Parents' Perceptions of Their Role in Children's Career Planning

This research used the Comprehensive Career Needs Survey to assess the career planning needs of junior and senior high students in southern Alberta. This article examines parents' perceptions of how prepared parents believe their children are for career planning; the role parents play; how parents can help their children with career planning; and the gaps parents perceive in career planning services, programs, or resources. The study found that parents perceived their children as becoming better prepared for career planning as they grew older. Parents perceived their roles during career planning to be supportive, informative, and educative. They believed that more information and stronger relationships with teachers would help them support the career planning of their children. Junior high parents indicated that they would like career education and career counselling to begin in junior high, and senior high parents wanted specific information and access to postsecondary funding. Implications for career counselling and career planning programs are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)