Parental pressure can set youngsters on wrong career path

Today I want to discuss the next phase of progressing your chosen career pathway. This also very much depends on firstly identifying what you want to do as your career.

Some of you will know what you want to do and have known for some time. For example, many farmers' sons and daughters have known that they want to go into farming for as long as they can remember, but others find it difficult to decide.

My advice to people who are unsure of what they want to do is to choose a subject you most enjoy and are motivated to do because this is the sector you will do well in.

So what are the choices from the age of 18 onwards?

• Going to study a degree

• Going to study a foundation degree or BTEC Higher National Diploma

• Gaining employment linked to an higher/degree apprenticeship training programme

• Gaining employment linked to an advanced apprenticeship training programme

• Gaining employment

Planning is essential and the advice given must be fair, considerate and, most of all, realistic in potentially achieving a successful outcome.

My experience of working within education for the past 30 years interviewing young people who have chosen the wrong pathway is unfortunately plentiful.

One of the biggest factors in giving the wrong advice is the pressure given by parents, with all the best intentions in the world. Pressing their son or daughter to go onto a degree programme at university may not be the right option.

Many people would say going onto university and studying a degree is the pinnacle of what a person can do. Well this maybe correct for some – but it’s not correct for all.

The focus here is on progressing onto a career pathway that you will enjoy and be motivated to do well at.

So take a look again at the options above and research them well and then, based on all the facts, you will be able to make an informed decision.

A note to the parents – support your sons and daughters in making this very important decision and please do not be overcome by peer pressure and so called ‘status’ or even what you did, but look at their strengths and weaknesses and in your advice be fair, considerate, realistic and most of all be supportive.

I would recommend seeking advice and guidance from careers tutors at schools and colleges and using the internet in the world wide search for careers in agriculture. One site I would recommend is www.brightcrop.org.uk

The very best of luck to you all.

Chris Jones is involved in land-based education, training, and mentoring