In the history of my tenure as a counselor for Career and Education, I’ve come across children and parents tell me about the people/institutions they’ve been to for a career or education consulting that were absolutely mind-boggling for me!
So much, that sometimes I’d have to shut my own logic and common-sense for a couple of minutes of maintenance to cope with the bizarre-ness!
Here’s a compilation of the unusual:
1. Astrologers, Tarot Card Readers, Religious Heads, Palmists!
Apparently a lot of people honestly believed that these folks can really “predict” the right profession for their children or for themselves (if they were adults/working professionals). I often wondered how these individuals doled out random career advice without really knowing, understanding, and applying certain scientific principles to understand the personality & aptitude of a person. To each his own, but I must mention that counseling is as much an art as science. It is not about “advice-giving” rather it is about helping the individual find their path through self-realization.
2. Friends or the Neighbour’s Kid!
Like really? Do some kids genuinely believe that their friends are more knowledgeable than they are? I’ve heard a countless number of students take a course or a career decision because their friends were doing the course or going to a particular college. All I’d say is, at least try to figure out “what is right for you and what could work for you” before blindly following the friends. What is right for them may not be for you. By the time you realize that you have no clue why you are studying a course, you have spent too much time, money, and energy on something that makes no sense to you.
3. Parents & Well-meaning Teachers!
Now this one gets tricky. Yes, they know their prodigy too well, and Yes, they also want what’s the best for them. But often the well-meaning adults may not know everything about all the occupations and career options out there. The demands & eligibility criteria of a course/college/profession. Sometimes they could either under-estimate or over-estimate the child’s potential and aptitude. They may also seem to have some of their own personal and irrational biases towards certain professions. Although collaborating with them is important, relying solely on them is not.
4. The latest OTT Series/Movie!
Has ‘Suits’ inspired the kid to become a high-powered litigation lawyer like Harvey Specter? Do they think becoming a doctor would be as glorifying as portrayed in the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?
Well, I hate to break it to you, the series/movie are out of touch with reality and are a source of entertainment, not inspiration. If they believe that their career as a litigation lawyer would be as dramatic as Harvey’s they’re in for a rude shock.
P.S. – Talk to a “professional” counselor and work your way to the right career path with them. No matter the age, it is never too late.
Reach out to Serene Hour, for Career Counselling
Read More about: How counselling changed my life