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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Does your Year 10 know what they want as a career?

30 replies

inthesticks · 20/02/2011 13:35

DS1 is 15 and seems to feel under huge pressure to make his mind up what career he wants.Not sure where the pressure comes from but he is obviously not immune to the depressing rise in the cost of studying at university
He loves Maths, Physics and Chemistry and plans to do these at A level. His current preference would be to do a Physics degree, but doesn't know what career options there are. Careers advice at school seems poor.

DH went to uni in the 1960s when any degree was a passport to a good job and he doesn't seem to understand that things are so much more competitive now.
I'm hoping to get him on some taster courses in the next year or two (Salters and Smallpiece were recommended on MN).

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 20/02/2011 13:44

DD does know what she wants to do, but as I work in a secondary school, I know it's not that common for them to know!

I speak to a lot of yr11's and ask them what they're going to do when they leave school, a lot of them just say 'I'm going to college'. Yes, but why and for what?

I'd not worry too much tbh. He sounds like what he is aiming for at the moment, would give him a good grounding in lots of careers.

Maybe look at some university courses involving thoe subjects and see if anything take his fancy?

Galdem · 20/02/2011 13:49

This website might be quite a good introduction to get some ideas flowing.

If he has a good idea of what he'd like to study next (e.g. he wants to do A Levels and he wants to do science subjects) that is enough for now.

Does his school have a careers library? There is a series called 'Working in...' which might be a useful starting point for him. It is produced by Connexions I think, and there are booklets on all sorts of careers. I am sure there will be a section devoted to careers related to STEM subjects.

bruffin · 20/02/2011 13:53

MY DS 15 only knows he wants to do something in medicine/forensics. He will stay on the science track. He is also doing electronics btech and I really wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't end up working in that field.

There have been a few articles in the IET magazine recently and the UK still lead the world in high end maufacturing. Dyson is now employing more R&D engineers in the UK than his whole work force when his manufacturing was based here.

Original poster

inthesticks · 20/02/2011 14:06

It's him that seems worried not me, just not sure where it comes from.
He's very bright and works hard, plus his subject choices are pretty solid.
Galdem, he is always browsing around the net for ideas, I will point him to that website.
DS is doing engineering BTEC but is finding it a bit dull and slow. He was forced to choose a D&T subject or this BTEc for one of his options and it was the lesser evil.

OP posts:

bigbluebus · 20/02/2011 17:20

Galdem Thanks for that link - have forwarded it to my DS (14) who is interested in Science based career.
DS has used site called 'FAST TOMATO' at school to held consider career options.

GnomeDePlume · 20/02/2011 20:38

in the sticks DD1 in year 10 is in exactly the same boat as your DS. She wants to study sciences to A level then science (physics or chemistry) at degree level. The only additional factor is that she thinks she would like to go to university in the Netherlands (she speaks Dutch).

She has no idea what she wants to do after that. TBH at this stage I would rather she kept her options open for as long as possible.

On the other hand DS and DD2 know exactly what they want to do.

lospolloshermanos · 20/02/2011 23:09

I knew what I wanted to do at 14 and stuck to it! in my 20's it is possible

cat64 · 21/02/2011 01:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

inthesticks · 21/02/2011 10:13

GnomeDePlume there was a programme on tv last week about studying at Maastrict university. Looked very interesting with a multi national student base and very cheap. I thought it might appeal more to language students but Dutch speaking certainly not essential..

Seems DS is perfectly normal to have no career in mind. Perhaps he has been influenced by one or two friends who have it all mapped out.

OP posts:

webwiz · 21/02/2011 12:15

When I was 15 I did have my future all mapped out and I found it very difficult when following illness in the sixth form I ended up changing my plans. If I had considered more options earlier it wouldn't have been so hard on me and I still have regrets sometimes at all the years I put in wanting to do something that I didn't actually achieve.

Probably because of this I've always wanted my kids to keep their options open and to consider different ideas as to what they want to do.

DD1(19) is in her second year at university studying Biological sciences. She chose the course because she enjoyed Biology at school and wanted to carry it on. She doesn't know what she wants to do yet but is getting ideas as her course goes on.

DD2(17) is going to university in the autumn to study Maths she has a few vague career ideas at this stage but nothing more than that.

DS(14) does know what he wants to do but since its be a film director we'll see how that one pans out!

cyrilsneer · 21/02/2011 14:31

No, my almost fifteen year old doesn't know what she wants to do.

She'll be 15 in a couple of weeks and she sometimes expresses an interest in something that someone has mentioned or something that's come up in a book but hasn't fixed on anything yet.

