Choosing a career provides direction and focus for your life goals and aspirations.

Timely career guidance is vital during the early high school years because it helps students identify their passion and purpose, and then connects their high school path to prospects for future qualification opportunities.

An evaluation of a student’s abilities, passions, and strengths usually comes first when providing career advice. The possible job pathways that would be a suitable fit are then determined using this information.

“The earlier that you can identify your passion and your purpose you can then align your school subjects with your chosen career path,” says The Independent Institute of Education head of faculty Dr Bronwyn Batchelor.

Choosing the right career is important. Photo: Linkedin

“When students and parents take a wait-and-see approach they really limit their child or learner’s options in terms of possible career paths. Having a clear idea of one’s general future direction, helps students establish the path towards a meaningful career, as well as find purpose in their school studies.”

Early career guidance serves to identify for a student what they really enjoy and what aligns with what they enjoy, so where their passion lies can become their purpose, she said.

“A career is more than just a job; it is a lifetime pursuit that provides fulfilment, purpose and financial stability,” says Batchelor. Young students need to look at qualifications that might give them possible employment and maybe even allow them to become an employer.

The wait-and-see approach needs to be thrown away because insufficient early exposure to relevant career guidance puts students at risk of making the wrong decision or misinformed information about education and career choices.

A career counsellor provides information about various occupations, such as job requirements, growth potential and earning potential.

“It is recommended that learners start thinking about their careers in Grade 9 so that when they choose subjects the following year they can choose subjects that go hand in hand with their careers.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cvdw