Son needs help to decide what job/career he wants to do

geek84

Many thanks for all your replies.

My son does express an interest in becoming a secondary school teacher. However, I think he can only see the number of holidays that a teacher may get in as year and doesn't realise the amount of lesson planning involved.

Another problem is that he is very focused on becoming a teacher and does not really have or want a second choice job/career possibilities in case he does not become successful in his teaching career.

Jackieboy

geek84 wrote: »

Many thanks for all your replies.

My son does express an interest in becoming a secondary school teacher. However, I think he can only see the number of holidays that a teacher may get in as year and doesn't realise the amount of lesson planning involved.

Another problem is that he is very focused on becoming a teacher and does not really have or want a second choice job/career possibilities in case he does not become successful in his teaching career.

What subject has he expressed an interest in teaching?

Skibunny40

What subject would he want to teach at secondary?, as he'll need a degree in that subject. That in itself could open up other career paths...

geek84

He is not sure what subject he wants to teach - he is thinking between English and perhaps Chemistry.

meer53

I don't understand your post. You're asking for help for him to decide what he wants to do but then you say he wants to teach ? Sounds like he's made his mind up, why does he need help deciding ? Let him go with what he wants to do, he can always change his mind later.

clairec79

I have a 15 year old daughter in year 11, she has no idea what she wants to do (nothing to do with blood is all I can get out of her - she's quite mathematically minded but says it's boring - her science teachers also say she's got a natural aptitude for it - she's looking at A/A* for the three sciences) a few of her friends have an idea but the majority don't know.

However looking back I wouldn't have picked my chosen career path at 15 - it's ok that they are keeping their options open at this stage

Jackieboy

geek84 wrote: »

He is not sure what subject he wants to teach - he is thinking between English and perhaps Chemistry.

That's a pretty wide choice but, all things being equal, English teachers are ten a penny and science teachers worth their weight in gold.

theoretica

geek84 wrote: »

He is not sure what subject he wants to teach - he is thinking between English and perhaps Chemistry.

Studying english and chemistry would give him a lot of flexibility. (Scientists who can write are in demand!). He could perhaps choose his third subject a little tactically with advice from the school on what would open the most choices. I expect maths and biology would be particularly useful paired with the chemistry if he likes these and would do well in them.

puppypants

meer53 wrote: »

I don't understand your post. You're asking for help for him to decide what he wants to do but then you say he wants to teach ? Sounds like he's made his mind up, why does he need help deciding ? Let him go with what he wants to do, he can always change his mind later.

Quite! My son, from the age of 9 wanted to be a physicist. No idea where that came from as they don't do physics in primary school. Anyhow, the result being that he has now got a PhD in physics, does lectures in the USA, and absolutely loves his job.

Let your son follow his own path - it could be the right one! x

Jackieboy

theoretica wrote: »

Studying english and chemistry would give him a lot of flexibility. (Scientists who can write are in demand!). He could perhaps choose his third subject a little tactically with advice from the school on what would open the most choices. I expect maths and biology would be particularly useful paired with the chemistry if he likes these and would do well in them.

I know people mix and match more these days but a straight science/maths combination would open far more doors and give a better foundation for further study.

I'd also avoid advice from the school as they need to get bums on seats for certain subjects so their advice is unlikely to be objective.