Positive parental influence can boost a child's confidence when making career choices. The earliest, most powerful, learning about careers is shaped by the adults in a child's life. Children also respond to career-related images on television and in other media. In daily life, you will find many opportunities to help your young child or teenager prepare for a great future.

It's worth remembering that:

• Your child’s decisions will ultimately be their own – so you should be prepared to discuss potential careers that are different from those you’ve had in mind. 
• Keeping an open mind will also encourage your child to keep you up-to-date with their career ideas. 
• Not everyone has a clear idea of what they want to do from an early age – and your child’s ambitions are likely to change as they get older. 

You can help your child start thinking about careers by pointing them towards useful sources of information.  There’s nothing to stop them beginning their research as soon as they’re ready. 

There’s plenty of information online to help your child find out what different careers are like. Follow these links for more information:

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/home

https://inspiringfutures.org.uk/our-services/career-insight-events

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/apprenticeship-resources/

http://www.apprenticeships-in-sussex.com/

http://sacu-student.com/

http://icould.com/

http://www.thebigchoice.com/Career_Advisors

If you want to know more from a qualified Careers Advisor please email Mr Fisher at Worthing High School -  mfisher@worthinghigh.net

Once your child has some ideas about where they want to do with their career, encourage them to look into what they need to do to get there. 

As well as helping them decide on their next steps, this will encourage them to develop the decision-making skills important in adult like.  They will need to weigh up the pros and cons of various options, make a decision based on the information available – then put their plan into action.  Encourage them to look at a wide range of careers and encourage them to consider a diversified range of jobs, particularly those that historically have been stereotypical roles.  

Your child may be happy for you to come along to a meeting or a chat with Mr Fisher, the Careers Leader at school.  

Encourage them to develop their skills through out of school activities and interests.  This will help them when they are applying for courses or jobs. 

Encourage them to find out about the world of work through work experience and business activities at school. 

Go along to open evenings or careers events at the school and colleges. 

Getting the right qualifications for the right career requires students to know their individual career paths. This can be a real challenge in Year 9 with their options. Take a look at the section detailed on the right of this page headed 'Careers Your Choices in Year 9'.

Ultimately it is about what the students enjoy that can determine their individual pathways. More detailed Careers guidance is offered in Year 10 &11 to help them make the right decisions for their next steps

Making career plans is an important part of growing up, but it can be a challenge.  As a parent, there’s plenty you can do to support your child and help them find the career that’s right for them.

Your child will have decisions to make at different stages, so it’s worth raising the subject of careers from time to time over a period of years. 

It doesn’t have to be a formal discussion – especially when they’re young.  You might want to talk about types of job that are in the news, or the career choices of someone your child admires. 

You could also discuss types of career that might be relevant to their interests, and their priorities when it comes to work.