This Working Life

Are we giving kids the wrong career advice?

Dec 19, 2025
JP Michel, an organizational psychologist and author, teams up with Kate McBeath, a career practitioner in Australia and New Zealand, to dive into the flaws of traditional career advice. They argue that asking students what they want to be can create anxiety and limit possibilities. Instead, they promote a 'challenge mindset' where students focus on solving problems rather than fitting into job titles. JP also introduces challenge cards as a tool for meaningful exploration, encouraging early exploration and adapting to a rapidly changing job market.
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INSIGHT

Question Narrows Kids' Career View

  • Asking kids "What do you want to be when you grow up?" narrows choices and creates anxiety.
  • JP Michel highlights there are over 40,000 jobs, so the question limits exploration.
ANECDOTE

Magazine Pick Led To Materials Science

  • JP had a student, Anna, who loved an article about algae cleaning oil spills and wanted to explore it.
  • Working backwards from that interest led them to materials science and engineering she hadn't known about.
INSIGHT

From Matchmaker To Career Catalyst

  • Career advisors should shift from matchmakers to catalysts who spark exploration.
  • JP says educators are now moving from matching tests to helping students find problems to solve.
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