My personal favorite is the comedy by Flaqo Raz that projects typical African parenting in an African setting; sensational content right there. He portrays how the African upbringing leaves no room for mediocrity. This is a positive approach to looking at things as far as discipline is concerned. However, it makes me wonder whether the reins have stretched to academic excellence and career choices.
Parents have a strong influence on their children's career choices right from admission to high school. When it comes to the selection of technical subjects such as foreign languages, arts/ drawing and design, aviation, agriculture, home science, and business studies, parents tend to choose for their kids based on their experiences or aspirations. This event also recurs 4 years later when their children transition from high school to university.
Parents, what would be the best way of supporting your children's career choices?
Let us shed some much-needed light on the dos and don'ts.
DOs.
1. Create an environment whereby your children are free to open up.
In doing so, one can connect with their child via effective communication. Be a good listener so that you get to learn about what your child wants.
2. Give them the freedom and time to discover their skills.
Encourage them to pursue different hobbies so that they can find their niche. It also helps in decision-making to encourage them to read about career options that may interest them and to sign up for internship opportunities.
3. Be open-minded
Acknowledge their individuality and support their decisions.
4. Provide guidance and resources.
Advice them accordingly and help them connect with professionals in their desired field. Investing in a career coach is one of the best ways of providing support as career coaches have a wealth of experience and the proper training for career development.
5. Celebrate their successes.
Celebrating your child’s achievements no matter big or small goes a long way in motivating them to achieve greater heights. It also works miracles on their confidence.
DON’Ts
1. Do not impose your career expectations and aspirations on your child.
Giving your child the freedom to make their own choices fosters a positive attitude towards work and career development. Allowing your child to take charge of their future leads to gratification and success.
2. Do not dismiss your child’s interests or ambitions without considering their potential.
This is where most parents go wrong. Ignoring your child's interests would be akin to unlocking a pandora's box. Exaggerated? I think not. This is because dismissing a child's interest could lead to feelings of inadequacy, loss of self-esteem, or worse, regrets in the future, a catastrophe we must avoid.
3. Do not base your child’s career choice solely on financial stability.
Contrary to popular opinion, money is not the only measure of success. There is a lot to be considered in choosing a career, for example, gratification. Instead of prioritizing financial stability, how about discussing potential strategies for growth and development in your child's chosen career path. After all, the key to financial stability in this era is to wisely invest in numerous money-making ventures.
4. Do not discourage them from taking risks.
Encourage your children to take a leap of faith toward their passions even when they are uncertain about their niche. An alternative option would be to teach them to balance risk and caution. When children are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, they cultivate significant skills such as understanding the value of failure leading to growth.
5. Do not criticize your child’s progress.
How many times have we heard the following remarks," Kenya hakuna kazi" or "utapata wapi kazi na hii course yako?" subjectively speaking, this can be very demoralizing. I would like to encourage parents, if it is a must we criticize, then let it be constructive criticism. Support your children to enable them to grow and improve.
Parents, let us aspire to be our children's biggest cheerleaders. Give them the foundation they need to succeed and the confidence to pursue their dreams. A wise quote from Israel Ayivor is, "If you knew how great your little dreams are, you wouldn't let them die, it is never a small thing to have had a dream and lived to see it fulfilled no matter how small the dream may be."
© Copyright 2023. Career Bridge Limited. All Rights Reserved.
I had the pleasure of working with Career Bridge when I was facing career stagnation with no future direction. The career coach truly transformed my journey through her coaching and expertise which were instrumental in helping me define my goals and navigate the complexities of the job market. Thanks to the support, I not only secured a fulfilling job but also developed valuable skills and confidence. I highly recommend the services to anyone seeking to enhance their career prospects.
After the career coaching, there was an immediate change as my motivation and mindset transformed. Within 6 months, I was shortlisted for two jobs, did interviews and was offered both jobs. I had the opportunity to choose the job that aligned to my dream. Before enrolling for coaching, I was lost and desperately looking for help to improve my motivation at work as well as find a new and challenging job opportunity. I was stuck in the same job for over 10 years. Potential employers were not responding to my job applications.I enrolled for the Career Development Coaching programme for working professionals that helped me identify obstacles to my career progression, rebuilt my self confidence and got a better understanding on how to take charge and manage my career. Through career bridge, I was also supported with writing a professional CV and cover letter and Coached on Interviewing Skills.
After receiving coaching, my mindset and attitude towards work changed completely. I have not taken a back seat in advancing my career since then. I feel motivated and empowered. The impact was almost immediate. I was stagnated in a junior role for over 13 years. Through career coaching, cv writing and interviewing coaching, I was able to get a new job at a leadership level with a reputable diplomatic organization.
I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support and guidance I received from the Careers Bridge team. Their commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine interest in the success of their participants, sets them apart. Within a year of completing the training, I witnessed an impressive ascent through the ranks in my organization. The practical insights gained from the program empowered me to navigate challenging interviews with ease, resulting in not one but two successful job offers. These achievements are a testament to the effectiveness of the training provided by Careers Bridge. I wholeheartedly recommend Career Bridge-Career Training to anyone seeking a strategic boost in their career.
I enrolled for Competency Based Interview Coaching to help me compete for a more Senior/professional position. The career coach helped me to take a broad analysis of my experience, skills and capabilities that would position me as the best candidate for the position. I also learned how to respond to questions, communicate effectively and confidently.Both my oral and non-verbal interviewing skills were sharpened. The coaching ended with 2 Mock Interviews that boosted my confident and at the end I was the successful candidate selected to this position after working in an Associate position for over 6 years.
The graduate career programme by Career Bridge helped me to effectively transition from university to employment. It helped me to define my career goals in a realistic way. I was also able to learn about the 21st century job market and the skills that will enable me to succeed and grow faster in my career. Since then, I have made proactive changes in my career. Always learning faster, taking up new challenges and proposing ideas at work, building strong professional relationships and looking out for growth opportunities.
We are accredited by:
Contact us for any enquiries and signup for our services newsletters
+254 792 876 469
info@careerbridge.coach
