Office of Career and Technical Education

Career and Life Planning: Ten Things Parents Can Do

1. Talk with your child about school and career interests.

Parents are the number one source of career information for their children. In South Dakota, 66.% of grade 9 students said they go to their parents most often for information about careers. When asked how often they discussed career plans with their parents, 46% responded three times a year or more.
 
2. Learn about trends in the workplace.

Be supportive if your child is interested in exploring technical careers – the majority of today’s job opportunities fall into that category, but most parents still think the only path to success is a professional degree. Check out the labor market and career information on the Internet. A recommended site is South Dakota Labor Market Information Center.
 
3. Find out about career guidance services and programs that are offered at your child’s school.

A career focus can add purpose to your child’s studies, helping them make the connection between school learning and real-world applications.
 
4. Review the results of your child’s interest and aptitude assessment.
   Use the school’s career counseling services to learn more about careers that are related to your child’s interests and abilities. Help your child to learn about the actual educational and skills requirements for the careers that interest him/her.

5. Encourage your child to research and explore career areas.

Most SD schools have access to the computer-based Choices career exploration program. Encourage your child to use this system as a research and self-evaluation tool. Discuss these results with your child. Suggest that your teen look at career opportunities that were once considered only for males or only for females. There are excellent job opportunities in nontraditional careers.
 
6. Help your child select high school courses that may be applicable to his or her career interests.

Most SD Tech Prep Schools have course registration books that are organized by career clusters/areas. This allows students to put together a four year plan that is applicable to his/her career interest area.
 
7. Find out about vocational technical and technology courses that your school has available.

Talk about these options with your teen. Taking courses such as agriculture, business and marketing, technology education, health occupations, manufacturing and computers will give your child a much better understanding to today’s technological world and a change to take a hands-on look at tools, techniques, and skills involved in a wide range of careers.
 
8. Encourage your child to job shadow in the area of his or her career interest.

It is important that students have the opportunity to verify their career choice. A work-based learning experience may validate their choice---or it may cause them to realize that this is not the area for them!
 
9. Learn about postsecondary options for your student.

Research two and four year programs in South Dakota. Also research scholarship and financial aid information. A good starting place is the Education Assistance Corporation website.
 
10. Stress the importance of good workplace skills and attitudes while at school.

Attendance is important! Remind your teen that school is their ‘job’ and should be treated with the same respect.
 
11. Read to stay current with required workplace trends and skills.

Some recommendations are:

• Getting Real, Helping Teens Find Their Future – Ken Gray
• Other Ways to Win – Ken Gray
• Opening Minds, Opening Doors – Dan Hull
• The Neglected Majority – Dale Parnell
• Helping Your Child Choose a Career – Luther Otto
• Career Coaching Your Kids – David Montross