Choosing a career path as a teenager today isn’t what it used to be. The old “doctor, lawyer, engineer” routine doesn’t quite hold up in a world where kids are building businesses from their bedrooms and AI is reshaping the job market faster than anyone can keep up.
So, where does that leave you, the parent?
Right in the thick of it, actually. Teens may act like they’ve got it figured out, but they still look to you quietly, sometimes reluctantly, for support, reassurance, and yes, even guidance. Here’s how to be their anchor without being their manager.
Understanding the 2025 Career Landscape
Let’s zoom out.
The future of work isn’t linear anymore. It’s not “go to school, get a job, climb the ladder, retire.” In fact, for a lot of Gen Z, the idea of a “forever job” sounds… kind of bizarre. A 2024 survey by Resource Solutions found that 70% of Gen Z expect to change careers multiple times over their lifetimes, more than any other generation.
AI is automating parts of everything. Remote work has gone from a perk to a baseline. And climate-focused industries are booming, while other roles are quietly phasing out.
Still, there are careers that remain strong, with new twists. Take accounting, for example. It’s long been considered a “safe” option. But today’s accountants? They need more than number skills. They need tech-savvy, data tools, and the ability to work with automated systems.
And the road to becoming a CPA isn’t a quick pit stop. It takes dedication, college coursework, real-world experience, and yep, serious studying.
But how many hours to study for CPA exam, you ask?
Most candidates spend 300–400 hours preparing for the exam. That’s not something you cram for over a long weekend. That’s weeks, sometimes months of disciplined prep, on top of education and work experience requirements.
How Parents Can Help Teens Explore Careers
You don’t need to be a career counselor. You just need to be engaged. Present. Willing to sit in the “I don’t know” with them.
Let’s break that down into four areas you can support without driving each other nuts.
1. Encourage Self-Discovery
Start with the obvious: help your teen get to know themselves.
That means personality assessments, sure (Holland Code, Myers-Briggs, even quirky ones like “16 Personalities”). But also real-life exploration, part-time jobs, clubs, volunteering, and creative projects. These things help them figure out not just what they like, but what they can’t stand.
One parent shared that her son was obsessed with being a pilot until he worked a summer job at a flight school and realized… he hated airports. Who knew?
The goal isn’t to find “The One.” It’s about eliminating what doesn’t fit and building some self-awareness along the way.
2. Provide Research Tools
Here’s the thing: teens are drowning in information, but they don’t always know where to look. Or what’s trustworthy. You can help here.
Start with the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It’s got job descriptions, growth forecasts, salary ranges all in plain English. O*NET is another gem. You plug in a career interest, and it spits out data on required skills, average tasks, and educational paths.
Also, let them fall into YouTube rabbit holes. Seriously. Sometimes, a 10-minute “day in the life of a UX designer” video sticks more than a textbook ever could.
3. Facilitate Networking & Mentorship
This part sounds intimidating, but it really isn’t.
Help your teen connect with people who actually do the thing they’re curious about. You’d be surprised how many adults are happy to hop on a call with a motivated teenager. It doesn’t have to be formal. “Can I ask you a few questions about your job?” is more than enough.
Tap into family, friends, and alumni networks. Have them set up informational interviews. It’s basically just… human Googling. And teens who hear real stories from real people? They absorb way more than from any listicle.
Also, if you know someone in a field your teen’s into, help them set up a shadow day. Even if it ends with “yeah, I’m not into that,” it’s worth it.
4. Support Skill Development
This part matters more than ever.
Degrees are helpful but they’re not a golden ticket anymore. Employers want proof of skills. Real ones. The kind you can use on Day One.
Encourage your teen to stack those skills early. That could mean:
- A free online course in Python
- A summer internship at a local nonprofit
- Building a design portfolio on Canva
- Helping grandma set up her online store (serious e-commerce experience!)
And again, bring it back to real-life paths. CPA candidates, for example, need to juggle school, study time, and job experience to even qualify for certification. That’s a lot. But knowing that early? Helps teens prepare without panic.
Addressing Challenges & Staying Supportive
Let’s be clear: career exploration can be messy. Your teen will change their mind. Maybe more than once. They’ll doubt themselves. They’ll feel behind. They’ll compare themselves to that classmate who seems to have it all figured out (spoiler: they don’t).
Your job? Don’t freak out. Don’t project. Just be steady and spend more time with them. Be the one who says, “It’s okay not to know yet. You’re learning.”
One tip? Focus on asking open-ended questions. Stuff like:
- “What did you enjoy most about that volunteer thing?”
- “If money didn’t matter, what would you spend your time doing?”
- “What kind of problems do you like solving?”
And let them be uncertain. That’s not a failure. That’s how people grow.
Final Thought: Be the Anchor, Not the Engine
Your teen’s career isn’t your project. It’s their journey. Your role isn’t to power the boat, it’s to be the anchor. The calm. The reminder that they don’t have to know it all now.
They’ll try things. They’ll mess up. They’ll get excited, burn out, change course, and come back with a new plan. And through it all? You’ll be there, not to direct, but to support. Not to steer, but to walk beside them.
In this wild, unpredictable job market, that kind of presence? It’s everything.