Living the Dream: Determining Your Long-Term Career Goals

So what do your kids want to do with their future? It’s not an easy question, but it’s one that faces all of us early in our lives. Though many students just look forward to completing school, graduates have an uphill battle waiting for them after they’re handed that diploma. The good news is this is a battle they can choose. But it should be a wise choice, since choice of career will have a tremendous affect on happiness. According to a study by the Conference Board, 25% of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck,” and two out of every three workers do not identify with or feel motivated to drive their employer’s business goals and objectives. The best way to ensure that your kids don’t wind up in a similar situation is to help them make a powerful career choice.

Take this Job and Grow it
Of course, the kind of job your children may seek is related to their interests. Some students just know what they want to do, but what about those who are just plum unsure about their long term career goals? Sit down with your kids and talk about the possibilities. The first place to start is to seek out those careers that have the most growth; after all, job security is a treasured commodity in this economy. The United States Department of Labor reports that there are 149 million people in the workforce, and one-third of the workforce changes jobs every year. In fact, the average American will have had 9 jobs by the time he or she is 34 years old. The Department has also reported on what will prove to be the fastest growing occupations between 2006 and 2016: network systems and data communications analysts; personal and home care aides; computer software engineers, careers in the amusement, gambling, and recreation industries; and customer service.

Money Makes the World Go Around
Having a college education is the most reliable step a person can take towards earning a high salary. The U.S. Census Bureau found that workers 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $82,320 in 2006 and those with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $56,788. By way of comparison, workers with a high school diploma earned an average of $31,071. So what jobs are the highest paying? The census found the highest median salaries went to chief executives ($145,600); physicians and surgeons ($145,600); airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers ($141,090); and dentists ($136,960).

Though money can be a factor in the decision, remind your kids that it’s more important to find a job that they love. Do they want to work in a corporate environment, or be their own boss? Do they want to pursue a more difficult career choice like acting or politics, but have another career that will help pay the bills during their pursuit? And what impact will their choice of career have on the college or university they choose?

No Time Better than the Present
The University of North Dakota found that up to 80 percent of entering college students indicate that they are not certain of their choice of major, even if they have initially “decided” on one. In addition, over 50 percent of entering freshmen change their majors at least once before graduation, and some change many times. Changing major mid-stream can affect when a student graduates, so coming up with a long-term career goal early is beneficial on many levels. Although choosing a major and a career are different, the choice of a major should flow from your child’s career objective. Majors can prepare students for a variety of occupations, but knowing where they are headed career-wise will help determine their focus and any minors they may pursue. Some colleges and universities expect students to declare a major before they reach a certain number of units, and some states now require that high school students choose an area of study to help reduce the dropout rate.

On the Horizon
Jobtrak.com revealed that more than 80 percent of its survey respondents said that it would take them 10 years or less to reach their career goals. In other words, the process is a marathon, not a sprint. It is highly unlikely that students will be offered their dream job right after graduation. Experience in their chosen industry will be essential to moving ahead. But knowing the kind of occupation they want will help them prepare by choosing certain classes, activities, student groups, internships, etc. And the earlier your child begins that preparation, the better. We recommend you help your child explore the numerous career resources online, and find out more about a specific occupation by talking to people who work in a particular field of interest.