By LeeAnn Bernier-Clarke MEd, NCC, NCCC

Time: 30 Minutes to 1 hour

What Will My Child Get from Doing This?

The ability to:

• Understand the concepts of interests, skills and values
• Identify his or her top three interests, skills and values
• Identify three career fields that will support and incorporate his or her interests, skills and values
• Discuss the importance of finding a career that reflects who she or he is and wants to be

Before you sit down with your child:

Step By Step

• Tell your teen that you would like to set up a time to interview him or her to learn more about what's important to them and begin to help plan for their future.
• Tell your teen it will take at least 30 minutes and no more than an hour. Set a time that's mutually convenient for both of you.
• When the time comes, go to a quiet place where you will not be interrupted by others, the phone, TV, etc.
• Begin by sharing the statement about personal qualities shown below and telling your teen some things you've noticed he or she does really well and of which you are proud. Then, ask them to share with you what they enjoy doing most (such as interests).
• Use the form below to take some notes about what he or she shares with you and let them know what you're doing, because it's important to you and you don't want to forget.
• Go back over the examples he or she gives on what they like most and help them prioritize their top three interests (jot them down.)
• Repeat this process for skills and values.
• Go over the form together and verify what you wrote as being correct in a totally accepting and unbiased way.
• Then turn your conversation toward career fields he or she may be considering and ask what they know about these fields.
• Jot down the three fields he or she currently finds most appealing and compare each to their stated interests, skills and values, asking how compatible each seems to their personality based on these.
• Ask if there is anything he or she doesn't know about these fields that would be important to learn.
• Tell him or her that you would like to meet again like this (maybe even on a regular basis) to talk about his or her future.

1. Interests: What you like, enjoy doing and to which you willingly give your attention.

   Examples:
   
   
   
   
   

   What are your three strongest interest areas:
   

   1. -
   2. -
   3. -

2. Skills: Practiced ability/things you can do well.

   Examples:
   
   
   
   
   

   What are your three strongest skill areas:

   1. -
   2. -
   3. -

3. Values: Actions or beliefs you hold as important and are necessary to your personal well-being.

   Examples:
   
   
   
   
   

   What are your three strongest values:

   1. -
   2. -
   3. -

4. List three career fields with which you are familiar and which would support your interests, skills and values.
   1. -
   2. -
   3. -

Follow-Up Activities: