Children's career choice or parents' wishes?

Ms. Phoenix Ho, Head of School Counseling Department, Vietnam-America Kindergarten - Primary - Secondary - High School (VA Schools) - Photo: MY DUNG

Ms. Phoenix Ho, head of the school counseling department of the Vietnam-America Kindergarten - Primary - Secondary - High School (VA Schools), shared this in front of many parents and students at the opening ceremony of the school's school counseling department on May 17.

Top 10 Influencing Factors

The information is from the results of a survey of 3,320 high school students in Vietnam conducted in 2024 by Song An Career Guidance Unit.

Accordingly, factors influencing students' career choices include personal interests (87.82%); job opportunities (80.56%); personal abilities or talents (72.12%); personal personality (71.13%);

Entrance exam or score (64.53%); family/personal financial ability (50.62%); parents' wishes (33.97%); sharing from seniors (31.95%); advice from teachers and schools (18.09%); famous people that students admire (10.23%).

According to Ms. Phoenix Ho, previously, "parents' wishes" were the leading factor influencing students' career choices in Vietnam, but now it has moved down to seventh place out of the 10 factors mentioned above. The reason is that students are now more interested in learning about themselves and are influenced by "job opportunities".

However, as someone who has worked in the field of school counseling for nearly 20 years, including time working in San Jose (USA) and Vietnam, Master Phoenix Ho said that Vietnamese parents play an extremely important role in their children's career choices.

She has witnessed thousands of cases of students, college students, and working people whose Vietnamese parents still have a great influence on their career choices.

"Parents' influence on their children is extremely strong. Parents' love, support or reproach leaves a deep mark on each Vietnamese individual. During the years of psychological and career counseling for students and parents, even though parents do not force them, Vietnamese children often tend to please their parents, considering it their own happiness," she shared.

Members of the VA Schools' school counseling department - Photo: MY DUNG

2 golden stages in shaping students' careers

That influence of parents will be really good for children when parents fully understand the golden stages in the development of individuals.

According to the career development model, there are two golden stages for children to explore their interests, develop their skills, and develop their potential that parents need to know. These are the two stages from birth to 14 years old and from 15 to 24 years old.

Therefore, Ms. Phoenix Ho advises that in phase 1, parents should create conditions for their children to explore their interests, understand themselves, and develop their potential.

The second stage is when children can make mistakes and try to make mistakes. Parents should allow their children to make mistakes and try to make mistakes to choose the right path. Children can change careers and reorient the path they pursue.

Parents' understanding support during these two golden stages will be the foundation to help children achieve success in their future careers and have the right direction.

She also advised parents that if they have problems that are difficult to solve, they can go to the school's psychological and career counseling rooms for advice and support.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lua-chon-nghe-nghiep-cua-con-cai-hay-mong-muon-cua-cha-me-20250517210110706.htm