what they want to do in yr 8 actually end up doing it, so it’s neither here nor there.

DS was 16 or 17. DD is 22, just about to leave uni and still doesn't know.

I didn't decide until my thirties

Ds sort of always knew what field he'd like to work in, however it wasn't until he was in sixth form and looking at universities that he decided where exactly in that field.

how did your dd decide on her uni course if she doesn't know

Mine is 14 and her ideas change every week ranging from a gamer to a NASA engineer.
I didn't know until my 30s. I left school, worked for over a decade and then went to uni at 32 which was a much more positive and valuable experience than wasting time on uni at 18.

Im in my 40s and still don't know despite working since I was 17. Dh the same. Your lucky if you know. Most people fall into jobs

Ds1 was Y10, 15. He hasn't changed his mind for over a year now and has chosen his A Level options based on it.

Ds2 14 and Y9, no ideas so far.

Ds3 is 6 and 100% certain he'll be driving either a fire engine, police car or ambulance so that he can be in control of the siren.

I also wonder what field is the most popular among the younger generation

They should study whatever they are most interested in - geography, business, film production, whatever. If they know that they want to be a doctor or nurse for instance they can go straight to studying the appropriate degree but otherwise they should just enjoy their time at uni. Plenty of time to figure it out, they certainly don’t need to know at the age of 14. Lots of degrees don’t lead directly into a career but also keep many doors open. There are many accountants with English or physics degrees and many lawyers with history or classics degrees.

I knew I wanted to be a teacher from my first day at school aged 5. Both DC had no idea what they wanted to do when they went to uni. Both read Geography which has a lot of transferable skills. Most adults in our extended family have changed careers at least once, including myself, DH and both DC. Often the career you think you want turns out not be what you want you thought it was. I think AlohaRose has given you very good advice.

DC now 14 and has so far been saying the same thing since he was 5. Other DC is 16 and decided on the area around 7 months ago but is still not certain on specific jobs.

Sometimes I just don't think people know what they want to do. I'm one of them. Ive had some great jobs but not a career as such because there's nothing that peaks my interest enough to want to stay in that area. I have always worked though. Whereas my DH is the complete opposite and has worked in the same field for over 20 years and knew from a young age.

DS 20 at uni doesn’t know
DD 17 about to go to uni doesn’t know

Both have chosen fairly broad degrees in areas of interest

The most popular/competitive degrees currently include psychology, computer science, medicine, physiotherapy, law, sports science, economics. Some of this is because places are limited, others because they are popular/fashionable subjects.

I'm 40 and still don't know.

When I was 8 I thought I was going to be a Ghostbuster.

I also wonder what field is the most popular among the younger generation

Accountancy for ds1 (16).

I think lots of people don't know before starting uni, and they study the subject they enjoy most rather than a vocational course.

I thought I knew when I started uni, but then changed my mind. So I didn't actually know until I was 21.

My DC are 14, 16 and 18. The 18yo doesn't know yet, he knows what he wants to study at uni (and has offers) but doesn't know what he wants as a career. The 16yo is aiming for a specific career and wants to apply to the relevant degree course. The 14yo has lots of different ideas!

Late 20s. When at school the options seemed to be:
Teaching, Nursing, Medicine, Law, Secretarial, Local Factory, Shop. Other professions that I was aware of were things like dentistry, librarian, nannying, accountancy, hairdressing, mechanic.

Did a non-vocational degree and sort of fell into a job, and did a sideways move into something related. Found I really enjoyed it.

Didn't have much awareness of different careers growing up.

That was me not DC.

OP, I think your DD is the unusual here rather than your DS. I don't think that many kids know in year 8.

DS knew what career he wanted to follow when he was about 14 yrs old.
DD didn't actually decide on her career path until she was in her final year at university.

She looked at where her skills and interests were and chose from there. She's done a computer science course so it opens many different fields and is also useful in most careers if she goes totally in a different direction

I was year 9, I think. But it was a very vague “I want to move to London and work in the City”.

(I got here and it’s not all that 😂)

I used What Color Is Your Parachute? - Wikipedia. You work through the exercises in the book. There are probably similar things online but the 'information superhighway' was very new when I read it.
I found the actually having to work through it with pen and paper useful.

I'm in my 50s.
Still no idea what I want to do when I grow up

One DC was convinced on their career ( engineering) from very early. Excellent exam results without a huge amount of effort, it all came naturally to him. Got into a good Russel Group Uni. Good degree,

Sailed into the first job that on paper was ideal. Absolutely had their name written all over it. Good, well respected company. Every one who knew him thought Wow! He was delighted,

Hated the job. Now hates science and engineering and wised that he'd done English instead.
I think he'd burned out after being so focused for so long.

DD knew when she was 5 and has stuck with it. She's 25 now and loves what she does. Ds1 and 2 chose degrees based on what they enjoyed learning and decided on careers after uni. Ds3 is 26 and still doesn't know. He currently has a job, not a career. Ds4 is 21 and thinks he knows but isn't sure.

Everyone is different.

23 and 25 and both progressing in same careers 16 years later. Choices completely different from their earlier thoughts