Teen steps: NAVIGATING CAREER OPTIONS

A practical ten-point guide to enable secondary school leavers to navigate the process of making informed career choices

- POULAMI SARKER

With an abundance of career options available in the post-liberalisation Indian economy, it’s unsurprising that many school-leavers are overwhelmed, confused and uncertain about where to begin. Social pressure to make the ‘right’ career choice is intense, leading to anxiety and indecision.

Therefore, it’s important to empower adolescents to identify their interests and aspirations, and guide, support and encourage them to choose aptitudinally suitable and rewarding career paths. With right guidance, teens can navigate this important decision with confidence and clarity. Here’s a practical ten-point guide to enable secondary school leavers to navigate the process of making informed career choices:

1 Self-assessment. Encourage teens to introspect, explore and identify their interests and strengths. They could start by reflecting on the academic subjects they enjoy in school, co-curricular activities they find engaging, and what values are important to them. Self-assessment tools such as personality/ aptitude and psychometric tests provide valuable insights into potential career paths that align with aptitudes.