Jobs you would or wouldn't reccommend to your children

[Maine234]

My son is still young but is starting to think about what job he would like to have when he is older and it got me thinking about the types of jobs I would reccommend to him.

I dont have any experience with emergency services or teaching but as an outsider looking in, it seems to me that both areas are overworked, underpaid, understaffed, underappreciated and very stressful with a poor work life balance. So I would be telling my son to think very very carefully before going down these routes.
I would also advise against anything strongly reliant on tourism as that seems to be the first place people cut back when money is tight and every recession sees thousands of job losses in tourism.

If I had to reccommend some industries I would go for phamaceitucals, waste management or food producion. They are the first industries that spring to mind when I think about stability because people will always need medicine, food and a way to get rid of their rubbish.

Interested to hear what other jobs or Industries people would or wouldn't reccommend.

Teacher

My dad was a police officer - straight out of school into the cadets and did his full service, he then worked in file preparation for the same police force until he was 65. He was always a PC - he never wanted to move through the ranks because the stress became worse the higher they progressed. My mother recalls that when he was on nights, she never rested - knowing there was a chance that something horrific could be happening to him or he might not come home. That was in the 70s/80s/90s so I can't imagine having to be married to a police officer in todays world. I would also steer my child away from it despite having the utmost respect for our 'thin blue line'.

It seems teaching, social care, hospitality, retail, childcare are jobs are stressful and come with poor pay.

I would add to that the charity sector unfortunately. It used to be a good, rewarding sector about 20 years ago but now it is full of bad management and employers who exploit their staff good will and rife with bullying....

Both my dad and DH were 30 year service police officers. Have lived all of my life (bar the last 8 years when DH retired and I'm now 62) living the life of a police daughter/wife. I thank God my DS didn't want to join. It's changed so much and the hatred for the police now is horrible. They cannot do right for wrong.

I'll just be pleased if I can get my youngest to think of anything other than YouTuber 🙈

Eldest wants to go into engineering in the armed forces, we are an armed forces family and completely supportive of him, I think it's a great career choice for travel, experience, qualifications and with support for things like buying a home. I'd be more cautious if it was infantry (not just due to risk but also long term prospects) but a specialism comes with a lot of opportunities.

Agree with most others that people have said, mainly anything around being overworked and underpaid, I will stress much more on mine than I had that yes enjoyment is critical, but it is prudent and allowed to aim for enjoyment AND salary.

Honestly I'll be glad if they are reasonably financially secure, happy to go to work each day, pay their taxes, don't have a chaotic life. They are better at finding their own paths to happiness than my guesses what they might like.

Blimey I would never advise what jobs my kids should do. I'm amazed that posters are answering.

I've lived my life doing what I want to do, it's up to them to live there own life following their passion.

Very odd thread. Have you got a list of baby names you think they should avoid too???

Or places they shouldn't live?

You don't think that it is sensible for a young person to seek careers advice from more experienced people then, or that offering guidance is part of the role of a parent?
"Follow your passion" is all very well if it happens to be something you're able to actually earn a living at but most people have to make pragmatic decisions about their future. If you have experience of or knowledge about a particular career why on earth would you not share that with your child? Of course it's then up to them if they follow parental advice or not. I haven't read every single post but I haven't seen anyone saying that they'd cut their child off if they don't take their advice - the question was what would you recommend, not what are you planning to force your child into.
My adult DD has gone down a path that I know next to nothing about and she now runs her own business. She still sometimes rings me to discuss new ideas or problems she is having and to get my opinion. I think I'd be a pretty shit parent if I just said "oh I don't know darling, just follow your dreams..." But you know, as an older adult with considerably more life experience than her, who loves her and wants her to succeed, I have on more than one occasion been able to proffer useful advice!

I’m positively geriatric in the vet world these days in my mid 50s.
There’s something really wrong with an industry which has an average retention time in practice of 4 years (according to the Royal College’s 2022 Retention report).The reasons for leaving are so sad too- burnout ,low pay etc. Thankfully there are some new independent practices popping up which aim to counteract the existing workplace situations.
I also don’t think we’ve got candidate selection quite right, and also that some students have an unrealistic expectation of what the job entails. So much of our job is about people skills. It’s not all about intellect.

Truly fascinating.

A definite no to teaching. Worst job I’ve done. I’d support them in following their interests & passions. See where their talent lies & help them develop it.

Vet/vet nurse/vet receptionist any veterinary staff.
The public are absolutely vile. It’s an utterly thankless job. Long hours. Poorly paid in comparison to other far lower stress jobs. High suicide rate. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone

Nursing poorly paid followed by hierarchy to high heavens. Mostly poor management too avoid!

The other thing with veterinary is that employer pension contributions are usually the statutory legal minimum, no 15-20% compared with other jobs, so unless you have a side hustle or are planning to work on, don’t expect a cushy retirement.

I agree with this. I would encourage my outdoorsy geeky boy to go for research, marine biology, archeology- something outdoors and Intersting.

I was a teacher and definitely wasn't cut out for it but I saw some amazing people who did an outstanding job and thrived on it. I wouldn't rule out the whole profession simply because it wasn't for me but I would make sure for my children to go into it with open eyes. If they're expecting Dead Poet Society moments on a daily basis, they will of course be disappointed!

I'm in academia now. Never really intended to go down this route - it somehow just happened, which I realise is relatively rare. If I were to base myself on my experience only, I would say academia is great: my workload is light, stress is light, there are opportunities for promotion, I get lots of holidays. However this is the exception rather than the rule. There are many burnt out colleagues and colleagues on precarious contracts.

I'd recommend for them to think of what sort of things they enjoy and aim for (job stability, pay, progression,etc) but to definitely take all these criteria in mind. Just going for law because 'it pays well' (which isn't always the case) is a recipe for trouble in my mind.

Teaching. Am 'lucky' that one is too disabled to be one and one didn't have the grades and is in the forces. A thankless job and getting worse. W few years from retirement and can't wait.

Agreed, it is a difficult job with unsocial hours that takes over family life. It is just not worth it for the money with all the hate they get and stress and worry that it causes families. It is sad that this is the case because we all need people to do these kinds of jobs.

Avoid anything in the public sector

This thread makes me sad. We need people to be working in teaching/nursing/childcare etc as who will replace us all in the future. There must be some people that do like their jobs and if my child wanted to do any of these jobs, I would be fully encouraging them.

We advise against any job that depends on your body being cooperative. There are plenty of paths that can earn a good wage, especially trades, but if your body gives out, your career is over.

You just have to look at mumsnet to see why no-one would recommend teaching. I don't know how they do it. I've counted at least 3 threads just yesterday of parents wanting to make official complaints because their child's bad behaviour has been sanctioned/addressed/noticed!

@mollymaebae people often are doing or have done the jobs listed. Many have said they don't want their child to choose the same path. Obviously some may do it people would rather it not be their child. I don't think its sad. Would you work in a nursery? It's normal to want the best for your own child.

The job your son will end up doing probably doesn't exist yet.

How exactly do you propose to stop them?