Province Teaches Parents Career Coaching Skills

Parents are the single greatest influence on their children's education and career decisions.

This is the message Labour and Workforce Development Minister Mark Parent will deliver to up to 70 parents during a Parents as Career Coaches workshop at Citadel High School, in Halifax, today, Nov. 13.

During the free, three-session workshop, parents will learn about information and tools to effectively guide their children as they move from high school to post-secondary education or training. Parents will also learn about things like changing trends in today's labour market, how to identify their children's interests and skills, and how to connect them to potential career options.

"Nova Scotia's labour market has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, when many parents of young people were making their career plans," said Mr. Parent. "The steps we took to obtain and maintain employment were quite different from the steps our children will have to take."

Parents as Career Coaches workshops teach those steps, and to view career development as a lifelong process, which involves taking the time to understand what today's young people need to find their place in a world that is constantly changing.

Susan Williams, a mother of three and a Parents as Career Coaches participant, believes that parents should be as involved as possible in their children's career planning process.

"When I was helping my eldest son make his career decisions, I had to really educate myself about the opportunities that exist in today's labour market," said Ms. Williams. "I enrolled in these workshops because I want to be able to look at the whole picture with my other two children when they make their plans for the future.

"I recognize my children have many talents and gifts, and I think these workshops will teach me how to help my children apply these skills to a variety of education pathways and possible careers."

This is the second year Parents as Career Coaches is being offered in high schools across the province. In the 2007-08 academic year, over 500 parents participated in 33 programs across the province.

This year, the department plans to deliver programs in even more schools and is working with partners in the African Nova Scotian and Aboriginal communities in an effort to improve program uptake and effectiveness among key target groups.

To enrol in a Parents as Career Coaches workshop or for more information please visit www.parentsascareercoaches.ca .