Hard Job Choosing A Career

At 14 or 15, it’s hard for kids to know what they want to do in their future working life

- Susan Hely

Helping your high school children sort out a career path isn’t always straightforward but it is essential for their eventual financial independence. Many kids find choosing a career overwhelming with only six in 10 knowing what they want to do, according to a new study of 14- to 15-year-olds by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). It found that they can have unrealistic expectations about their future. This can lead them to drop out of university, with around one in three Australian university students not completing their studies within six years.

Teenagers need good information from parents, schools and career experts to help identify the range of jobs that suit them and the pathway to achieve their aspirations, says Jennifer Baxter, senior research fellow at the AIFS. “Some may need help to modify their plans to suit their skills and the nature of the labour market.”