Blog Post #2: Why we need career assessments
Ayush’s parents were Chemical engineers and Ayush was good at Chemistry in school. He was
scoring well, every year. When he finished his 10
th
exams, he took up Math, Physics and
Chemistry as his subjects and after the 12
th
exams, he joined Chemical Engineering. But soon he
realized that this was not what he wanted to do. He realized that he was really interested in
studying about Animals (Zoology) and Plants (Botany).
What if he had realized this during his school life? What if Ayush’s parents had consulted a
professional career counsellor?They would have understood that scoring marks was not the only
criterionin selecting a course;that interest or passion for a career should also be
considered,along with the ability. He could have become a Zoologist/Wildlife Biologist,
Environmental Scientist, Veterinarian, Biotechnologist or Botanist.
Ayush’s parents realized that they should not have imposed their ideas on their child, to study
courses that they knew about.
There are so many opportunities now available in various fields for students today. They need to
be guided based on their strengths and passions, to pursue a career. Definitely career
assessment is HELPFUL and ESSENTIAL during the higher (9th and 10th class) and higher
secondary (11th and 12th class) grades to help students find their career path.
Career assessment is important for the child and for the parent
While deciding on the course of action after the tenth or twelfth grade, your child may come
across numerous people - friends, relatives, teachers and even bystanders - who will freely give
advice as to what career route to choose. But all these suggestions and advice are general and
never specific to that particular child. What career plan fits child A need not fit child B.
Therefore, for a specific career decision, it is important to consult a career assessor / career
counsellor.
A good career assessment helps the child to get insight about his interests, abilities and
personality and which career is best suited for him. It offers a platform where failures and
interruptions can be reduced and he can select the best course of study and fulfill his career
dreams.
Most good career experts offer career guidance and related solutions to explore the child’s skill
set and to help them choose the right career path.
As a parent, it is also important to remember that complexity and difficulty of a subject is
inversely proportional to your child’s interest in that subject. Unless the foundations in the
subject are strong, your child will start doing badly in that subject and as a result lose interest.
This does not mean he does not have the ability for it. It becomes a question of attitude and
not aptitude. Thus, it is important that your child does not get influenced by either peer-
pressure or by your pressure while taking a career decision.
Career assessment helps:
To improve your child’s understanding of himself and thus his self confidence
To choose apt areas as per your child’s interest and capacity
To design a career growth map or developmental plan
A good career counselor is a problem solver and has sufficient knowledge of various fields to
guide your child’s career decisions. Career assessment provides right of entry to the knowledge
that a career expert owns. Their knowledge regarding scope and the paths to pursue for a
particular career are important for you as a parent and for your child, since most of the times,
you as parents do not have that kind of knowledge. The advice that you can give is mainly
influenced by your past experience and preferences that you have had in your lives which may
not be appropriate for your child.
When is career assessment needed?
The perfect time for your child to seek a career assessment is during the ages 13-17 years (from
9th grade to 12th grade). During this time, many changes are taking place in their life,as they
transition from school to college, and try to “fit in” with peers. It is a time when career
decisions are also being made. This is why they need someone to guide them in the right
direction. A wrong decision at this time can have far reaching consequences.
Wrap-up lines
Give your child opportunities to explore new activities. If there is a subject they are curious
about or they shows excitement toward, encourage them to learn more about that topic.
Remember as parents not to put pressure on your child on any specific stream or subject. To
discover your child’s seamless career, you can get an online career assessment or seek guidance
from our experienced consultants.
