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Teenagers dream of working as couriers and salespeople: why schoolchildren have no career ambitions and how to help them
Recent sociological research has revealed interesting results. 13-17 year olds want to work... certainly not as astronauts, but certainly not as bankers, programmers or bosses. Generation Alpha (children born after 2010) will become salespeople, waiters, cashiers, delivery drivers and bartenders.
factor? Flexible hours, part-time work and quick income. Stop it. But it is physically hard work and can even be tiring. Spend your shift standing behind a counter or walking around the city with a box on your back. And there are risks (equal deficits) and the income is not enviable. For example, you will not be able to make money working as a home cashier. Do young people not understand this? Is it possible to have no ambitions? All the same! According to the same survey, 80% dream of a high income.
I asked my colleagues who have teenagers. What are your career aspirations? One of them has a 16-year-old son who is going to work as a cashier at a fun hobby shop. Another 13-year-old said, “I’m going to be a writer.” “I told him that. You want to get a more stable job first, and then move on to creativity? She snores about it, and her mother gets angry. “And I’m not ready to take on the future of Tolstoy until Leo Tolstoy is famous!” A third daughter has decided that her calling is to be an animator. But she’s only 8 years old.
“Young people often have illusions about the world and themselves when choosing a profession,” says Maria Cheredilina, head of professional and methodological work at the Humanitarian Projects Foundation and candidate of pedagogical sciences. “Adults can help solve this problem.
What kind of fantasy is this? According to the teacher, the formation of illusions is facilitated by a narrow outlook, according to which a person knows little about the world of work. How can I solve this problem? Be active in searching for and analyzing information.
They get stuck in a low self-esteem, self-knowledge and communication with colleagues, which leads to illusions about their abilities and capabilities. It would be good if the child was not afraid to ask questions to older people. What is your job, why did you choose it, how did you master it, are you happy with your job, etc. Such conversations easily develop with adults whom the teenager trusts. Therefore, it is important for parents not to lose contact with their children at any age, experts advise.
And it also happens like this: you watched a movie about lawyers (circus performers, cooks, etc.) and formed a romantic idea in your head about how wonderful it is and fantasies about the content of the profession and how to do it. it. Explore how accessible it is and how to build a career there.
- Teenagers may think that it is very easy to become someone. Or, on the contrary, he will never be the same IT specialist, pilot or athlete... - says Maria Cheredilina.
Is it possible to help a child choose the right profession without falling into illusions?
"The classic formula for choosing is 'I want, I can, I need,'" the interviewee explained. - Let's analyze 'I want.' These are my desires, dreams, and interests. 'I can' are abilities, inclinations, success - where I feel good. 'What you need' is to have a paid job. It is believed that at the intersection of these three territories there is a common territory. At the same time, this is the ideal job, when you do what you love and get rewarded for it. This gives a sense of balance and happiness in life.
It is also important to find a job that brings out the best in a person. This also ensures that there are no conflicts of values. For example, working for a company that produces or sells cigarettes or alcohol means indirectly helping someone to ruin themselves with bad habits.
There are socially significant professions (creating safety and comfort for others) and service professions (military, medical, work in non-profit organizations). But the salaries there are not very high. You can be a housewife and focus on raising your children. This is also not necessary.
The most important thing is to get a complete understanding of what the risks and opportunities are, what the pros and cons are.
The federal career guidance project “Ticket to the Future” can be of great help. It allows students to visit employers and communicate with professionals. When you see everything with your own eyes, it is easier to understand whether it is for you or not. At the same time, you will be able to learn first-hand how to get into the profession, what areas there are in it, and whether there are opportunities for growth. Your school may have a quota for such trips, so check with your class teacher.
There is an extracurricular course called "Russia, My Horizon" offered by the Humanitarian Projects Foundation and its partners. Students are provided with information about professions and their requirements. For example, there is a general direction called medicine, but within it there are many different positions, from nurses to scientists.
Consultations with career guidance specialists are also held - individual and group, special games, diagnostics, career testing, training and internships. For example, in Moscow it can be found in the "My Work" centers and online.
Make your choice and don't be mistaken. How can a high school student choose his life's work and career? (More)