Ep 218: Planning For a Bright Future

Tamara Raymond, author of Careering,  joins us to discuss
how teens can get a head start on career development while
they’re still in high school. We talk about how teens can build a
professional network, find their passion, and handle the job
application process.


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Full show notes



Teens these days are expected to have everything figured out by
the time they finish high school–which is a nearly impossible
task. Even though they're only taking their first wobbly steps
into maturity, it seems like they’ve got to have their college
major, future career and financial life plan all worked out by
the time they turn 18!





Needless to say, they’re going to need a lot of help if they’re
going to make it out there in the real world. As parents, we want
to assist our kids as they transition into adulthood–so how can
we help teens start making smart career decisions when they’re
still living under our roofs? Is there a way we can prepare them
to go into adult life with their best foot forward?





That’s what we’re asking Tamara Raymond, author of Careering: The
Pocket Guide to Exploring Your Future Career. Tamara is a
certified leadership coach and career strategist with over 15
years of experience helping people become their best selves!
Today, she’s helping us see how teens can get a headstart on
career development before they reach adulthood.





In our interview, we’re covering how teens can start 
discovering their passions and how they can build a professional
network with resources they already have! Plus, how parents can
guide teens through job and internship applications–and help them
handle rejection.



Finding Passion and Purpose


To find out what they’re passionate about, Tamara recommends
teens try anything and everything. Luckily, high school is the
perfect time to do so! Signing up for lots of extracurriculars
and activities is a good way to start figuring out where their
purpose lies.





Plenty of kids pick extracurriculars with the singular goal of
getting into college, only to find themselves transferring
schools or changing their major three times once they get in.
While this isn’t inherently bad, it can cost a lot of time and
money, says Tamara. High school gives teens more wiggle room to
try on different potential career paths and see what fits, she
explains.





In the episode, Tamara and I talk about a concept called
“indepent study,” in which teens can explore their interests on
their own outside of school. If a teen is interested in learning
a language, working with animals, or developing a skill, high
school is a great time for teens to create their own “program”
and dive into these topics  on their own time.





Volunteering is another good way to not only get experience for a
first resume, but also try out different possible career
opportunities, Tamara explains. Teens can try volunteering at an
animal clinic, at the local hospital, or even serving food nearby
to see if they’re interested in one of those fields. They’ll
never know until they try, Tamara says.





When teens get involved in their interests outside of school,
this often creates space for a mentor to enter the picture.
Tamara and I are talking about how teens can find mentorship or
even develop a professional network while they’re still in high
school.



Building a Network


Creating a professional network doesn't have to include fancy
conventions or Linkedin–it can start within your own family,
Tamara explains. If teens reach out to uncles, aunts, cousins or
family friends, they might find that there are plenty of
interesting connections to be made. Maybe an aunt knows someone
who works in radio, or a cousin heard about an internship program
for aspiring designers. Whatever their interest, teens might be
surprised to find out how many connections are already available
to them, says Tamara.





She also recommends that if teens are taking part in
extracurricular and volunteer opportunities, that they make time
to talk to those around them. These people can offer great
insights or advice about life, or even help teens get a job one
day. 





If teens are able to score an internship or entry-level job at a
company they hope to work for one day, building a network there
should be one of their biggest priorities. That way, if they ever
return, they’ll already have relationships in the organization,
Tamara explains.





The internet can also be a powerful tool, particularly social
media, says Tamara. Although we often see the negative side of
social media, there can be benefits as well, if it’s used right,
she says.  Teens should make sure to watch what they post
however, as certain comments might get them in trouble in the
future, she warns. There are plenty of examples of this among
celebrities, and teens might learn a lesson or two about posting
impulsively from paying attention to these stories in the news.





As teens get older, they’ll find themselves applying for more and
more things, including jobs, interviews, scholarships or even
colleges. Tamara and I are talking about how you can guide teens
through tough application processes and even help them face
rejection.



Facing the Application Process


The job search process has changed over time, and continues to
change, Tamara says. Gone are the days of simply waltzing in and
handing over a resume–most applications, networking, and job
opportunities are online now. 





This can come with a whole host of new problems, says Tamara.
Zoom interviews can be troubled by bad connections, background
noise or technical problems. Emails can be full of typos,
scheduling apps can get confusing, and the internet can simply be
less personal. Kids are up against all of these problems as they
move into the professional world, but Tamara’s got some tips for
handling it.





The most important tip for handling the world of digital mix ups?
Just be honest, says Tamara. If teens are having problems with
Zoom, they shouldn’t ignore it, but instead acknowledge it.
Talking about these problems can be a good way to help teens be
present in the moment, instead of tense or scared or making
mistakes. In the episode, Tamara shares the story of a time when
her stomach wouldn’t stop growling in an interview, but
acknowledging it actually helped her get the job.





How can parents help? Tamara says pushing teens to leave their
comfort zone can be a start. Teens might not always be quick to
believe in themselves, and that’s where they need parents to step
in and provide some encouragement.





Tamara also recommends that we create an aura of fun around the
process instead of turning up the pressure. Teens are likely
going to face a lot of rejection, and a light-hearted approach
will help them bounce back when things get tough. In the episode
Tamara and I talk more about how you can help teens handle the
sting of rejection.





In the Episode…


Tamara has plenty of helpful career advice, no matter where your
teen is at in their journey. On top of the topics discussed
above, we also talk about:


Why teens should double check their reference letter...