Parents as career coaches

• Main Author: Beddoes, Janet Anne Sinclair
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/12032

This study explored the efficacy of providing workshops for parents of first year university students in the area of career coaching their young adult children. Parents have a great deal of influence on their children when they are entering university. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions, feelings and experiences of parents of students attending first year university in providing assistance in career exploration and planning. The workshops conducted were for the purpose of giving parents information and resources, an understanding of labour market information, career exploration and planning, and the decision making process. The study consisted of a series of two workshops attended by 55 parents of first year university students. After the second sessions, 24 parents participated in focus group interviews. The focus group interviews were audio taped and transcribed and statements were analyzed for themes. Parents demonstrated shifts in thinking, especially a greater sense of hope, as well, they gained knowledge and skills, to be more effective career coaches for their students. The major themes were Parent Anxiety (lack of information); Communication; Parenting Styles; and Changing Roles.