Career guidance and College Kids: It never ends.....does it?

[Anonymous]

Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

I've got a kid like OP who has zero ideas on what they want. It's not finding a job but figuring out a path. How to use LinkedIn for that if you don't even know what jobs you want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

I've got a kid like OP who has zero ideas on what they want. It's not finding a job but figuring out a path. How to use LinkedIn for that if you don't even know what jobs you want?

You can talk to alums in a variety of areas and ask them about their paths to get there. Eventually one or two will seem like good ideas. The student has to do it, not the parent.

[Anonymous]

Have them “cold call” (email or LinkedIn) alumni in their major. Ask them about their career paths after graduation and lessons learned. This is what my Career center at a T20 had me do and it landed me my first internship.
The biggest advantage of a top school is the alumni network so utilize it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

I've got a kid like OP who has zero ideas on what they want. It's not finding a job but figuring out a path. How to use LinkedIn for that if you don't even know what jobs you want?

You can talk to alums in a variety of areas and ask them about their paths to get there. Eventually one or two will seem like good ideas. The student has to do it, not the parent.

I just don't see that happening. Sure, alum outreach for a job I can see. That makes sense.
I wish there were TikToks explaining thousands of career options or something. There probably is, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

I've got a kid like OP who has zero ideas on what they want. It's not finding a job but figuring out a path. How to use LinkedIn for that if you don't even know what jobs you want?

You can talk to alums in a variety of areas and ask them about their paths to get there. Eventually one or two will seem like good ideas. The student has to do it, not the parent.

I just don't see that happening. Sure, alum outreach for a job I can see. That makes sense.
I wish there were TikToks explaining thousands of career options or something. There probably is, actually.

I don't know about TikTok but there definitely are YouTube videos about lots of career options.

You could also play around with an AI chat tool, put in your major and any other interests, experiences you've liked, and ask for suggestions of careers to explore and what an entry level job would be.

[Anonymous]

Also networking nights in your area or major city are helpful, ask how people got to where they are and what they like and don't like about their career. A good question is what do you wish you knew back then? Would you recommend going into this field now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use the alumni network, most jobs are through connections. Talk to your family friends. Reach out on LinkedIn who attended same college and ask for informational conversations.

I've got a kid like OP who has zero ideas on what they want. It's not finding a job but figuring out a path. How to use LinkedIn for that if you don't even know what jobs you want?

You can talk to alums in a variety of areas and ask them about their paths to get there. Eventually one or two will seem like good ideas. The student has to do it, not the parent.

I just don't see that happening. Sure, alum outreach for a job I can see. That makes sense.
I wish there were TikToks explaining thousands of career options or something. There probably is, actually.

I don't know about TikTok but there definitely are YouTube videos about lots of career options.

You could also play around with an AI chat tool, put in your major and any other interests, experiences you've liked, and ask for suggestions of careers to explore and what an entry level job would be.

This is such an obvious idea that never occurred to me. Thank you!!

It feels like a great way for a kid who’s not comfortable randomly “networking” to get started. Completely low stress because no question is too basic or random for AI - nothing “cringy” involved.

Also can ask for links to video interviews or articles about possible ideas as they surface.

[Anonymous]

I also told my kids that you don't have to get a fancy private equity job for your first job. My graduate traveled and then starting working a few part time jobs in her field (but not all the same ) until she found one career she liked and how has a full time job doing what she wanted.

I know a kid working in a warehouse for Amazon, several making a lot of money bartending in NYC, etc. Let them try that until the figure out something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also told my kids that you don't have to get a fancy private equity job for your first job. My graduate traveled and then starting working a few part time jobs in her field (but not all the same ) until she found one career she liked and how has a full time job doing what she wanted.

I know a kid working in a warehouse for Amazon, several making a lot of money bartending in NYC, etc. Let them try that until the figure out something else.

Did these kids go to top schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a parent is like getting 20 to life. It mostly ends near 20 year mark but never totally ends.

Re a job most non enabled people eventually get to a "no work, no eat" understanding in their life.

LOL. One of my kids finally fired me the other day. Told me she was in a serious relationship and would no longer be taking dating advice and got her last job with no input from us. It was a long road to get to the point where I no longer felt responsible for all of these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a parent is like getting 20 to life. It mostly ends near 20 year mark but never totally ends.

Re a job most non enabled people eventually get to a "no work, no eat" understanding in their life.

LOL. One of my kids finally fired me the other day. Told me she was in a serious relationship and would no longer be taking dating advice and got her last job with no input from us. It was a long road to get to the point where I no longer felt responsible for all of these things.

How old?!?
I can’t wait.

[Anonymous]

Scott Galloway (look him up if you don't know who he is) advises new graduates have many different jobs after college and to reject "follow your passion" advice, favoring instead to identify what they are good at, master it, and work extremely hard in their 20s. He urges young professionals to be "warriors" who work in-office, build, and maintain a reputation for grit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scott Galloway (look him up if you don't know who he is) advises new graduates have many different jobs after college and to reject "follow your passion" advice, favoring instead to identify what they are good at, master it, and work extremely hard in their 20s. He urges young professionals to be "warriors" who work in-office, build, and maintain a reputation for grit.

What type of jobs are warrior jobs? Policeman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scott Galloway (look him up if you don't know who he is) advises new graduates have many different jobs after college and to reject "follow your passion" advice, favoring instead to identify what they are good at, master it, and work extremely hard in their 20s. He urges young professionals to be "warriors" who work in-office, build, and maintain a reputation for grit.

What type of jobs are warrior jobs? Policeman?

ALL jobs in your 20ies should be warrior jobs. If you want to succeed. Whatever you do, you need to do it 150%.