Ditch the Out Dated Career Advice: A Millennial's Guide to Future-Proofing Your Kids' Career

Guiding the Next Generation: Career Planning in a New Era

Millennials', we’ve been through it, haven’t we? We listened to our Boomer parents and did the college thing, only to find ourselves drowning in student debt and struggling with the ever-elusive work-life balance. We didn’t get the same job security they had—pensions are practically mythical at this point—and consistency in roles, hours, pay increases, and even basic employer decency has often felt like a rare commodity. So, how do we help our kids career plan in a way that reflects our reality instead of repeating the mistakes of the past? Let's break it down.

The Flaws in Traditional Career Counseling

I have two kids still in school, and last year one of them went through a career counseling segment. Let me tell you, the questions they asked felt like they were from another decade. Things like, "Do you like to help people?" Who doesn’t like to help people? And even if someone doesn't, they’re not going to admit it in a classroom setting! Other questions were equally uninspired: "What career seems interesting?" or "How do you want to be remembered?"

These questions, while well-meaning, don’t reflect the real world that our kids are about to step into. They don't address the complexities of modern work or the importance of balancing career with life goals. And let's be real, some of us wanted to be ice cream tasters, but no one ever told us how to enter that field!

Focusing on the Life, Not Just the Job

What’s clear is that today, career planning should start with envisioning the *life* our kids want to lead, rather than pigeonholing them into specific job titles early on. When my 11-year-old shared her career counseling questions, we had a good brainstorming session about what would truly make her happy. The choices suggested, like addiction counselor or CNA, are perfectly respectable professions but didn’t align with her personal interests or vision for her future.

On the other hand, my 13-year-old had a clearer idea of what she wanted in life, which made it easier to narrow down some potential career paths. I asked her direct questions: What kind of life do you want? Where do you want to live? What makes you happy? What hobbies do you have?

Her answers painted a picture: she wants to be a mom to maybe three kids, get married in her 20s, have a professional career with a decent starting salary, and enjoy things like yearly vacations and BBQ Sundays. She also mentioned the option to go part-time after having kids. From that, we figured out she would need a profession that doesn’t require a decade of schooling and one that offers flexibility, decent pay, and room for growth.

The New Approach: Compensation, Lifestyle, and Happiness

Once we established the life she envisioned, I asked her, "What do you like to do?" She said she likes working with kids and prefers to move around during the day—definitely not an office job person! Together, we explored the majors at our local junior college and what programs would transfer to the nearby university. After some digging, we narrowed it down to two potential careers: librarian or dental hygienist.

For now, she’s leaning towards becoming a pediatric dental hygienist. Why? The pay aligns with the lifestyle she wants, the cost of schooling offers a good return on investment, and most dentist offices are closed on Fridays—hello, three-day weekends! She loves giving advice and helping kids, and she sees a potential career where she can make a difference and still enjoy a balanced life.

We’re focusing on that for now, but I’ve taught her that it’s okay to change her mind. What's more important is knowing "how" to research and choose a profession by considering compensation, lifestyle, and general happiness. My 12-year-old, on the other hand, is still figuring it out—and that’s perfectly fine too.

Tips for Millennial's' Guiding the Next Generation

1. Start with the Big Picture: Ask your kids what kind of life they want—where they want to live, what brings them joy, how much flexibility they want, and so on. This will help them (and you) think beyond traditional career boxes.

2. Teach Them to Research: Help your kids learn how to research different career paths, considering factors like pay, job stability, work-life balance, and growth opportunities. This is a skill they’ll use throughout their lives.

3. Be Realistic but Open-Minded: Not everyone will land their dream job right away—or ever. But that doesn’t mean they can’t find something fulfilling that pays the bills. Help them understand that while dream jobs are great, a fulfilling career can come in many forms.

4. Encourage Skills Over Titles: Instead of focusing on a job title, encourage them to develop skills that are versatile and in demand. This will give them more flexibility as they navigate their careers.

5. Value Non-College Paths: College isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Trades, certifications, entrepreneurship, and other paths can also lead to fulfilling and financially stable careers.

Update the Curriculum, Please!

I’m glad that schools are offering career planning, but the curriculum needs a serious update to fit today's needs. College is not the only path to success, and choosing not to go doesn’t doom you to a low-wage, stressful job. It’s about finding something that makes sense financially and brings joy. Millennial's', let's guide our kids with the wisdom we’ve earned through our own experiences—mistakes and all—and help them build the lives they truly want.