<p>He will be a senior this year and has been feeling pressure about college. Specifically, what he will be doing after college. He has an idea of what he would like to study (double major French/International Relations), but not how it will translate to a specific job. I am not a college graduate, but from what I can tell, if he has a degree, can think, write and communicate, he should be able to land a job that interests him, in most industries. Please share your advice and wisdom, so that I can guide him.</p>
<p>He shouldn’t worry about a specific job right now. He is actually more directed than a lot of students, with an idea of a double major (which may change). Things will work out. While he is at school he can do volunteering/interning and also during the summers, and that will help some with the job issues. (Though i recommend getting settled in first semester first, for some.)</p>
<p>From an early age, our kids are led to believe they should know what career they want.( My daughter took a computer test in 7th grade that told her she would be a conductor or a clown!) Once you get away from the well-defined categories like “doctor” and “lawyer” (which sometimes reflect a lack of sophistication, and the kids grow out of them), the job market is complex, varied, and also offers all kinds of unexpected directions.</p>
<p>Hope he enjoys senior year and doesn’t worry about the future too much. In life, we don’t get to focus on the present that much, and senior year is a good time to do it!</p>
<p>One way to calm him is to come up with a fall back job idea that he knows he can use to support himself so he then is released to explore subjects at college and see where that takes him.</p>
<p>For instance, he could always get work as a translator if he majors in french and international relations or work for the government in some capacity.</p>
<p>If he enjoys languages, he might look into studying one of the languages where there is a high need like Chinese, Russian, or languages for the Mideast. He could pair one of those with International Relations and greatly expand his marketability. Foreign service jobs are also a possibility.</p>
<p>If he is committed to the French language but wants more options for a career (in international business, foreign service, etc.), he should try to take courses on and/or travel to countries where French is spoken (other than just France). This includes Belgium, B</p>
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<p>This. On a side note, back in middle school, my career test said I would make a good auctioneer!</p>
<p>Most young adults feel a pressure to be able to name a career, and that stress never really goes away until you either (1) accept that no one knows what they’re doing and it’s okay that you can’t name something specific or (2) you figure out a nameable career/company/industry that you can tell people when they ask what you want to do after college. It’s rough-going because many careers aren’t as nameable or immediately well-respected as “doctor” or something similar, and it can be stressful, until you realize that jobs don’t have to be specific, nameable professions.</p>
<p>Perhaps, you can remind him universities often have many resources for students to figure what sorts of careers they like. When he gets to college, he can visit the career services center for advice or to learn about careers he may never have heard of before. He can get different internships or work experiences that will allow him to try on certain careers to see if they fit.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I take comfort in the fact that these are things I have told him already. </p>
<p>He has been talking about learning a third language. How do you think he should do that? Stop French at high school and begin the third in college, to go along with his IR? How will he keep his French current?</p>
<p>After continuing French in high school, he will take a placement test in college to see what level class he would place into. The upper level language classes include interesting ones like literature. There is no reason he would have to stop French to continue in them, and that would keep his French current. Also, he would have to continue with French and have these classes as part of his major, which would likely include culture and history classes as well. He can also start another language at the beginning level in college as elective classes as they fit in his schedule.</p>
<p>I am away from home so can’t look at our copy, but the College Board Book of Majors does give a list of jobs that might results from various majors. His guidance counselor office at school or the library might have a copy (saving you from buying this massive book for this one reference). :)</p>
<p>You have been getting good advice from others in this forum. You may also wish to tell your son that he may very well discover other interests during college–and might end up changing his major accordingly. Often students take a class in another area and find out that they love it–and end up with a different major or career than they had imagined. That’s ok too!</p>