Give me strength!

We all have strengths but even if we know roughly what they are, they can still be difficult to articulate in a resume or interview. Deciding on a job or career can be tricky too if you can’t describe yourself. 

Despite the barrage of information available to young people, a parent is still a trusted sounding board, (hard to believe some days).  But well-meaning support can easily become spattered with biases, misinformation and our own career preferences, or even, regrets. Young people can easily become burdened with expectations and hopes that are not their own.

My son’s first karate teacher had a saying in Japanese, that translated to ‘one mind’ in English. He used it as a ‘stop right there!’ declaration to interfering parents, if they even thought about contributing to their child’s kata interpretation during the class.  I guess he meant, you need to find your own way, to some extent. After all, a person learns better from their own discoveries. Wise.

Perhaps instead of pushing or even guiding a child into a career, it may be worth pointing out, regularly, your child’s genuine talents or strengths. This will enable them to recognize, in themselves, valuable qualities and learn positive descriptors than can assist them to confidently express who they are. This is handy for choosing subjects, writing a resume or interviewing for a role. 

Oh, and let’s not forget the wonder of hobbies to create well-rounded, interesting individuals with creativity, skills and career options.