Ep 83: The Future of Jobs

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Terry Iverson, founder of the non-profit Champion Now and author
of Finding America’s Greatest Champion, talks about the future of
the job market--where are the gaps now and what might young
people do to best prepare themselves for the world of work? Find
out in this week’s episode!





Sponsored by Equip: Eating disorder treatment
that works—delivered at home. Visit equip.health/talking for more
information, and a free consultation.

Full show notesAll parents want their teenagers to
be happy and successful in their personal and professional lives,
but now more than ever, there’s a lot at stake. The future of our
political landscape seems to be changing every day, and there’s no
telling what long-term impact COVID-19 will have on the world our
teenagers are going to inherit. With an uncertain job market, a
surplus of college-educated jobseekers, and rising student debt, it
isn’t clear for many parents what path their teen should follow.

Luckily, there are certain skills, attitudes, and practices
parents can instill in their teenagers to help them understand
the importance of career planning for students. And, better yet,
there are tons of opportunities for a lucrative career and
fulfilling life even without an expensive degree! In fact,
certain job markets—manufacturing, for instance—are not only in
high demand, but incredibly lucrative! The average manufacturing
working earns over $80,000 a year, including benefits, and
doesn’t necessarily require an expensive four-year degree. But in
order for your teen to find the right career, parents need to
emphasize the importance of career planning for students.


For more on how today’s teens can enter adult life ready for
success, I spoke with Terry Iverson, author of Finding America’s
Greatest Champion: Building Prosperity Through Manufacturing,
Mentoring and the Awesome Responsibility of Parenting. Terry
himself has worked in manufacturing for decades and knows exactly
what the industry has to offer to young adults. Moreover, Terry
knows from his personal experience as a dad, coach, and public
speaker how to help teenagers find and pursue careers that matter
to them.


Terry grew in a single-parent household in Florida, and in high
school he found himself working a late-night job, playing
competitive sports, and taking AP courses all at the same time.
He learned the importance of career planning for students through
hard work and accountability from an early age, and he encourages
today’s parents to instill the same wisdom into their teenagers.
He also maintains the importance of supporting teenagers by
helping them find vocations that make them happy. More than
anything, Terry knows that to be truly invested in something, you
have to enjoy it first!


This might mean your teenager has something different in mind
than what you want for them. Even though you might be set on
sending your teen to an Ivy League college, what’s the point if
they’re going to burn out and not use their degree? Rather than
set these kinds of predetermined expectations, Terry thinks a
parent’s most important job is to help their teen decide what
they do—or don’t!—enjoy. He says parents can impart the
importance of career planning for students by encouraging their
kids to follow two primary practices:
Research the Job MarketGain Experience
in the Workforce

Not only will these practices capitalize on the importance of
career planning for students, but they’ll set your teenager up
for a successful career and gratifying personal life. Here’s a
look into how Terry’s practices can help:


Researching the Job Market


The most basic practice your teen can take on to understand the
importance of career planning for students is research. It’s
imperative for teens to find out what companies are hiring in the
field they’re interested in so they can make informed decisions
about their career.


In order to promote the importance of career planning for
students who don’t know what they want to do, parents need to
seize opportunities for them to investigate the job market. Their
dream job could be out there, but if they don’t explore what
exists, they’ll never be able to find it let alone take the
necessary steps to pursue it! According to Terry, many young
adults aren’t even aware of the potential for hiring in
manufacturing jobs because they don’t have a thorough
understanding of the current market.


Terry says that low awareness of opportunities in the job market
is indicative of how certain professions become
saturated/unsaturated. During our interview, he gives an example
of the time he spoke about manufacturing to a group of high
schoolers during a career event. When asked how many students
were aware of the industry as a potential career, only two of the
twenty young adults gave an affirmative statement.


If an essential occupation (like manufacturing) isn’t saturated
with a steady flux of newcomers, Terry says it’s like an opening
in the MBA: a rare position becomes more coveted. Not only will
the demand for that job go up, but the quality of pay and
benefits will too! This kind of analysis of the job market can
help your teen understand the importance of career planning for
students and can propel them into a successful career they might
actually enjoy.


Another great benefit of having your teen research the job market
is it will allow them to be more independent and find a career
that is truly right for them. As growing adults longing for
autonomy and control over their life decisions, many teenagers
are eager to step into a more adult role. When you ask them to
research what they want to do, you’re giving them the opportunity
to earn your trust.


With teens who have a strong attachment to a vocation that makes
you nervous (i.e. entertainers, artists, food service, etc.),
it’s an especially good idea to have them justify their
decisions. When teenagers develop a thoroughly researched
understanding of the job market, they can make educated decisions
about what they want to do. You may want to prompt them with
questions like:


“How saturated is the market for the profession you want to
go into?”

“How does the salary of the career you’re looking into
support your lifestyle?”

“Are local jobs are hiring where you can get early experience
into your career?”

“What are the steps you need to take to succeed at this job?”



If your teen is unable to justify their career choices, it’s a
good indicator to them that they need to think things through a
little more. If they do have the research to back up their plans,
they can begin making educated moves in the right direction.


Gaining Experience in the Workforce


Starting out early in the workforce is one of the best ways for
your teen to act on the importance of career planning for
students and decide their future profession. Not only will your
teen learn to balance significant responsibilities while they’re
still at home, but they’ll also be able to sort out what kinds of
work are right for them.


While Terry was still in high school, he managed to play sports,
maintain his grades, and go to work on weeknights, a juggling act
that your teen ca...