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Is it right to get career advice from parents?

Hi! I'm wondering if it is a good idea to ask for career advice from parents

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Paul’s Answer

I think it is a good idea, because I did get input from them. But, they did place an emphasis on one thing, which is that they wanted me to pursue a career that would "make me happy in life."
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Adit’s Answer

Absolutely, seeking career guidance from your parents can be a wonderful idea. They often possess a profound comprehension of your talents, principles, and personal inclinations. They are equipped to offer you encouragement and direction, drawing from their own life experiences and wisdom, aiding you in steering through challenging choices. Their viewpoints can also gift you with a balanced perspective on managing work and personal life, establishing priorities, and comprehending long-term objectives.

However, it's crucial to enrich their counsel with wisdom from mentors, career advisors, and industry experts. This guarantees you're receiving current, relevant information about the job market and a wider range of career possibilities that resonate with your passions and goals. Harmonizing advice from your parents with external viewpoints will empower you to make comprehensive, well-informed decisions for your future.
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Sanghamitra’s Answer

It is beneficial to seek career advice from your parents. Their experience and understanding of your strengths and weaknesses can provide valuable guidance. Additionally, consulting multiple sources, including parents and other trusted individuals, can offer a well-rounded perspective, helping you make the best decision for your future. College or school advisors and counselors can also be excellent resources for information
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Ine’s Answer

Asking parents for career advice can be helpful as they know you well and have life experience. However, balance their input with advice from professionals in your field and your own research to make well-rounded decisions.
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Peter’s Answer

This is a fantastic question. I believe what is most important is that you seek advice from multiple sources, especially those that you trust. Loved ones / parents will be able to provide advice related to their experience and interests but might not be the experts on a specific field of interest. Their advice is always valuable but what matters most about making decisions for your life is knowing how you feel.

You will always hit cross-roads of uncertainty where advise is most important but always be aware of your interest and passion.
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Jennifer’s Answer

I think it can be really helpful to seek advice from parents - they know you best! That being said, I think it should be just "advice" - meaning that you do not have to follow it. You can take their advice and use it to make your own decisions!
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Brenden’s Answer

It is not necessarily always wrong or right. It is important to trust your parents. However, they are human too and may give bad advice. I wouldn't entirely dismiss their advice either, it may be learned from really hard and tough experiences.

I would advise you should get as much career advice from as many people as possible. You can always ask friends, friends parents, teachers and mentors at clubs and organizations. Even online like at career village or other answering sites. Any advice you get can be wrong, but I'm sure with more advice and some critical thinking you can parse out what doesn't fit your career journey.

One question I always like asking in these settings is what are those people's career journeys, how did they get to their current job. What are their values in a career because it is different for everyone and it will change their advise -- is it purpose, fulfilling, fun, great learning opportunities and mentors, good work hours, good pay, good representations, gives travel opportunities, is close to family, does good in the world? Then I always end with asking them if they could change anything about their career journey what would they have done.
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Kreshnik’s Answer

That's a thoughtful question. Getting career advice from parents can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, they know you better than anyone else and genuinely want the best for you. They can provide insights based on their own experiences and offer support in a way that others might not. Plus, they've likely been through a few career ups and downs themselves, so they have some wisdom to share.

On the other hand, the job market and workplace dynamics have likely changed significantly since they started their careers. Some of their advice might not be as relevant in today's world. It's also important to consider that ultimately, you're the one who will be doing the job, so it's crucial that you choose a path that feels right to you.

Perhaps the best approach is to take their advice into consideration, but also seek out other mentors, professionals in your field of interest, and career counselors. Gather as much information as you can, and then make a decision that feels authentic to you. After all, it's your career and your future.
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Krishna’s Answer

It's absolutely okay to! As with any advice you get, you should take a little bit of time of reflecting on what perspective that advice is coming from and how it aligns with your goals. Generally, people who you trust will have good intentions and will want you to succeed even if it may disagree with what you think. Ultimately, you'll have to make a choice, but don't put crazy pressure on yourself to think it through perfectly. We all make decisions we later wish we decided to handle differently, but that's life! Careers are long so generally a single decision now will not define your entire career.

Best of luck!
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Melanie’s Answer

Hi Jeanne, what a great question!

Our family and friends know us well, including our strengths and weaknesses. I always find it's a good idea to talk though potential career paths with people you trust to help solidify ideas of what you might like to do and where you might be successful.

However, the most important thing when you are deciding what you want to do is to make sure it aligns with what your interests are. As an adult you will spend the majority of your day at work so it has to be something that YOU find interesting, fulfilling, etc., as well as if it can financially meet your needs / what you want for your life. If you haven't already done so, spend some time thinking about what you envision your life to be - where do you want to be location wise (i.e., living in a city, a suburb, the country), what potential career paths are interesting, what levels of education are required for it (and are you willing to commit to that level?), research what potential salaries are for those career paths. That may help give you a sense of direction as well.
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Austin’s Answer

Hey Jeanne! I think getting career advice from your parents is absolutely okay! Your parents have a ton of experience and it is always great to learn from their experiences. However, it's important to get career advice from a broad range of perspectives. Other potential sources of advice could come from your teachers, counselors or your peers who are a few years older. I would use your best judgement to determine what advice to weigh more heavily.
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Lis’s Answer

I think its a great idea to get advice from your parents, and other people who know you well! These conversations will be helpful because the people closests to us can act like mirrors, allowing you to see parts of yourself that you may not always see or understand. As such, the people can help you gain additional perspective on your career choice.
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Noah’s Answer

Yes, I think career advice from parents can be helpful. Whatever career they are in they may have been there for some time and have in-depth knowledge about the work life balance, the type of work, and the career trajectories within the field. They can give you an honest perspective about the field and you can know they have your best interest at heart.

