99. How to help your teen or adolescent STAND OUT in a world of endless CAREER opportunities!

In this episode of the College and Career Ready podcast, I dive into a topic that’s close to my heart: how parents can best support their children as they transition from high school to college and beyond. I’ll talk about the power of self-discovery and why it’s so crucial for students to truly understand their strengths, values, and interests before taking that next big step. I also share my own career journey, including the twists and turns of my non-linear path, to show that there isn’t one “right” way to find success.

I’m excited to share that my next cohort of my signature Career Connections online course will be opening soon for registration. You can add yourself to the waitlist by going to www.CollegeCareerReady.org/course , The Career Connections course is designed to help students build meaningful career connections and set clear, actionable goals to thrive in today’s job market. They will learn my signature framework that will get them closer to defining a career major and ultimately a career path just for them! 

Throughout this episode, I’ll offer practical, actionable advice for parents on how to guide their children in developing self-awareness, planning their future with confidence, and making impactful connections that open doors they didn't even know existed. Whether your child is just starting to think about their career or is preparing to enter the workforce, this episode is filled with insights to help you support them every step of the way. So listen in and join us!

00:00 Introduction to College and Career Ready Podcast

00:47 Supporting Your Child's Academic and Career Journey

01:44 The Importance of Self-Discovery

03:21 Careers Are Not Linear

06:19 Understanding Gen Z's Mission-Based Approach

08:20 Helping Your Child Discover Their Unique Story

13:17 Building Real-World Connections

15:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episodes mentioned: 66. Connect with your teen using their primary love language

80. The Network Generation: From Introverts to Influencers w/ Podcast Hosts of The BEN Show Podcast

97. From Campus to Career: Leverage Alumni Networks for College and Career Readiness

61. [Student Pep Talk] Craft a Strategic LinkedIn Presence for Ambitious Students w/ Jesse Undergrad Student at Howard University

Connect with Sonia Cacique
LinkedIn
Instagram

Join our College and Career Connections Club for free at www.CollegeCareerReady.org/join

Learn about our Career Connections Course: www.CollegeCareerReady.org/COURSE

"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"

Transcript

Sonia Intro: 0:01

Welcome to College and Career Ready, the only podcast that helps students transition from high school to college and college to their career. My name is Sonia Cacique. I'm a former educator, certified school counselor, career coach, and founder of Discover U. Together, we will redefine what it truly means to be college and career ready. And with our community, you don't have to do this alone. So come with me and let's get started.

