Information for parents, family and whanau
Role of the family and other influencers
There are many influencers on a teenager’s career decision. Sometimes a game they played when they were young or a character on a television show can spark a lifelong interest in a job. Find out who the main influencers are and how they affect a young person’s decision making.
Extended family/whānau
- Older brothers or sisters may strongly influence younger members of the family.
- Family work traditions or family aspirations for the future, such as “I want them to have a better life than us”, “ I don’t want them to forget where they come from”, influence a young person's career decisions.
- Negative beliefs such as “He’ll never amount to anything”, or “I’m a failure and so is she”, can negatively impact on a young person's decisions.
Friends
- Peer pressure can sometimes limit young people’s career aspirations. Encourage your children to think about when school is over - will it matter what their friends think?
- Many young people stick to careers that are safe and known. Give them examples of outsiders who have done well for themselves.
- Boyfriends and girlfriends can be an important influence on where a young person chooses to study, or whether they move to a certain town or city.
Culture
- Where we live, and the values that are held within our own subculture, ethnic group and society influence a young person's career path.
- Financial priorities such as sending money back home to family, or saving for your retirement, or taking an overseas experience (OE) are culturally specific.
- Government policy and economics both local and global can also impact on a young person’s career decision.
Teachers/career adviser
- A great teacher can set a student on a lifelong love for a subject. Many people can relate a chosen career back to an influential teacher.
- Teachers might see talents that parents or students themselves might overlook.
- Careers advisers in schools can offer resources and guidance.
Media and information
- The media provides some information about careers, but it is not always accurate and doesn't provide full coverage of all jobs. For example, catwalk models, sportspeople and musicians are often covered. But what about jobs that don’t get media attention? Has your child considered those as well?
- Use websites or your local library to find accurate information.
Parents
- Parents are the most important influencers on a young person’s career decision.
- What parents do for a living; where they live; their education, knowledge and skills; what they earn; and how they spend their time and money have a huge influence on their child’s career decisions.
