5 ways to help your teens career path

5 ways to help your kids career pathThese days, its more challenging than ever for teens to choose the right career path. On top of having a lack of real-world life experience and the self-awareness to help guide them towards making choices that are right for them, the world of work is changing so rapidly these daysthe result of accelerating technological innovation, a fluctuating economy, and shifting staffing demands of companies across industries. Whats the end result? Many young adults who are struggling to find their purpose after high school. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) The challenges teens face when searching for their ideal careers starts in college, before they even enter the world of work. According to a recent Borderzine article, About 80 percent of students in the United States end up changing their major at least once, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. On average, college students change their ma jor at least three times over the course of their college career. This general level of indecisiveness can have serious implications on young adults and their ability to make clear and rational life decisions, on top of adding stress and pressure to an already challenging time in life.If youre a parent or guardian of a teen whos trying to figure out what career path to pursue, consider taking advantage of the following 5 strategies for helping them out.1. Help them make choices based on who they are.This ones importantalthough you may have big dreams and plans for your teen, your child is not merely an extension of you, and projecting your hopes and wishes for their future on them is not a guaranteed path to career fulfillment. If you want your teen to pursue a career path that has a good gelegenheit of making them happy, help them make choices based on who they are and what makes them a unique individual.2. Empower them to explore their strengths and passions.Choosing the right car eer doesnt have to be a shot in the darkin fact, it shouldnt be If your teen is having trouble making a decision, a great first step is to help them make a list of their strengths, interests, and passions. Once they have a list, its much easier to come up with a manageable set of possible career options that might be right for them.3. Help them find a suitable mentor.If your teen has an interest in a particular field, a great way to learn moreand discover if it truly is the right path for themis to help them connect with a prospective mentor in the field who can help them learn the day-to-day realities of life on the job, as well as short-term and long-term career options and outlooks. Intern and volunteer opportunities are excellent ways to get valuable exposure and experience. Dont forget, industry veteransno matter how successfulwere all once teens with little or no experience, and many will be more than happy to pay it forward and help the next generation of employees get their start.4. Support their choices.Sure, this seems obvious, but what happens if your teen chooses a career path that you dont agree with? This happens all the time, and the parents who support and encourage their teens to follow their dreamswhether its a choice you wholeheartedly support or think is a bad ideaare much more likely to have teens who are happy and successful, no matter what path they decide to pursue. Be patient, be supportive, and be encouraging to your teen as they grapple with this tough life decision, and youre much more likely to see a positive result.5. Set a good example.The truth is, parents who are happy and fulfilled with their professional choices in life and who stick to and display positive work habits and behaviors are much more likely to have children who make smart choices regarding their career pathsand theyre also much more likely to exhibit similar positive work habits, which will help them achieve success in their chosen fields.The truth is, teens who have a healthy and productive level of guidance and support from their parents or guardians have a much better weg at making better career choices than their go-it-alone counterparts. Use the strategies presented here to help your teen successfully navigate the career path maze.

Tips for building the perfect resume

Tips for building the perfect resume Share Share via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Google PlusShare via LinkedInShare via E-mail Resume SamplesFirst or Second Year StudentSenior or Recent GraduateSTEM Student Your resume is the first thing an employer will use to consider whether to bring you in for an interview or not. This document is critical and could be your only chance to convince the recruiter you are worthy of the position you applied for.Employers often spend only 30 seconds scanning a resume, so building one that is a compelling depiction of yourskills and experiences can help grab their attention. Follow these quick tips to build the perfect resume. Use strong action wordsdeparture each bullet point with verbs that paint a vivid picture of your skills in action. A few action verbs that stick out to employers include developed, enhanced, created, analyzed, managed and mentored. View this full list of action verbs. Highlight your achievements, not your skillsYo ur resume should detail experiences that show what you accomplished in your various roles. Give real-life examples of your accomplishments, like designed lesson plans and collaborated with team to organize event. Use numbersEmployers love numbers. It shows that what you accomplished in your role can be measurable and verifiable. Using statements like increased company Twitter following by 15 percent over six months shows that you understand the importance of using performance metrics and how it impacts a company. Keep it shortA resume should be easy to read, so be concise when writing out your qualifications. Sentences should not exceed 20 words and exclude the use of first-person pronouns (I, me, my) and articles (the, an, a). Your resume should not exceed one page. Be honest about your workYoud be surprised how many resumes stretch the truth or even lie about specific skills and experiences. Fluffing your resume with fancy words and qualifications will not get you very far, as the truth will eventually come out. Your resume is a professional document of how youd like to be perceived in the business world. Proofread, proofread, proofreadTypos and improper use of grammar are not well-received by recruiters. Go through your resume with a fine-toothed comb and check for errors. Reading it out loud or backward can help you discover typos. It also doesnt hurt to have a friend or career development advisor help with a final read-through.CategoriesCareer AdviceGraduate StudentsTagsFeature ArticleGraduate Students - Resumes