0:35

Hello, hello everyone. And welcome back to the college and get ready podcast. As always, I'm your host, Sonia Kasike, proud owner of discover you college and career coaching. Today, we are tackling a topic that is very close to my heart and likely yours too, as a parent. How to support your child as they prepare for the next big steps in their academic and career journey. If you caught my last episode, you heard me share my own career story. a journey that didn't follow a straight line. But that's what led me to the work I love today. If you haven't checked that episode, it's episode number 97, so make sure you check it out. My goal in sharing my own story was to share that a career path, especially nowadays, is hardly ever linear. For today's high school and college students, this is actually an exciting time within the history of our workforce. with new careers emerging every day, there are countless ways for young people to explore their interests. Strengths and values. So if you're a parent, guardian, or mentor wondering how to help your child find their path, this episode is for you. we'll explore why the best way for your child to prepare for the future is by knowing themselves. deeply and understanding their unique value. As you can imagine, and as you have seen, our kids are going fast pace, go, go, go. And with social media, it's a click, click, scroll, scroll, scroll. but I am going to share with you why there is such huge value in stopping for a moment and reflecting. Plus, I'm thrilled to share that in January, I'll be launching my Career Connections course. If you're listening in real time, this will be in January 2025. I will be launching my next cohort of the Career Connections course. this four week course will be a guided program to help students Reflect, discover, explore, plan, and take action to start building career connections that will prepare them for the rapidly changing job market. And this is especially important for our college bound students who won't be looking for that first career post college graduation Until three to four years later from when they start college. If you are interested, you can learn all about my signature course at collegecareerready. org forward slash course. But let's jump right in, my friend, and see how you can start supporting your child on this exciting journey. The first thing I'm going to talk about today is that careers are not linear and why this is good news for your child. As parents, many of us grew up with the idea that success meant picking a career and sticking with it for life. But the job market has changed tremendously. Innovation, growth, and success. new technology and evolving interests are creating fresh opportunities every single day. You may be wondering, does my child need to have everything figured out today? Well, the answer thankfully is no, not necessarily, but it is important that they start now to start learning about themselves and clearly identifying their strengths. Interests, values, and even their weaknesses. It's exciting that they don't have to choose just one path. Jobs that didn't exist a decade ago, like social media manager. Data scientists or UX designer are in high demand today. And by the time your child finishes college and is ready to enter the workforce, There will be even more new fields opening up. This means that they have the flexibility to explore different avenues and adapt along the way with the workforce. The most important thing they can do right now is to know themselves, what they're good at, what excites them, and what they truly value. As I mentioned, my career connections course will be a perfect space for them to discover this. It's designed to help students explore their strengths, set goals, and start building connections, my friend, professional connections, career connections to help guide them into future careers. even the ones that don't yet exist. The key to success for your child is to know themselves. So you may ask, Sonia, what does it mean to know themselves in the context of career and college readiness? Well, simply put my friend, it means being deeply aware of their own skills, strengths, interests, values, and even weaknesses. When we talk about competing in the job market, the real edge comes from understanding what they bring to the table that's uniquely theirs. Okay, here are some things you can do today to help your child. Take a minute to stop with your child and have them ask themselves, What are they truly good at? Maybe Naming those specific activities and projects they really enjoyed while they were in high school, or if they're in high school right now, or in college. What activities or subjects bring them a sense of joy or accomplishment? Let me tell you, Gen Z's have been misrepresented and mislabeled. A lot of people will say, Gen Z's are unmotivated, and you know, they're lazy, And I even dislike saying that word because that is not true. You know what Gen Z's are? They are what I call the mission based generation. They have to find purpose in what they're doing, or they just won't do it at all. That is where people mislabel them. Let me tell you, Gen C ers, if you help them identify something that they're interested and passionate about, Oh, they will go all in. And guess what? When they are all in, the sky's the limit. Because they will flourish and they will excel personally, career wise, and financially. Ask your child, what do they value most in their schoolwork? Is it the creativity? Maybe helping others? and being serviceful or is it solving complex problems? If they are unsure about some of these answers, don't worry. Self discovery is a journey. And if you don't believe me, check out episode number 80 when I talk to two Young students who have discovered a mission and a passion and it all developed from connections. That is episode number 80, the network generation from introverts to influencers with podcast hosts of the Ben show podcast. And if you as a parent are struggling to connect with your child to even start that conversation, we also have episode number 66, Connect with your teen using their primary love language. I will make sure to have these two episodes on our show notes. So the key is to start asking the right questions and paying attention to the things that energize and inspire them. Just sit back and watch them. There is so much you can discover. Within your child, when you really start reflecting on their growth ever since they were little as they started growing up, and unfortunately, as they started hearing other people telling them what they should do as a career path. So sit back and reflect with your own child. When they are clear about their strengths and what drives them, they will have the confidence to start making the career connections that really matter to help them find their ideal career path. One of the best things your child can do right now is to develop a deep understanding of themselves. This goes beyond what they want to do and digs into who they truly are. Self awareness is truly a foundation for career success and it helps young people stand out as they move forward. Let me tell you, they will stand out in college admissions, interviews, college admission essays, their first interview, because guess what? Not many of our young children today are really stopping and reflecting on who they truly are. So when your child comes in front of an interviewer and clearly defines who they are, their strengths, their passions, their interests, that will be something that stands out amongst all other applicants. I promise you that. Now, This is where owning their story