Question

Reflecting on resources you locate in the professional literature, consider the types of career-planning information and resources you might draw from when exploring career-related issues with clients and students.

For this discussion, imagine that you are working with a 17-year-old adolescent and his family. They have come to see you because the teen is not attending school regularly and states that he intends to drop out because school is boring and he wants to start working and be treated like an adult. His parents state that they are willing to treat him like an adult if he prepares for his future appropriately and can demonstrate that he will be able to find a job he enjoys and earn enough income to support himself. He is not sure what kind of career path he would like to follow and would consider vocational training.

1) As the counselor, what knowledge about career and educational planning do you need to begin your work with this teen?

2) How would you go about locating resources that would be helpful for the teen and his family?

Answer 1

Ans 1) Intially I would listen to the teen as in why is he complaining, are his parents too much behind or nagging him. If the parents are too much after the child, which is definately wrong and it is appropriate if the teen makes his/her own choice. If the teen makes his own choice or planning of is own career, the teen would also feel as responsible one and would have feeling of being an adult one rather just following instructions. I would ask the teen to find more about his likes and dislikes and find career options. During this I would ask his parents not to interfere in between but to show the teen support, care etc. Then after aptitude test may be, marks basis we can think of his career option.

Ans 2) For aptitude test, many institutes are there, I would simply direct him to take those tests, Hence after may be finding about his likes, dislikes, IQ etc liking of his subject can be plotted and there by any universities or related options or the scope of his career can be planned. It is not useful if counsellor or the parents plan whole career graph of the teen ans it their life entirely