How Do Your Relationships Affect Your Life and Career Path?
Family and Friends
Your family and friends play crucial roles in the development of your values, beliefs, abilities, interests, personality, and more. Career counseling can help you make meaning of how your family and social relationships are part of your life/career path.
Life Roles
You might live many of the following roles: student, parent, child, sibling, spouse, partner, friend, employee, church member, club member, etc. These are just some of the many social roles we have throughout our lifetimes. These life roles can significantly impact your life/career path because balancing them in meaningful ways takes time and effort. Reflecting on how these roles play out in your life can be essential in finding a path that fits you.
Networking
Networking allows you to build more personal and professional relationships with those around you. Those already in your network (e.g. family, friends, coaches, teachers, church members, co-workers, etc.) can help you on your way. It is important to not use people in your network to do your life/career exploration and job search for you. They are sources of information, support, and referrals. You still must perform the actions needed to successfully build your life/career path.
Occupational Interviews
Occupational interviews occur when you interview a professional in the field you are interested in. These interviews often allow you to learn more of the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of the career. Additionally, interviewing someone in the field builds your network. Many professionals are happy to share their experience with you and they want to help others who have similar interests and aspirations as them.
How Relationships Influence Your Career Path: Guidance from Career Counselors
Overall the key concept in this section is that you are connected to others. These connections can sometimes hold you back and they can sometimes move you forward. Adjusting your relationships or building new relationships can help you find your life/career path. Career counselors can help you understand yourself, your relationships, and they can guide you in building new relationships.
Questions to Consider when meeting with career counselors
- How does your family influence you? What do you appreciate about your family's influence and what would you like to be different?
- What are your most important social roles? How do they impact your life/career path?
- Who might be able to support you in pursuing your life/career path? How might you reach out to them?
- How could an occupational interview benefit you in your life/career exploration? Who might you want to reach out to for an interview?
