"Support. Direction. Confidence. Why Teens Need a Careers Coach"

Across the OCED, PISA 2002 shows that 39% of students can be classified as career uncertain

How often does your teen say:"I just don’t know what I want to do when I leave school"?

It’s one of the most common things we hear — and one of the most important conversations we can have.

If your teen said,"I don’t understand maths,"you’d probably offer a tutor without hesitation.

But when they express confusion about their future, we often expect them to just figure it out. We say things like, “You must have some idea,” or “You should be a…”

What if we changed the conversation?

What if we simply asked:“Would you like to talk to a careers coach?”

That one question can shift everything. It tells your teen:✨ You don’t have to do this alone.✨ It’s okay to not have all the answers.✨ There’s support to help you find your way.

As parents, we invest in tutoring, sport, dance, part-time jobs — but how often do we invest in their career planning?

A qualified careers coach helps teens explore their strengths, interests, and goals in a safe, structured way. They provide real insight into today’s job market, help create personalised pathway plans, and support confident, informed decision-making.

"The State of Global Teenage Career Preparation, OECD 2025" recently reported that while student aspirations are rising, many are still choosing from a narrow pool of careers — ones that often don’t match our current workforce needs. That leads to limited job options, higher HECS debt, and unnecessary stress.

So next time your teen says “I don’t know what I want to do,” don’t just brush it off.

Start the conversation. Ask if they’d like support. Offer the chance to connect with a professional who can help them move from confused to confident.

Because sometimes, the most important step isn’t having the answer —It’s being asked the right question!