How Most Young People Choose A Career Path and Why It’s a Serious Problem

Know Before You Go: Part 1

You walk into a shoe store, ready to find your next favorite pair..

But as you start browsing, something feels…off.

Every shoebox is sealed shut. And posted on the shelves are signs that say: "Do not open. Choose based on box info only."

You glance around, a little confused.

No samples on display. No trying them on. No peeking inside.

Just boxes.

So...would you purchase a pair of shoes based only on the box?

Probably not.

You know there’s more to consider than just the size in order to ensure a purchase that will work out. Color, look, and feel are equally important factors.

Missing Critical Information

The same is true for choosing a job that will work out… there’s more to know about the position than its activities or subjects.

Most young people never take the time to gain that additional knowledge, which often contains details that would have helped them see that the job was not a good option for them.

Cycle of Ignorance

Unfortunately, they move forward with their uninformed choice and start preparing, only to eventually discover those problem parts. Sometimes they discover required skills they don’t have or aspects of the job they dislike.

Don’t-Haves
Don’t-Haves are things required in the job that they feel they don’t have. It could be required skills or an interest in some of the content.

Dislikes
Dislikes are things about the job that they simply don’t like. It could be an aspect of the job’s work environment or a requirement.

These "don’t-haves" and "dislikes" make them pivot and change their career path. But since this new choice is just as uninformed as their original one, the cycle continues…pick-prepare-problem-pivot.

This is what I call the "Guess and Go" method for choosing a career path. It’s a cycle of ignorance that results in a lot of wasted time, money, and effort.

But don't worry, during this series, I'll be sharing the nine essential things your kid should discover about a job to make an informed decision and avoid a regrettable choice. I'll also reveal a simple AI research method for learning all these essential facts in seconds.

The Know Before You Go Series

Part 1: How Most Young People Choose A Career Path and Why It’s a Serious Problem

Part 2: What Your Kid Should Discover About a Job of Interest to Avoid a Regrettable Choice

Part 3: Three Proven Strategies for Critical Job Research

Part 4: Essential Questions for Evaluating the Fit of a Job

START A CONVO
Initiate a conversation with your child about this subject using the following prompts:
Use these prompts to start a conversation with your child about this topic.

What percentage of important facts about a job do you think most young people know when they select a career?
What could be some consequences of not knowing all of the critical details?

THE FREE RESOURCE
Please access your free copy of The Know Before You Go Method digital flipbook HERE. It will reveal how your teen or twenty-something can make an informed career decision and avoid a regrettable choice!

ADDITIONAL RELATED RESOURCES

> The Know Before You Go not-a-book-book on Amazon

> The Know Before You Go digital course

> The Know Before You Go personaized coaching

About the Author

Jay DuSold

Jay has spent over three decades working with young people and parents as a mentor and life coach. He started focusing exclusively on career guidance in 2014 after helping his son figure out career direction while he was a junior in high school.

As a youth career guide, he helps teens and twenty-somethings around the world identify a job fit to gain clarity and confidence about career direction so they’ll reach their full potential and avoid the waste of getting it wrong.

As an author and speaker, he equips young people to think differently about their identity, true success, and figuring out where they can be awesome in the world of work. He also empowers youth advocates and organizations to more effectively support the young people they serve through their career guidance initiatives.