What Career Help do Students want from Parents?

Support

_____Am I allowing my child the freedom to have new experiences?

_____Do I encourage the exploration of new ideas, experiences, occupations without being pushy?

_____Am I willing to tolerate ideas and values which are different than my own?

_____Do I really listen to what my child tells me?

_____Am I positive and supportive when my child makes a poor decision or fails?

Information

_____Do I talk openly and honestly about my current job, including both the pros and cons?

_____Am I willing to discuss my own career development history?

_____DO I tell my child about various occupations?

_____Do I encourage my child to find out about careers of interest, referring him/her to appropriate resources?

Personnal Insights

_____Do I help my child to objectively look at his/her strengths and weaknesses and suggest how they might relate to various career areas?

_____Do I compliment my child on his/her good points and accomplishments?

_____Do I help my child identify careers that he/she would be good at?

Contacts

_____Am I willing to refer my child to friends/acquaintances who might discuss their occupations with him/her?

_____Am I willing to actively help my child find a summer/part-time/volunteer job that will help him/her explore a potential career field?

_____Would I be willing to allow my child to use my personal/professional contacts to find employment after graduation?

Motivation

_____Do I encourage activities that promote career development, while not emphasizing what has not been done?

_____Am I willing to assist my child in setting reasonable goals and consistent in my expectations that these be met?

_____Do I ask questions that will encourage my child's further career information-seeking?