Career Advice for Your Kids: How Much Can They Learn From Your Experience?

Today’s career advice is more about mindset than specific job search.

Image by Screen Post from Unsplash.

Can your career advice help your children? And should you even try?

Some time ago, Author Lauren Kim wrote about a dilemma she faced as her child wanted to become a writer. She points out that writing is a hazardous career. Journalists are endangered species. Should she discourage her daughter?

Recently a friend was musing over his son’s interest in becoming a lawyer. “I know so many unhappy lawyers,” he said. “How can I, in good conscience, encourage him?”

I’m not a parent, but I’ve worked mostly with midlife career changers. They’re the ones who live with decisions they made a long time ago. Here’s what I’ve learned from my clients as well as my own work experience.

First, in my experience, kids won’t accept career advice from their parents — at least not right away. You can be a strong role model and share your own experience without giving advice. They won’t accept career advice from ANYone unless they’ve initiated the request.

Second, the best career advice you have to give isn’t about specifics, such as whether to be a writer. It’s about being alert to change. It’s about…