A Crystal Ball – How Different Things May Be!

Especially At The Very Beginning Of Our Career!

Warning – Rant Alert!!

It is 8.18am whilst I am tapping away on this wintery Perth Wednesday morning, and I have just delivered one of four children to school (one is home sick, and the other two attend a different high school).

And what has me ranting on this rather average day is often society pigeonhole us into a group of ‘what will be good’ for us with little regard for our personal behaviours and what we enjoy doing. Where am I going with this….. well I will explain.

With four children of the ages 17, 14, 11 and 10 and a passionate Mumma who knows her kids individual strengths, likes and dislikes, and personal idiosyncrasies, I have just informed school that my 11 year old ‘Princess’ isn’t keen on attending the ‘International Maths Incursion’ today because quite frankly, maths is ‘not her thing’. She would much prefer to sit in the Library and continue working on her school work that she does enjoy, so why does she ‘have to’ spend her time attending a session on something that will be of little or no benefit to her?

The Senior School Member does not agree with me! She has said so in no uncertain terms! I am left perplexed as to how ‘Maths can be fun’ for a child who clearly doesn’t appreciate it and for her (the Senior School Member) to convince me of a perfectly good reason otherwise. I am not a Helicopter Mumma, so that is not my angle. Trust me. I am however an individual who has always been taught not to bow to peer pressure.. end of!

Which brings me to ‘Kids and Career’ choices? What choices did we have at this age and how different life is in the now? What if back in the ‘ol days’, in a time when there was no Social Media, little technology, no ‘big wide world’ at our feet, and often a career pathway chosen on our behalf by the most influential people in our lives – our parents, family members or the school Careers Counsellor we actually had options, instead of ‘ you will’. What if these people thought this process through as much as I am? It would most likely have been a case of ‘suck it up, Princess’ back then… and even in this day and age with three brothers in the house, my daughter is more than capable of doing. But this whole ‘you will attend’ just doesn’t resonate with me. A bit like being employed in a job or with a company where there really isn’t any future and an environment that you very much dislike. What IS the point?

Often, and I know this in my individual situation, the School Career Counsellors offer their expertise with little or no real ‘life experiences’ to speak of when advising our youth, based on, I am not even sure what!!

There were no personal questions of ‘what do you enjoy, what do you think you want to be when we grow up or what problems do you think you would like to solve’ when it was my turn? Straightforward, firm questions based on ‘like and dislikes’ which in turn = behaviours.

Apparently I would have made a great Hairdresser – anyone who knows me knows this is NOT the case – I keep Hairdressers actively employed – Thank GOD!

So what if there was a glimmer of hope and perhaps an answer (and possibly an insightful Crystal Ball) to assist in solving the ‘uncertainty’ of Career pathway choices and subject selections? As you may be able to tell by my writing this article, it is an area in which I am SUPER passionate about. And it can, and is used by people of all ages. Not just school aged children.

Next week I have been invited to speak at a School ‘Career Carousel’ – about this very topic, ‘likes and dislikes’ and the effects (both positive and negative) that they may have on your career. I speak at this particular school on average 4 times per year (you would think they would be sick of me by now).

Recently I was Career Coaching a gorgeous young man who attends the school with my eldest and I witnessed the ‘lightbulb’ moment after asking a few basic questions in a non-threatening environment. I mentioned to him that the world REALLY is your oyster, and you don’t have to stay doing one particular job (or be in one particular industry) for the rest of your life, we are lucky in this day and age that we have choices. His Mum saw his enthusiasm from our discussion and said that it totally made sense! YAY for clarity.

You too can take a look at what I am ‘banging on about’, and see it for yourself. It is a fantastic tool that used in the right way, with Career Coaching can have immense and very positive effects. http://theresourceshub.harrisoncareerguide.com

So where to for my daughter? Well, I will find out this arvo if she was subjected to the Maths Incursion and I will ask her the relevant questions. Being my child bursting with personality and more social skills than she probably needs at 11, I know she will find her calling when she is ready. And I also know it most likely won’t include maths as a huge influence. She will be the next female Prime Minister at the rate she is ‘going and glowing’.

And to you, thanks for reading my RANT. If, for whatever reason you are feeling ‘stuck in a rut’, or you have a teenager that is making some pretty big decisions in the near future, that child who looks blankly when you ask them the pertinent question ‘what are you going to do when you leave school’, and you would like independent and non-bias advice, then please reach out. There is nothing worse than spending time on something that ‘doesn’t float your boat’.

Dani Tamati – (MRCSA) (CDAA – Member) – dip HR │dip OHS is a Resource Industry Recruitment, Careers, Talent and Behaviours Strategist, Outplacement Consultant, Diversity Advocate, Mentor, Principal, Keynote Speaker, FIFO Wife and a Mum of 4

Dani established “THE resources HUB” (THErh) in 2012 as a careers, talent, recruitment and managed services company dedicated to the sector including civil, construction, mining and oil and gas; herself having 25 years’ experience in living, working, recruiting and career coaching in this industry.

Dani is regularly in the Media and has recently been interviewed on ABC Nationwide, Today Tonight, Channel 9 News, The Sunday Times, Perth NOW and on ABC Drive National Radio and is often called as a Keynote Speaker across different industries around career development and the employment landscape at present.

THE resources HUB can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter

Should you need assistance with careers, recruitment or managed services, feel free to contact us here or phone us on 08 9295 5722 or 0499 841 722

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