Millennials Should Avoid These 5 Ways to Choose a Career

Millennials Should Avoid These 5 Ways to Choose a Career Sometimes, we focus on the right way to do a task. But other times, it is helpful to look at the wrong way to do something.As acareer coach, I have worked with studentsand adults of all ages, and I have seen some troublesome patterns in the ways that people attempt to choose their career directions.Rarely do these approaches work.Today, I want to take a look at those bad approaches so you (or your children or grandchildren) can avoid them1. I Saw It in a Movie (or on T.V.)The problem with trying to pattern your real life after movies or television shows is that they are, by nature, unrealistic. The image of a job in a movie or on T.V. will either beoverly dramatized or, more likely, overly glorified. If you think you know what a therapist does because you sawGood Will Hunting (or my favorite, What About Bob?) or what the policedo from watching Americas Most Wanted, you will be sorely disappointe d.It may sound silly, but you would be surprised how oftenyoung people give me this reason for choosing a career.2. Ever Since I welches Little, I Wanted to Be Im sorry, little Johnny, but your six-year-olds image of what a firefighter does isnt anywhere near reality. (Some of them dont even drive red trucks anymore)And although Karen may have enjoyed playing school and teaching her younger siblings when she was 10, that doesnt mean shehas a clue about the realities of managing 20-25 third-grade students or what the job outlook is like.3. My Parents Think I Should Now, I think most parents have pretty good understandings of their childrens strengths and abilities. And parents of students often have good ideas (I know, because I am one).But, most of the time, this approach reflects the parents desires for the child more than the childsown preferences. As a result, the student wont have the motivation to persevere through difficult times to reach the goal, and their career will fall f lat.A variation of this theme occurs infamily-owned businesses, whenparents desperately hope for a child to come into the business. Unfortunately, the results can bedisastrous because the (frequently oldest, compliant) child doesnt always have the capabilities to be successful in the position.4. I Didnt Know What Else to Study so I Chose This is a common response among college students, especially those who are sophomores and juniors. They feel pressure to choose a major (rightfully so), but they dont know what they want to do, so they default to a general major like business, education, psychology, or general studies. Many times, these students are senfgas because they have never worked and dont know what is out there. It would be far better for them to take a semester or year offtowork in the area they are considering (not in the family business). This experience will give them far more valuable information than continuing to take classes would.5. I Took the Intro to XYZ Class and Didnt Like It, So I Changed My MajorAaggh This one drives me crazy and unfortunately, it is one of the most cited reasons for changing ones major. For example, imagine a student who has had a long-term interest in some form of medical work (nursing, physical therapy, etc.). The student goes to college and takes Biology 101, taught by a graduate teaching assistant. Then, because the class is boring or difficult they change their major to music education (or whatever). What a poor way to make a career choiceAsk any professionaltosee if the introductory courses have any relevance at all to what they actually do in real life (business, psychology, education, engineering anything). Making career decisions based on coursework is a good way to make a bad choice.Paul White, Ph.D., is a speaker, trainer, author, and psychologist who makes work relationships work.