Here's How You Can Support Your Child's Offbeat Career Choice

It was a day filled with heartbreak and misgivings for Sangeeta and Rajesh Mohan. Their teenage son Rahul had just dropped a bombshell. The 16-year-old, class XI student had just told them that while he had taken the science stream on their insistence, he really wanted to pursue wildlife photography.

Sangeeta and Rajesh had known for a few years that Rahul was fascinated by photography. And they had thought it would be a good hobby for their soon-to-be doctor son. For, both parents being doctors themselves, they had set their heart on their son pursuing the same profession. But it was not meant to be so, as Rahul was determined.

For a few days they tried unsuccessfully to convince Rahul that if not medicine, he should take up some other secure profession. Finally, they accepted his decision and decided to support it actively. The first step was to look for all possible information on the subject to equip Rahul to succeed in this less-trodden career path.

A variety of career choices

Today, youngsters have many career options to choose from other than the big six - engineering, medicine, finance, law, management and information technology. As a result, millennials have a different outlook. While they may be practical enough to know that money is important, they are guided more by how satisfying a career will be for them than simply chasing financial security. Therefore, they may go in for offbeat careers.

The definition of an unconventional or offbeat career choice has changed over the years. For instance, being a chef, relationship counselor, playwright, model, television actor, musician, cartoonist or personal trainer is not viewed with as much skepticism today as it was ten years ago.

Technical writers, SEO analysts, video game designers, cyber security experts, social media influencers and disc jockeys are much in demand today. These professions were nowhere on the horizon when today's parents thought about their own career choices. Even in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields, there are new opportunities - artificial intelligence, robotics and biostatistics - which some parents may not be aware of.

Ask the right questions

How can a teen know whether their offbeat career choice is right for them? There are three questions you should ask your child before they decide on a career.

• Am I interested in the subject and tasks involved in this profession?
• Do I have the aptitude and basic skill set to do well in this profession?
• Do I like the lifestyle that this profession will bring?

If the answer is yes in all three cases, he has likely found a satisfying career option.

What parents should do

It's a given that most parents want their child to be in a profession with a defined career path and find a job and financial security. But when the child chooses an offbeat career path, parents must keep their minds open and encourage them.

Here's how parents can effectively support their child's decision.

1. Be open: If your child chooses an unconventional career path, do not panic. Don't reject their ideas outright. Instead, be open, listen, gather information, and guide them. Aid, do not dictate, the decision-making process.

2. Don't be overprotective: It is difficult to allow your child to make a risky decision. But, you must let them 'own' this particular decision. It will make them feel empowered and responsible. After all, careers and life paths are a personal choice. Keep your fears to yourself and allow them to follow their passion. There will be hiccups along the way. But these are important for their personal growth.

3. Assess your child's interest: Is your child attracted to this unconventional career because of the glamour associated with it? If they are avidly researching the field, they may be serious about it. Again, do they have the talent and skills to be successful in this field? Assess the situation and encourage them accordingly. If you are sure that they have a good chance, don't hesitate to encourage them to pursue their interests and ambitions.

"There are three things I would tell parents on how best to support a child who has made an offbeat career choice. First, give her every opportunity to get a sound fundamental education. Strengthen their language and numerical skills. Second, help her evaluate various choices and guide them about the pros and cons of every choice. Temper enthusiasm with reality. Third, trust them to set their own career path but teach them to make responsible and well-informed decisions." - N Sathyanarayan, co-founder and academic director of coaching institute iQue ideas, Ahmedabad

4. Insist on a fall-back option: Make your child understand how important it is to have a strong educational degree as a backup even if they wish to pursue a talent-based career such as painting, music or dance. At the same time, let them take risks. Urge him to be resilient and not give up easily.

5. Motivate: Enrol your child in courses that will equip them with the skills to succeed in the chosen career. Also, expose them to the realities of the chosen industry. For example, if it is music or theatre, let them participate in a singing competition or a theatre show and see how they perform.

6. Be honest: Your child should get honest feedback and constructive criticism from you. Appreciate their efforts but do not give them a false impression about their abilities.

7. Instil core values: Your child will require three core values - self-belief, resilience and discipline, to succeed in any profession. Of course, a responsible attitude and mature outlook are also very important.

8. Find a mentor: A visit to a career counsellor to discuss the chosen option is a good idea. Apart from this, help your child find a mentor from the field who will be able to guide them better than you can.

The road less travelled is always the tougher path. Your child will probably have to work harder and be more dedicated to succeed in an offbeat career. Moreover, as society views unconventional careers with skepticism, there will be many who will discourage them. At times, they may have doubts about themself. Your support will keep them going. And, they can boldly echo Robert Frost's words one day -

 'Two roads diverged in a road, and I 

 I took the one less travelled by,

 And that has made all the difference.'