A Letter to Parents Help Your Children

A Letter to Parents Help Your Children Dear Parents: Your child will be graduating soon (either from high school or college).   They do not know how to look for work.   They have not been taught how to do this in school and unfortunately, your advice may not be heard.   What can you do?   How can you prepare you child for the real world? Have them identify things they like to do, people they like to be around, and/or places they enjoy Self assessment is key to this process.   If they can get excited about something, that is more than half the battle.   Help them probe the answers to these questions.   This is hard work, even for experienced adults. Creative thinking Before focusing in on specific jobs, think about companies, organizations, institutions that would provide an opportunity for them to hang around in an environment meeting their interests above.   Grab the phone book, chamber of commerce listing or any other listing of   companies. Ask them to create a list of everyone they know Teachers, professors, neighbors, past employers, parents of friends, friends, family members, coaches, doctors, store ownerseveryone. And ask to see the list! Conversations based on information gathering Strategize with them how they will contact some of these people- phone, email, other!   Now, help them script their call or email.   Youll want to do this.   Remember, they havent had to do this before and this is difficult.   The call or email is about building rapport and seeking information. This is why the leg work up front will be helpful.   They can say WHY and WHAT they are interested in learning more about. They will not, nor should not open a call or email with: I am looking for a job and I was hoping you would know who might be hiring. Instead, part of the request for help might read : I am about to graduate and would be interested in learning more about how troubled youth are being helped.   Because you work at XYZ agency, I would enjoy learning more from you about the services being provided and some of the other service providers in the area. or My finance degree taught me that I love analyzing numbers.   I would enjoy the opportunity to learn more from you about your experience working at BBZ because they are a company I feel is well regarded Follow Through and Persistence This is a hard concept for anyone.   Once theyve reached out or submitted an application or resume, it is imperative they follow up, until their status or request is resolved.   Again, a little coaching on this from you will be helpful. Practice Interviewing with them You can use these questions (linked here) to roll play with them and help them prepare and refine answers. You have been so supportive of them up until now.   Dont stop.   Help them develop these skills! Share this information.   Hold them accountable!