Talking To Teens: Expert Tips for Parenting Teenagers

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Terry Iverson, founder of the non-profit Champion Now and author of Finding America’s Greatest Champion, talks about the future of the job market--where are the gaps now and what might young people do to best prepare themselves for the world of work? Find out in this week’s episode!



Full show notes

All parents want their teenagers to be happy and successful in their personal and professional lives, but now more than ever, there’s a lot at stake. The future of our political landscape seems to be changing every day, and there’s no telling what long-term impact COVID-19 will have on the world our teenagers are going to inherit. With an uncertain job market, a surplus of college-educated jobseekers, and rising student debt, it isn’t clear for many parents what path their teen should follow.

Luckily, there are certain skills, attitudes, and practices parents can instill in their teenagers to help them understand the importance of career planning for students. And, better yet, there are tons of opportunities for a lucrative career and fulfilling life even without an expensive degree! In fact, certain job markets—manufacturing, for instance—are not only in high demand, but incredibly lucrative! The average manufacturing working earns over $80,000 a year, including benefits, and doesn’t necessarily require an expensive four-year degree. But in order for your teen to find the right career, parents need to emphasize the importance of career planning for students.

For more on how today’s teens can enter adult life ready for success, I spoke with Terry Iverson, author of Finding America’s Greatest Champion: Building Prosperity Through Manufacturing, Mentoring and the Awesome Responsibility of Parenting. Terry himself has worked in manufacturing for decades and knows exactly what the industry has to offer to young adults. Moreover, Terry knows from his personal experience as a dad, coach, and public speaker how to help teenagers find and pursue careers that matter to them.

Terry grew in a single-parent household in Florida, and in high school he found himself working a late-night job, playing competitive sports, and taking AP courses all at the same time. He learned the importance of career planning for students through hard work and accountability from an early age, and he encourages today’s parents to instill the same wisdom into their teenagers. He also maintains the importance of supporting teenagers by helping them find vocations that make them happy. More than anything, Terry knows that to be truly invested in something, you have to enjoy it first!

This might mean your teenager has something different in mind than what you want for them. Even though you might be set on sending your teen to an Ivy League college, what’s the point if they’re going to burn out and not use their degree? Rather than set these kinds of predetermined expectations, Terry thinks a parent’s most important job is to help their teen decide what they do—or don’t!—enjoy. He says parents can impart the importance of career planning for students by encouraging their kids to follow two primary practices:

Not only will these practices capitalize on the importance of career planning for students, but they’ll set your teenager up for a successful career and gratifying personal life. Here’s a look into how Terry’s practices can help:

The most basic practice your teen can take on to understand the importance of career planning for students is research. It’s imperative for teens to find out what companies are hiring in the field they’re interested in so they can make informed decisions about their career.

In order to promote the importance of career planning for students who don’t know what they want to do, parents need to seize opportunities for them to investigate the job market. Their dream job could be out there, but if they don’t explore what exists, they’ll never be able to find it let alone take the necessary steps to pursue it! According to Terry, many young adults aren’t even aware of the potential for hiring in manufacturing jobs because they don’t have a thorough understanding of the current market.

Terry says that low awareness of opportunities in the job market is indicative of how certain professions become saturated/unsaturated. During our interview, he gives an example of the time he spoke about manufacturing to a group of high schoolers during a career event. When asked how many students were aware of the industry as a potential career, only two of the twenty young adults gave an affirmative statement.

If an essential occupation (like manufacturing) isn’t saturated with a steady flux of newcomers, Terry says it’s like an opening in the MBA: a rare position becomes more coveted. Not only will the demand for that job go up, but the quality of pay and benefits will too! This kind of analysis of the job market can help your teen understand the importance of career planning for students and can propel them into a successful career they might actually enjoy.

Another great benefit of having your teen research the job market is it will allow them to be more independent and find a career that is truly right for them. As growing adults longing for autonomy and control over their life decisions, many teenagers are eager to step into a more adult role. When you ask them to research what they want to do, you’re giving them the opportunity to earn your trust.

With teens who have a strong attachment to a vocation that makes you nervous (i.e. entertainers, artists, food service, etc.), it’s an especially good idea to have them justify their decisions. When teenagers develop a thoroughly researched understanding of the job market, they can make educated decisions about what they want to do. You may want to prompt them with questions like:

If your teen is unable to justify their career choices, it’s a good indicator to them that they need to think things through a little more. If they do have the research to back up their plans, they can begin making educated moves in the right direction.

Starting out early in the workforce is one of the best ways for your teen to act on the importance of career planning for students and decide their future profession. Not only will your teen learn to balance significant responsibilities while they’re still at home, but they’ll also be able to sort out what kinds of work are right for them.

While Terry was still in high school, he managed to play sports, maintain his grades, and go to work on weeknights, a juggling act that your teen can learn to replicate and learn from. He says that having to maintain an agenda with his GPA, a vital income, and his passion for sports on the line made him realize the importance of career planning for students. If your teen isn’t passionate about their career, their job performance could easily slip and they won’t enjoy putting the time and effort into their work.

One great way to implement the importance of career planning for students is to engage your teen in the job market early on, specifically by gaining experience through internships. In the podcast, Terry explains that they’ll help your teen gain a diverse set of skills while weeding out their desires, passions, and abilities in the workforce. He says to encourage your teen to do many different internships that test a multitude of career paths. They’ll learn from specialists in the field that can pass down wisdom about what the job is like, and they’ll be able to get a taste of what’s out there before settling on a lifelong commitment.

On top of these strategies underscoring the importance of career planning for students, Terry offers great opinions on several different topics, including:

Terry’s passion, well-researched statistics, and personal anecdotes provide an incredibly optimistic outlook during today’s wavering circumstances. If you’re feeling nervous about sending your teen into such an uncertain world, you need to hear what Terry has to say about the importance of career planning for students!