Confidence, cost and connections are often the biggest roadblocks to young people. Discover what parents and educators can do to help.
The landscape of work is changing every day—and the next generation is paying attention. According to a survey by Pearson, not only are Gen Z students stressed about striking a healthy school/life balance, they’re also concerned about their future. Specifically, many young people are worrying about how they’re going to discover the right career, gain the right skills and make the right connections to actually thrive out there.
That’s why earlier career exploration is becoming a priority for Gen Z students with an anxious eye on the future. Further, an ASA study found that 69% of current high schoolers and 66% of graduates wish they had more career exploration during their middle school and high school years.
“Some of the largest roadblocks to young people are confidence, cost, and connections,” says Dr. Lorna Bryant, Head of Career Solutions, Pearson’s Virtual Learning division. “Their anxiety is tied to their fear that they don’t have the necessary skills employers desire, and they don’t know the right people to help them pursue a career they genuinely enjoy.”
In the first part of my interview with Dr. Bryant, we discussed the need for better school/life balance for Gen Z students. Today, we’re looking at the research around the career exploration challenges facing this generation and how parents and educators can help.
One of the biggest insights to emerge from the study was that many kids want their parents to take an active role in helping them figure out their future plans. “The research shows that teens want their parents to be involved in their career exploration by helping them find jobs (48%) and sharing resources (43%),” says Dr. Bryant.
“With all the choices available, they’re afraid of choosing the “wrong” path, which could lead to an increase in the resources (time and cost) associated with their post-secondary career choice.”
Young people can’t make confident decisions without information, but many parents don’t feel equipped to guide their kids through choosing careers outside their own area of expertise. “Fifty-two percent of parents and 49% of students report wanting to understand the skills they need to develop and those employers desire as important to pursue their dream job or career,” says Dr. Bryant. “About the same number (52% of parents and 42%) say they need to know what educational programs or paths they should pursue.”
To access this information, Dr. Bryant says parents and students should be able to tap school and career counselors. “Students can also connect with employers, internships, and clubs and take advantage of specialized classes that transition seamlessly to higher education and nationally recognized, industry certifications,” says Dr. Bryant.
The key here for parents is to get involved, stay involved and learn about career opportunities together with their child. That’s how Gen Z can make confident decisions for their education and eventual career.
But even as more kids want their parents to be involved, parents may need to adjust their views about the ‘right’ education and career pathway for their child. Gen Z is increasing skeptical of taking the college route, even as more than three-quarters of parents say it’s still a worthwhile investment.
“There is a crucial need for a skilled workforce and teens know it,” says Dr. Bryant. “The research shows that only 48 percent of eighth–12th graders are planning to attend a four-year institution, while 20 percent are still undecided.”
Where is this shift coming from? Dr. Bryant points to the growing awareness of the industry’s focus on skills-based learning and the fact that colleges are beginning to incorporate prior learning and experience (via industry certificates or work-based learning) into degree programs.
‘In addition, some colleges are beginning to build degree pathways and programs around prior and skills-based learning,” she says. “So, students' interest in career exploration as early as sixth grade is important in identifying paths they do not want to pursue to reduce the cost of education and enter into the workforce prepared and in roles they find meaningful.”
For parents, this means being involved in your child’s career exploration—while keeping an open mind about all postsecondary pathways that lead to viable, living-wage careers.
One of the biggest roadblocks Gen Z foresees in their career journey is how to make valuable workplace connections. In many ways this is a tough one for parents to solve, as our own connections in the world of work generally center around our particular field. It might be challenging, for instance, for a parent who works in accounting to help their child network with professionals in engineering.
But what any parent can do, regardless of their own career field, is help their child develop the vital skills that will help them build connections in the workplace.
“In my experience in the K-12 environment, I’ve observed that the most important skills are the willingness to engage in lifelong learning and having a growth mindset in this ever-changing world,” says Dr. Bryant.
In another study, Pearson identified the top "power skills" employers find most valuable, the majority of which are human skills like communication, leadership, attention to detail and collaboration. “Volunteerism, part-time jobs, and joining or captaining team sports are great examples of these skills in action,” says Dr. Bryant. Parents can help by encouraging their teens to seek out ways to build these skills in school and highlight them on college or job applications and resumes.
For businesses looking to hire talent with these skills, Dr. Bryant advises prioritizing internships, apprenticeships and mentorships that allow students to exercise these skills in the workplace. “This will also allow them to connect with your organization early in their career exploration,” she says.
Gen Z is smart to start planning their future now—but it’s up to parents, educators and other influential people in their lives to help provide the resources for these young people to make the choices that are right for them.
Making the most of their career exploration opportunities during high school doesn’t have to be hard or tedious. “Students should lean into activities they enjoy but also those that test and challenge them, and offer opportunities for skill development,” says Dr. Bryant.
Career success begins long before a person’s first day on the job. If we can help Gen Z achieve better career exploration and skill development in high school, they’ll be equipped to enter the workforce connected, confident and ready to contribute.
