Should You Listen to Your Parents?

I think I know everything about my daughter — her likes and dislikes, her fears, her interests. Would I ever tell her what to be when she grows up? Never. From a mom's point of view, I know she has to make her own decisions. While I may think I know what's best for her, she will have to discover that on her own. From a career planning professional's point of view, I know how much goes into choosing a career and what a personal decision it is. This is something she's going to have to figure out for herself and she has plenty of time to do it. She's only 12.

Parents who tell their children what field to go into are doing them a great disservice. I'm not talking about those who offer gentle guidance by making suggestions or helping their children recognize their strengths. I'm talking about parents who are quite forceful when it comes to trying to persuade their children to do what they think is best for them, rather than allowing their children to figure it out on their own. Take for example this twenty something acquaintance. His parents are both in the health field and for years they have urged him to go into it as well. He was just beginning his schooling when he started a job in a hospital and decided he didn't have the stomach to work in that environment. His parents are not happy with this and continue to pressure him. You have to wonder if they are concerned because he isn't doing what they think is best for his future or because they feel he is rejecting the choices they made for themselves.

There are other misconceptions about choosing a career. For example, a career counselor can't tell you what occupation to pick. Read 10 Myths About Choosing a Career to find out how to avoid making a bad career choice and resources that will help you make an informed one.