For career fields they didn't explore, I would suggest you search out individuals who have to learn if it is the career for you. In general, it is great to get many different perspectives on different career paths and insights from those who have done the job you are potentially interested in.
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Nick’s Answer

Hello! Advice from parents can be super helpful as they generally have your best interests in mind (which can be otherwise difficult as you don't necessarily know what is motivating people who you are less familiar with and / or are less familiar with you). That said, parents can be extremely biased in what they might have envisioned for you at a young age, which can be difficult to break them from. It's ultimately most important to take a self-inventory on what you want (or think that you want) and figure out what is necessary to get you there. Diversify who you get advice from and try not to put too much stock in any one person's advice as it is ultimately up to you to compile all your information and make a call that you believe is best for you. Utilizing this "system" of advice / information gathering / introspection will continue throughout your life, so it's important to develop it early in life and constantly refine.

Best of luck - I'm sure you will be great at whatever it is you're seeking advice on!
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Sean’s Answer

Dear Jeanne,

There's absolutely nothing wrong with seeking counsel from your parents. It's likely that they have your best interests at heart, and they can use their own life experiences to provide guidance that they believe is ideal for you. Although they might not be aware of every career path available to you, they can certainly offer valuable insights into the ones they are familiar with.

I would suggest considering the advice of your parents and friends as just one component of your career decision-making process. Online forums like this one, along with other resources you can discover, can also be instrumental in navigating the often confusing maze of potential jobs and careers.
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Keith’s Answer

There are two perspectives to consider when addressing this question: some may agree, while others may disagree. Ultimately, the answer hinges on your personal circumstances and whether your aspirations match their expectations for you.

Your parents aim to set you up for success. They often share their viewpoints, enriched by years of experience and wisdom. While their intentions are commendable (and it's indeed a blessing to have someone rooting for your success), their advice can seem overbearing if it doesn't align with your career goals.

Your parents can be a valuable source of knowledge, but it's beneficial to broaden your horizons. Connect with people in your desired career field and seek guidance from seasoned professionals.
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Chelsea’s Answer

I believe it is usually helpful to get advice from your parents as they may have lived through your problems before. That said, I would always make sure to take any advice with a grain of salt. Nobody knows your situation as well as you do, so ultimately, you will have to weight a lot of opinions to try and figure out what is the best course for you.
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Michael’s Answer

I think it is a good idea to ask your parents for career advice. But, I would ask other people for advice as well, such as people who share your aspirations or people who work in fields that interested you. Your parents know you well and hopefully have your best interests in mind, but you are not obligated to follow their suggestions. Ultimately you want to make the decision that you are most comfortable with and that is in line with your own goals and values. Keep in mind, broadening your perspective can only serve to enrich your decision-making process. It's all about gathering as much information as you can to make the best choice for you!
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Argi’s Answer

Getting career advice from your parents can certainly be beneficial, but it's also important to gather insights from other people or resources. In this fast-paced world, taking charge of your own career journey is a smart move. Parents might not always have the latest information on all present or upcoming trends. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and remember, your career path is in your hands!
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Michael’s Answer

I think your parent's advice could be very valuable, but I also believe it is important to get a range of opinions. I find it helpful to create your own "board of directors" or a "trust table." Try to identify maybe 6-8 people who know you well and have different backgrounds (i.e. a parent, a teacher, a coach, a neighbor, best friend, etc.). People who you look up, that you trust and who would not be afraid to give you feedback. When I created a resume a few years ago, I used this approach, and I was able to use at least one idea from each person on the final version. Good luck to you!!
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Darya’s Answer

Hi, Jaenne! Asking for career advice from your parents can be a good idea, but it's important to consider a few factors:
1. Experience and knowledge:
Parents often have valuable life experiences and insights. They may have encountered various career challenges and can provide guidance based on their experiences.
2. Understanding of you:
Parents usually know you well and can offer advice that aligns with your strengths, interests, and values. They may have a perspective on your skills and potential that you might not see in yourself.
3. Generational perspectives:
Keep in mind that your parents’ experiences may be shaped by the job market and societal values of their generation. Their advice might not fully account for the current trends and opportunities in your field of interest.
4. Multiple perspectives:
While parental advice can be valuable, it's also wise to seek out other sources of guidance. Consulting mentors, professionals in your desired field, and career counselors can provide a more rounded view.

In summary, getting career advice from your parents can be helpful, but be sure to weigh it against your own aspirations and seek out diverse perspectives to make well-informed decisions. With love, Darya
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N’s Answer

Yes, it's good to get advice from your parents and talk with them about your career goals. They may know others who can help. When getting advice from anyone, it's a good idea to reflect on it and make sure it's something you want to do. Good luck!
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Shay’s Answer

It's absolutely okay to seek advice from your parents. They can offer valuable insights based on their experiences. However, it's important to gather a variety of perspectives when making decisions. This can help you see different angles and make more informed choices. Remember, advice is meant to be guidance, not strict rules. Ultimately, the decisions you make should align with your own goals and values.

When it comes to career advice, it's beneficial to get input from as many people as possible. This doesn't mean you have to follow anyone else's path; you have the freedom to carve out your own. One insightful question to ask when seeking career advice is, "What is your 'why'?" Understanding what drives someone to continue in their chosen career can provide valuable insights. Do they work because of a sense of purpose, or are there other reasons like flexibility or financial stability?

Reflecting on their answers can help you consider your own motivations and what you want from your career. This self-awareness will guide you in making decisions that are right for you and help you stay true to your own path.
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