All of her year have to organise a week's work experience this summer and it's hard to know what she should do since all of her ideas are so varied.

northangerabbey · 21/02/2011 15:01

OP, with those subjects wouldn't the obvious thing be for your ds to do medicine?

Original poster

inthesticks · 21/02/2011 15:47

Northangerabbey He had a phase of being keen on medicine until recently. Such that we managed to get his work experience with a consultant at the local hospital this summer. He now says he's gone off the idea as he doesn't want to spend 5 years studying (at possibly £9000 a year just for the fees).

I fear such aspirations will now be only for the rich.

I know the arguments about not repaying until you are earning and the prospect of a lifelong higher salary, but they don't cut it to a 15 year old who has been brought up to save and not borrow and wants to buy his own house one day...

However I hope the work experience will be a bit of an eye opener to him and he might decide firmly for or against.

OP posts:

GnomeDePlume · 21/02/2011 15:58

inthsticks, yes we saw the programme about Maastricht. We used to live in the Netherlands and DD1 is keen to get back there. Certainly many Dutch Universities offer international courses. Whether Dutch is required depends on the course. Of course speaking the local language will be essential for ordering the all important biertjes.

crazycarol · 21/02/2011 16:28

DD (14) doesn't have a clue what she wants to do. She is interested in music and may head in that direction. I am hoping that some idea eventually materialises!

gramercy · 21/02/2011 16:35

It's also difficult to advise when the world is a changing place and so different from when I was that age.

Ds expressed an interest in being a journalist. But is that a realistic career choice these days? Will print media still exist in 20 years' time?

I was also reading that the legal profession is due to shrink hugely as it will be possible to outsource the more run-of-the-mill stuff to very highly qualified yet hugely cheaper paralegal types in, say, India.

cyrilsneer · 21/02/2011 16:52

It's also difficult to advise when the world is a changing place and so different from when I was that age.*

This is so true gramercy. The internet alone has changed so much in so many industries.

GardenersDelight · 21/02/2011 17:42

My DD1 is 18 and still dosnt know what she wants to do after uni!! DD2 wants to be a photographer but only on a specific magazine which might be narrowing her options slighty

lemonmousse · 21/02/2011 21:02

GardenersDelight Oh I know the feeling - DS would also like to be a photographer - but only for a Music or Tattoo magazine....

In reality he has now decided he will finish his A levels (he's doing A2's atm) but doesn't want to go to Uni and hope's to start an apprenticeship in 'something' (?).

I've decide not to put on the pressure - I have enough stress in my life without being at constant loggerheads with him. He's a bright lad but lacks motivation for study.

GardenersDelight · 21/02/2011 21:11

LM sounds like they'd get on!!She's doing a 2 year course equivalent to 3 A levels but not sure about uni or trying to find a job

Ooopsadaisy · 21/02/2011 21:14

Not a clue.

He's damned sure he doesn't want to stay on any longer than necessary though.

Problem is - there's no jobs.

I've been asking round people who run their own businesses or work for local firms but no-one seems to take on school leavers anymore.

mummyflood · 22/02/2011 17:31

DS1 knew he wanted to be in the RAF from about 13, and has never wavered. Now 17.5, he's within touching distance - just got to pass his final interview next month.

DS2 OTOH is 15, Yr10, and really doesn't know. He feels as though he SHOULD know with DB having a vocation from such an early age, but we try to reassure him that it's more common to be undecided at his age. He knows that he would like to go to college and possibly Uni. and probably based around business - maybe banking, finance, etc.

GnomeDePlume · 22/02/2011 18:30

mummyflood I have seen your posts about your DS1. I hope he does get through the final stage and achieve his dream.

My DS is now 12 and also wants to join the RAF. He starts cadets in September.

Davsmum · 25/02/2011 13:29

I think its a shame that chldren are expected to know 'what they want to be'
I am middle aged - and I still don't know what I want to be !!

HouseGirlfriend · 25/02/2011 13:39

My sis is nearly 17 and still changes what she wants to do on a regular basis. Is there a connections officer person at his school? They can be really good to bounce ideas off. If he really doesn't have a clue it doesn't matter. I am a great advocate in making things up as you go along! Help him to choose A Levels that he likes and will be good at, because that can help him stick at them. Most subjects at A level can be used for anything :) Just let him know its not the end of the world if he doesn't know what to do, and its not the end of the world if he chooses the 'wrong' subjects. He has a good 50 years before retirement - plenty of time to train for what he wants to do when he decides.

(As a bit of background, my dad trained to be a teacher, needing GSCEs and a degree at the age of 43. I wanted to work with horses so took a BTEC in horse management. I am nearly a fully qualified nurse, and used horse management to get on to my degree)

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