is important. It's a standout factor. Here's something incredibly important that we sometimes overlook in today's competitive landscape. Their story is powerful. Each of us has experiences, challenges, and passions that make us unique. Maybe your child has a passion that's a little outside the box or has overcome an experience that shaped their perspective. Embracing and sharing their story is one of the most effective ways to stand out in college application or job interviews. When students apply to college or internships, it's about more than just achievement on paper. And unfortunately, that is what society has made us believe. Just Google college admissions exams or college admissions requirements, and you're going to have tons of pages talking about SAT scores and class rank and class standing. But guess what? Your child can succeed in any college. Of course, I want them to go to the best college possible But if they maximize the college experience, they can excel. If they make the right career connections, they will excel. I can promise you that. So it's very important that yes, I understand that in order to get into college, they need all these. Numbers and GPA and standings. I get it. We cannot change that part of the system, but what we can change is that once they get the minimum college admission requirements, now we need something unique of theirs that will help them stand out. Or even if their personal profile doesn't really match. the median entry college applicants profile, but if they have something different and unique, That will get them to stand out and possibly even go to colleges that they thought they would not be considered for. Admissions officers and employers want to understand what motivates them, what challenges they've overcome and what unique qualities they bring. Because let me tell you, you can have the highest GPA. Maybe you went to school that it was just easier. But if your child did not learn the study techniques, the time management skills, the study skills, they will not succeed in college. And unfortunately, the average dropout rate within the first year is 1 4th. That means one out of every four students will drop out within their first year in college. And so in order for us as parents, as educators, as community leaders, we have to teach our students how to use the their time management skills, study skills, and independence as they're growing through high school. So again, going back to their personal story, it is important for them to deep dive into who they are, what they've overcome, and how they can be successful in the college that they're applying for. By helping your child discover and own their story, you're setting them up for success. That is the perfect time for them to share their story in a way that feels authentic and impactful. In my career connections course, we'll work on ways to communicate who they are and what they're bringing to the table, whether through a personal statement, an essay, or an interview, this ability to confidently share their story will help them create connections and seize new opportunities. All right, so how can they build real world connections and how to take action? Well, as we prepare students for rapidly changing job market, Self awareness alone isn't enough. They need to know how to take action. Once your child has a clear idea of who they are, it's time to explore real career paths and start building connections. in January, my Career Connections course will guide students through this essential step by step process. It will allow them to stop, reflect on their values, strengths, and goals, discover their strengths, and learn to articulate them. they will learn how to explore and research different fields that interest them and align with their talents. And last but not least, we wrap up the course with planning and taking action by setting goals, creating a roadmap, and making their first professional connection. This course includes practical tools like creating their LinkedIn profiles, networking, preparing for interviews, and setting SMART goals that they can work towards over time. And if you don't believe just yet on the power of LinkedIn, Check out episode number 87, how students can build connections using LinkedIn from college to a career in sports with one of my students, That is episode number 87 and I will make sure to have that in the show notes. In episode number 61, crafting a strategic LinkedIn presence for ambitious students with Jesse, an undergrad student at Howard University. So you have plenty of resources to look into and to understand the value of a LinkedIn profile. But don't worry, I will walk your child step by step on how to create their LinkedIn profile when they attend my Career Connections Signature Course in January. So make sure you hop on the waitlist so you are alerted as soon as the registration begins. You can sign up going to college career ready dot o r g forward slash course By the end of the course your child will leave with a clear sense of direction The tools they need to take their first steps and the confidence to build a career that feels meaningful to them And last but not least, I want you to support your child in a changing world. As parents, you want it to be the best for your child, and it's natural to feel some uncertainty in today's rapidly changing world. But remember, their future isn't limited by any one decision. It's shaped by who they truly are, and the experiences and connections they build along the way. I hope you can use some of these tips and strategies to start having meaningful conversations with your adolescent or young adult about themselves. Remember, they can discover the career opportunities of tomorrow through the career connections they make today. If you are interested in learning how my signature Career Connections course can help students plan, take action, and make informed choices that align with their unique strengths and passions, then head on over to collegecareerready. org forward slash course. The world is evolving and helping them embrace their unique story and connect with opportunities. You're setting them up for a long term success in careers and careers. them. Thank you for joining me today on the college and career ready podcast. If you're interested in learning more about the career connections course, starting in January, then check out my website or send me a direct email to info at college career ready. org. We can hop on a quick 15 minute call and answer any questions that you may have. The career connections course is the perfect opportunity for your child to start discovering what's next. and taking steps towards their future. Encourage them to explore, reflect, and connect, my friend. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with another parent or friend. Next week, I will be sharing my last episode of this season, episode number 100, where I will share with you everything I learned from my journey of podcasting, what I learned in the process, And how that has helped me shape who I am today. Until next time, my friends stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. Thank you for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much to me if you share it with a friend, a colleague, or your own community. If you share it on social media and tag me, I'll make sure to personally thank you. My two favorite places to hang out are Instagram and LinkedIn. Check out our show notes for a direct link. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. And as always stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. I'll talk to you next week. Adios.