does your teen know what they want to pursue as a career?

[brimfull]

dd in yr 12 and still doesn't really have a clue

DS is torn between airline pilot (loads of time off & q. good money) and security service (has been watching too much Spooks).

I'm encouraging the pilot option, as at least if you pay £50k or whatever to get through flight school you're pretty much guaranteed a job, but with a university degree you're not.

DS S4/Yr11 - plans to be a professional musician, playing in an orchestra. Though he does realise that doesn't often actually pay the bills, so he's looking at getting an office or shop job of some sort to make ends meet...

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school, or even by the end of University, and kind of "fell into" computing, which suits me fine. I think most people don't have much of a career idea in their teens.

doesnt matter, dont sweat it

get her to get some work experience in various jobs.

i still have no idea at the end of uni

yes but how did you decide what degree to do if you had no idea what you wanted to do?

she would like to go to uni

DS is 17 and is applying to uni to do Philosophy. He hasn't thought beyond that I don't think. If he has, then he hasn't told me.

My DD, year 11, wants to do something with photography and/or history - loves Egyptology and archaeology - although not much call for that these days.

She is also very good at, and enjoys, web design and actually created a web site for a friend of mine.

Currently trawling through the options for further education - sixth form, college, etc. The school obviously want her to stay on and do 'A' levels (Oracle, History, Art/Design, Photography). She would ideally like to do a photography degree (currently doing a BTec in art and design which means she could go in at National Diploma Level, I think) but the skills advisor at school asked about the possibility of a job at the end of it. Not many people succeed as a photographer and she is not interested in photographing fashion shoots or weddings! She would ideally like to photography archaeological digs! Not much scope for employment in that field, I think.

I think she should focus on the I.T. design side but, at the end of the day, I think she will do best at what she enjoys.

Still going through the process in applying for colleges, sixth form, etc.

Bit of a nightmare to be honest!

Many people I know that have degrees aren't working in the field they have a degree in - myself inclided. I think what is important for many jobs is that you demonstrate the capability to complete a degree. You don't just need intelligence to pass a degree, you also have to organise yourself and do the work - I was a lazy student but realised that if I was to pass I would have to kick myself up the bum and do some work otherwise I'd fail - a useful life skill I reckon!

My sister is in, oh god I dunno, whatever they call Lower 6th in these modern times and has no idea what to do after school/university. She is doing A levels in subjects she enjoys and has an aptitude for. I would imagine she will chose a university course using the same criteria. Very few people are sure at 16/17/18 what they want to do for a living, many will change their mind. My advice would be to stick to what you enjoy and what you are good at - if you go for a career based on those criteria you are far more likely to be successful.

thanks
I know she's not unusual in not knowing
she's doing A levels in
maths
physics
music
french

loves the music and french but doesn't have the passion to be a professional musician (her words)
doesn't want to teach
doesn't want to do physics at uni..or maths
hmmming about business but still unsure

My DD y11 also has no idea what to do - even struggling to chose A levels, and only staying on by default because can't think of anything else to do.

As for degree for your DD, ggirl, I guess best not to worry too much. Go with subjects she likes and not worry that it's a make or break decision. Can you still do joint honours - then she could drop one subject if decided didn't like it later?

If she wants to go to university she might as well pick a subject she enjoys and does well in - most graduates don't end up working in the subject they studied. In fact there's loads of subjects where there really isn't any kind of career path unless you carry on in research or teaching - I studied zoology!

My ds is in last year at uni and still doesn't really know what he wants to do. He chose his degree based on his favourite subject.

This is probably not accurate, but isn't there a quote along the lines of, 'Do what you love and never work a day in your life.'

I remember my dad trying to steer my towards journalism of some sort as I loved writing as a child/teenager.

I wish I'd chosen a career based on my passions.

So not really the point of the OP, but I'm glad I got that off my chest.

but i do remember a thread when people were discussing their degrees etc.
loads of people regretted doing degrees that were useless and wished they'd done one relevant to a career

mine have very little idea, it is driving me mad.

A friend's child has just started doing a maths degree after a year at another university doing something different. It is possible to change.

A french degree can be useful now more jobs involve working abroad.Are there any european studies courses - she could work in brussels ?

At the risk of sounding snobby about it, there are degrees and degrees IYSWIM. So a degree in an academic subject like a science or a language will get more "respect" on a CV for graduate level jobs than some of the "media studies" etc degrees which are not always seen as being very challenging. Not sure if that's fair or not, but as more people get degrees there is a risk that they are not automatically the key to a good job later.

DD wants to use languages, and travel preferably. She is applying for language degrees at the moment.

gg,

remember that just because she doesn't have the passion to be a professional musician..doesn't mean that the only career connected to music is a musician.

A friend of mine in a press officer in Paris for a major music promoter. Never sung a note in her life!!!

It's so difficult for the kids...how on earth can they know what's out there, let alone what they want to do. That's why the advice here is good - study what you enjoy and are talented in.

thanks for all your replies

will get her to look for some course using her fav subjects
amuminscotland-I agree and so does dd,she def wants to do a decent degree at a decent university