(Part 3 – Career Choice)
By Dr. Kavita R Shanmughan
In my previous articles, I wrote about key influencers (teachers and parents) in students’ career selection process but yet the final decision remains with the student themselves. However, the role of a student becomes limited as influencers views are given more weightage. This could be due to their perception as the student is too young to decide on the topic. Today we will ponder upon students’ part in his own career selection process.
When a student takes the accountability and responsibility of their career, they invest their time and efforts in unleashing their potential which will help him to mitigate the chances of any miscue. Arriving at a firm decision by the student is full of challenges which are affected by the personal traits, knowledge about the career choice, family situations, environmental factors and the influencers involved. Therefore when the students makes decision on their career it must undergo a reality check supported and guided by the experts and the parents. Decision about career is very critical in every individual’s life as 75% of the life’s time we spend doing things based on this one decision in pursuit of satisfactions in life.
It is observed that about 93% of Indian students under parental pressure, peer influences, and with limited information engage themselves in adhoc career choices. Since the role of psychologist is not so prominent in India, the option of seeking guidance from a psychologist is never thought about by the parent or by the students himself. Adhoc career choice works on probability and seldom end up in situation when the student realizes that the subject chosen is not utilizing the KSAs effectively. On the other side parent cannot acknowledge the reality as they are already struggling with many unanswered questions about this failure.
This is a vicious circle where both student and parent get entangled if not properly planned. The child is fragile and tends to thinks negatively if things do not move as per his wish. Hence, it is certain that under such situation the child may try find solace in wrong peer circle or take out the discontentment by disrespecting parents’ and others within close social circle. Indeed, the parents and the child will get the glimpse of the career interest as early as when the child is 13 years old or during puberty period. But at this time the parents along with child dwell in a state of confusion.
As a psychologist, I would say this is a sign when the parent must essentially find out the reason for the child’s concern else the child will remain in uncertainties. This period (attaining the age of puberty) is a phase when the child will have physical, behavioral and attitudinal changes. Battling with these issues, it is common that the child becomes puzzled about whom to approach and which direction to head for seeking right career guidance. This could be a time when a psychologist with standardized career selection tool will be able to guide and help the child explore various career options which is in line with his KSAs.
If the career is planned well on time there are several benefits. The child will be focused; will spend more time in updating, learning, and upgrading the skills required for the perceived career. He will see through the challenges and analyze the strengths and developmental areas. Likely to be engaged in constructive activities, enhance knowledge repository, carry positive attitude towards people and life event and most importantly, find meaning in life. The right career decision will channelize the youth energy towards the interested arena rather than developing interest in vice habits. Of course to work upon the career goals demands hard-work, time commitment and vision to achieve. Students must not forget that making a career decision will challenge them and put them in a constrained environment and they need to win over it with the support of their parents, teachers, and industry guides.
Most of the students and their parents start the career selection process as late as class 12th but the best process is when the career options are identified as early as class 8th and remaining schooling years are utilized to prepare for various skills, pre requisites to pursue the chosen subject. Those who are pursuing graduation they need to instil interest in understanding and gathering information of the specialization they can take forward. They need to chart out the scope of their subject specialization, do a SWOT analysis, identify the gaps in knowledge and skills required to achieve the career goals and clearly draw out their career path. If the readers are still in any kind of uncertainties you can make use of my professional services. I will be more than happy to counsel you or your child for a better career choice with the use of standardized psychological tool. You can write to me at kavita.shanmughan@gmail.com or connect @ +91 9531856481.
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