David laughed. “I guess we spent over $10k on private tennis lessons.”
He was discussing his son Jake and his initial reluctance to hire a career counselor. “I thought college would help him figure it out.”
It didn’t.
Even “good colleges” do not have good personalized career counseling. At best, most career planning and placement offices help their seniors get jobs and their juniors get internships. That’s fantastic. But you have to know what job and what internship you want for that to be helpful.
Many college-age students do not know what they want to do. Indeed, most young adults are similarly lost.
In running Career Counseling Connecticut through the years, I have sometimes wondered why clients from The Learning Consultants – the larger company I run – who had spent thousands on math tutoring, often for children not heading into a math field, and thousands more on test prep/college counseling, were reluctant to spend money on what is far more important: career guidance.
As parents, we all want the best for our children. We invest in extracurricular activities, enrichment programs, and specialized coaching to give them an edge in life. For many families, sports coaching for teenagers is a no-brainer. Whether it’s football, swimming, or tennis, parents are more than willing to spend on a coach to help their teens improve their athletic skills and perhaps even land a college scholarship. The problem, of course, for Connecticut parents is that our wonderful state is not exactly the hotbed of the sports elite. Most of the best athletes in our idyllic Connecticut small towns are fortunate to play DIII at the college level.
But here’s an interesting paradox: while many parents are eager to hire sports coaches to guide their children through the complexities of athletics, they often hesitate to spend on career counselors who can guide their young adults through the complexities of the job market. Why is that? Is one really more valuable than the other? I
Despite the clear benefits of career counseling, there are several common misconceptions that cause parents to hesitate when considering this investment for their young adult children.
“They Should Figure It Out Themselves”
One of the most prevalent myths is the idea that young adults should be able to navigate their career paths without external help. There’s an underlying belief that finding a career is part of growing up, and learning to handle it on their own builds resilience. However, the modern job market is more complex than ever. With countless career paths, evolving industries, and fierce competition, young adults are often overwhelmed by the options. Career counselors can provide much-needed clarity, helping them identify their strengths, set goals, and navigate their choices with informed guidance.
The world of work has changed so dramatically that even highly driven self-starters who come to Career Counseling Connecticut have a challenge in figuring it out themselves.
“Career Counseling Is for People Who Are Lost”
Another misconception is that career counseling is only for individuals who are confused or struggling. Many parents assume that if their child has chosen a college major or has an idea of what they want to do, they don’t need a career counselor. In reality, career counseling isn’t just for those who are undecided. It’s about maximizing potential, understanding the nuances of specific industries, and strategically planning for internships, networking, and future job opportunities. Even young adults with clear goals can benefit from expert advice to refine their plans and avoid common pitfalls.
Most of Career Counseling Connecticut’s clients have reasonably practical or entirely practical college majors. We do not work all that much with the proverbial art history major who realizes that career options are limited around senior year. Most of our clients are in some type of business major or, if liberal arts oriented, with a minor in some area where jobs are prevalent. They are not entirely lost. They just need guidance.
“More money!!!???”
Perhaps the most significant hesitation parents have is the perceived cost of career counseling, specifically “we have already spent $ on all these necessary…”
Well… some tough news… Career Counseling Connecticut has been working with an increasing number of twentysomethings who are living at home (nothing wrong with that!) but there is a cost. Food/utilities, at least, but often a variety of extras – gas/insurance/household items – and the natural tendency to spend even more: you are not going to leave your twentysomething alone for dinner if you and your spouse are going out to a restaurant.
More to the point, if you spent all that money on specialized sports training….
Right?
That’s why David laughed.