Supporting Teen Choices

Preparing for the Future

To overcome uncharted challenges in the changing world of work, teens today need to be firmly grounded in their skills and competencies.

• Teens need to know how to learn to succeed. Technological advances are fast and furious. They need to learn to use new tools constantly. That includes being able to read quickly and comprehend, as well as conduct basic research.
• They will need excellent communication skills - written and oral - to offer and deliver their expertise.
• Teens need the ability to reason, to draw conclusions from evidence, to predict future developments. Reasoning and analytical skills are developed in school by math and science courses.
• Creativity will also be important – the arts in the school context.
• People skills: It is imperative that young people can interact well with others, both as a team player and a team leader. Athletics would be the school subject that corresponds with this skill.
• The ability to speak in public, whether the group is large or small, will be an asset for your child in the future. Acquiring this skill also boosts self-confidence.
• Children should be technologically smart. They need to be able to use all the current techno-tools and be willing to learn new technologies as they become available.
• A high degree of independence and self-reliance will serve children well, as they are likely to be operating in a loosely structured environment, finding a market for their skills.
• Encourage children to follow their interests and enthusiasm. It is important that children consider their talents and strengths when career planning rather than just looking at job availability.

Youth will benefit from a well-rounded, broad-based skill set, as opposed to over-specialized, narrow training.  A layering of skills and a willingness to deepen that layer as needed seems to be the best equipment for the future world of work. The success of that approach has been demonstrated by events such as the “Wave of the Future” hosted by BCIT in Vancouver. About 100 employers came out to court the students and graduates of the Information Technology Professional Program (ITP) that teaches post-graduate students a combination of business, interpersonal and IT skills in a simulated business environment. ITP students are grads coming from all areas of study.

Above all, taking an active interest in your teens’ educational and career choices demonstrates that you value on-going learning and the career options it provides.