2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
According to data from the Higher Council for Education(1), 80% of young people in secondary 5 have no idea of their school project and professional. It's a lot! How to help them find their way?
The first resource: you
"Support for the orientation of your child must be done throughout adolescence," says Louis Cournoyer, professor and researcher in career counseling at UQAM and orientation counsellor.
As a parent, you are in a good position to see your child's interests, values, abilities and needs. Didn't you have the reflex, when you watched him play at 5, 7, or 9 years old, to imagine the career he would have later? These observations that you have been making for so many years can be put to good use now. Ask your child questions, get him to question himself, the things that are really important to him and that correspond to his personality.
Websites, books, etc
Louis Cournoyer suggests exploring the various resources available on the Internet to explore study programs and professions. The websitetoutpourreussir.com is a must. Take the time to sit down with your teen while exploring the Net. Do not hesitate to ask him questions in order to probe his reactions.
You can also go to your local bookstore or library to find different books. Mr. Cournoyer published in March 2018, at September publisher, the book The teenager in decision mode: 7 profiles to understand and help his career choice. Co-written with Lise Lachance, professor in the Department of Education and Pedagogy at UQAM, this book is intended for two audiences: parents and guidance professionals. "This is a rare book that does not limit itself to informing parents of career counseling issues, but offers them concrete ways to help directly" underlines the professor and researcher in career counseling. You will also find the guide Orientation despite indecision, intended for undecided students and their confused parents.
Mr. Cournoyer also suggests going to CEGEP or university open days, in addition to education and job fairs, conferences, etc.
The research professor and guidance counselor insists on the fact that it is not enough to offer support to your child to be supportive: "You must prioritize the establishment of a relationship of trust, dialogue respectful showing a listening and a presence without judgement,so as to better hope that your teenager – who are not always great talkers with their parents – can feel confident to confide, then consider steps with you. »
Consult a guidance counselor
Your teenager is still undecided and you don't know where to turn to help him? A guidance counselor service should be available at your child's school, free of charge. The downside with this public service is the glaring lack of resources. Thus, the school guidance counselor may not have all the time your child would need to see more clearly in his choice of career, in his school orientation.
If you feel that your child needs to go beyond the services that his school counselor can offer him, you still have private practice. To find a professional near you, consult the website of l’Ordre des conseillères en orientation du Québec. Expect to pay between $75 and $100 per meeting, plus tests that may add to the bill.
Source(1):
Come discover our Podcast of Kaleïdocareer orientation for teens!
