PICKING A path

Helping your child decide what to do after school and getting them there is key to a fulfilling future for them

- GLYNIS HORNING

Guiding your child in choosing a career that will lead them to independence is top of most parents' minds. But how can you help your child achieve this when hopes are clouded with fear, given South Africa's rising youth unemployment rate that now stands at 35.2% and has left 3.6 million of those aged 18 to 34 without a job?

Have the talk

Start by talking about careers with your child. "The earlier the better," says Johannesburg-based life, career and business coach Penny Holburn. "They need to take subjects in Grade 9 and 10 that will allow them entry to studies for the career they want. So as soon as they get into high school, start having general discussions about the different types of careers that exist. Children that age can start understanding their strengths and interests.

I'd also talk about entrance requirements for tertiary study. I have too many clients who went for Maths Lit because it was easy and so are excluded from careers they like."

As they approach matric, discuss your child's marks in subjects key to their potential career path, and chat with their teachers to find out if extra tuition could help.

What's on their mind?

Also check that your child has a realistic understanding of what their career choice entails. Youngsters are often swayed by glamorised depictions in movies or on TV in medical and police dramas, or sagas of fairytale success in the performing arts.

Encourage your child to research the professions that interest them online, and to speak with people actively involved in them. Use any contacts you may have or help them reach out to companies or professional bodies, or even request a job-shadowing visit.