FROM the previous two articles, I shared factors to consider when picking a career. In the first column I shared how every career you will pursue represents three important things in your life which are, identity, influence and affluence.
While in the previous week I shared some of the factors that you need to consider when picking a career. This week I am discussing the importance of parental advice in career selection.
I should allude to the fact that there are very few parents that do not interfere in the career selection of their children.
Some children are told from a tender age the type of careers they should pursue. There are parents with ‘elite’ type of careers such as from the medicine, engineering and law fraternities who want their children to pursue careers like theirs.
While at the same time there are those parents who may not want their children to take careers similar to theirs but want their children to select careers which are new; something to make their children unique from their contemporaries.
On the other hand there are those parents who are liberal and allow their children to pursue careers based on their preference.
Hence,  often time, there is always a conflict between what an individual wants to pursue against what parents want. I have met pupils telling me that they want to become something which is contrary to what their parents want.
Reasons parents may choose a career for you
They know your academic proficiency. Your parents have been observing your academic performance since Grade One, probably they have known your strength and potential. They have known things that you have been passionate about.
Hence your parents may recommend a certain career because they are familiar with your strength and interest.
They know careers in which you can succeed with less difficulty and those you will discuss with a lot of difficulty.
The financial muscle of your parents can be the other factor that can compel them to pick a career for you.
Some may have the ability to sponsor you to any university in the world, they have enough financial resources to cater for any career you may want to pursue.
On the other hand, some children have parents who cannot afford to sponsor them in certain courses.
I am reminded of a colleague of mine whose parents recommended to join Zambia National Service (ZNS) during the time they were recruiting and told him that he would upgrade his qualifications as he rose through the ranks.
The last time I talked to him he was doing a degree programme with one of the universities in Lusaka.
Hence the financial ability of your parents can be a setback sometimes. However, you have to look out for bursary sponsorship, if your results are good, apply to the University of Zambia or Copperbelt University and you will stand a better chance of being given a scholarship.
Availability of opportunities for employment. I remember during an interview on Radio Chimwemwe in Ndola about career choices, the interviewer asked me why everyone now wants to train as a teacher?.
I was honest enough and I answered him because of employment factor, if you pursue a career in teaching you have higher chances of finding employment both in Government and the private sector. Hence your parents may look at the job opportunities on a market and base their recommendation on that.
I have seen individuals with very good qualifications even from the highest learning institution the University of Zambia loitering around in the society searching for employment because despite having the paper they cannot find a job.
I have heard people saying university and college graduates need to be innovative by establishing their own businesses and companies which I believe is a far-fetched dream because of two major reasons; the current university education does not teach students  entrepreneurial skills that can help them establish themselves.
The other reason is lack of capital, I have met a good number of individuals who are ready to start their own business but they lack capital.
Hence based on the employment opportunities, your parents may recommend certain careers for you.
At the same time they can discourage you from pursuing certain careers because it will be hard for you to find employment after completing your course.
Sometimes, your parents may recommend a career for you based on family investment. You may be coming from a family where your parents have already established some companies and businesses and they would want their children to take up administrative portfolios.
However, none of the above points should go against the child’s wish, natural interests, passion and personality.
I would rather you just offer parental advice instead of forcing a child to pursue a career they are not passionate about.
Look out for next week’s article as I share insights on why parents should not pick careers for their children. For comments write to, email: rodrickmakupe@yahoo.com. Facebook page: Academic and Kingdom insights with Rodrick Makupe. Contact: 0979700937/0964351029