Busting Tech Career Myths, Part 6 My Kids Wont Listen to Me

Busting Tech Career Myths, Part 6 My Kids Wont Listen to Me In earlier posts in this myth-busting series, Ive stressed that blasting misperceptions about tech careers is a professional mission for me as a technologist and technology-industry mentor devoted to drawing new generations of workers into our field.Per this objective, Ive so far dismantled five delusions about technology jobsTechnology is all about coding, math, and science.Working in technology requires a four-year college degree.If its notlage at Facebook or Google, its not a technology job.A tech career means being stuck at a desk.Money is the main benefit of a tech job.In plus-rechnen to being a professional duty, debunking these misapprehensions also stokes my passion as a parent of four kids. Thats why pulling apart the sixth myth in our series gives me particular pleasureMyth No. 6 My Kids Wont Listen to MeIn the latest CompTIA research,Youth Opinions of Careers in Information Technol ogy,we asked 1000 teens in the 13-17 age bracket where they turn for career guidance. Parents/family was among the top three answers given. This follows a strong trend established by our 2015 research,where the most frequent answer to a similar question was parents and guardians. At 68 percent, that answer was given mora than two times more often than teachers (28 percent) and school counselors (25 percent).Two years ago, the demographics of our sample group were different, as we focused on minority teens living in urban areas. Plus, the questions were structured differently, which also could account for varying outcomes. But regardless of these variations, the results of both studies confirm an important finding Teens do listen to their parents. Maybe not all the time about everything, butcertainly more often than parents think they do especially when the topic is as important as their future.Educating parents about issues and options in schooling for tech careers is just as criti cal as teaching teens about their career options. Why? Because parenting along any dimension is demanding work that could always use a helping hand.I understand the challenge firsthand. As the chief executive of a philanthropic organization, Im comfortable speaking to diverse groups of people in business situations of many kinds at this point in my life, but nothing prepares you for dealing with an angry or hurt teenager. I had my share of doors slammed in my face by my stepdaughter, Lindsay, during her teenage years. When the discussion wasnt quite so heated, I also had many moments talking to my stepson, Dylan, and Lindsay with the sinking feeling that my words were falling on deaf ears.(Im not out the woods yet, by the way. My last two children arent too far from middle school.)Its not pleasant, that sense of futility, because you care deeply, and you want to help with every means at your disposal. Thats why I wrote How to Launch Your Teens Career in Technology A Parents Guide to the T in STEM Education.In the guide, I cover some key subjects that will help in conversations with kids about tech careers.(The book is available to Recruiter Today readers at a 10 percent discount visit TinSTEM.com and enter BLOG17 as the coupon code.)Lindsay and Dylan are in their mid-20s now. Although they live outside of the house, we see them once or twice a week. Almost every time we are together, we talk about their jobs, how to grow in their careers, and how to manage people. Lindsay especially has been asking for leadership advice as she now has staff reporting to her. Its a gratifying feeling after all those years of wondering if the messages were taking root.For the final installment of our myth-toppling trip, Ill discredit Tech jobs are going overseas.Charles Eaton is executive vice president of social innovation forCompTIAand CEO ofCreating IT Futures.