Why you’re probably not doing your Dream Job

When you were 15, what job did you expect to have at 30? A writer, singer, or teacher. I asked this question to colleagues, but for more than 20 years it's been asked to millions of teenagers worldwide. Given that this is a question that can provide insight into how generations of people think about the future, it's important to know what job they expect to be doing at 30. A lawyer, journalist or managing a production company are all possibilities. Looking at all the different jobs 15 year old had in the year 2000, medical doctor was the top choice. The chart also shows that there are many other options available, like athletes, decorators, and military officers. Low on the list was jobs like pharmacist and real estate agent. Parents are often worried about their kids following in their footsteps, but a recent study found that nearly half of all kids will do the same ten jobs by the time they're adults.

As children, many of us expected to become doctors. However, as adults, the percentage of people who hold this job has dwindled. For example, in the countries where this survey was conducted, around 11% of women and 5% of men expected to be doctors. However, today that number is only about 0.5%. A majority of 15 year old think that they will do the same ten jobs again at some point in their lives. In 2018, this question was asked again to a bigger sample of kids and once again the majority said doctor, lawyer, and athlete. However, there were also a bunch of other interesting jobs on the list. When researchers simplified the list by removing certain professions, half of all kids expected to do the same ten jobs again. One thing that changed between 2000 and 2018 was the number of kids who didn't name a job. In 2000, only about 14% of kids named a job. But in 2018, that group jumped to 25%. This has a lot of negative consequences because science-minded kids don't have mentors to help them out. A study from 1988 specifically focused on kids who were below average in math, so this trend is concerning. The study showed that kids, who have ambition in their scientific pursuits, even if they're not as good at math, are more likely to succeed. Kids who were ambitious about science were more likely to get a degree in science or engineering, even though they weren't as good at math. The study found that ambition, even at an early age, has a huge impact on people's professional outcomes. Planning for the future is essential when it comes to acquiring a college degree. For example, if someone expects to have a job that requires a college degree then they should make plans to go to college. The PISA survey also asks if kids expect to attend college. And it found that among the kids who expect to have a job that requires a college degree. 1 in 5 teens have no plans to attend college, which means they probably won't be doing the job they expected to do. When teens expect to have a certain job but don't plan on getting the required education or experience, researchers who study career paths call that misalignment. It's important to consider the context and specifics of the study you mentioned to fully understand its findings. However, based on the information you provided, it appears that the study found a correlation between misalignment in teenagers at age 15 and an increased likelihood of unemployment or being out of school at age 25.

A study conducted with American 15-year-old revealed that students who planned to pursue more education than required for their anticipated jobs (referred to as being aligned or over-aligned) had higher wages throughout their careers compared to misaligned students. These findings emphasize the significance of having a clear understanding of future goals and aligning educational choices accordingly. Researchers who specialize in career pathways have identified effective strategies to help students gain clarity about their future. By providing career exploration opportunities, such as career assessments, job shadowing, and career fairs, students can explore a variety of career options and make informed decisions about their educational and professional paths. Young people need opportunities to explore different careers, such as visiting workplaces or gaining work experience through part-time jobs or volunteering. These experiences can help them think about their desired jobs and make appropriate plans for their future. However, a significant number of students lack access to such opportunities. According to a survey, only around 40% of students reported participating in job shadowing, worksite visits, or job fairs. This lack of support in career exploration disproportionately affects disadvantaged students, as around one-third of the poorest students are misaligned in their career expectations, compared to only about one-tenth of the most affluent students. This perpetuates existing inequalities.The survey conducted in 2018 also examined the extent to which the jobs expected by 15-year-olds are at risk of automation. It was found that approximately 40% of the surveyed students anticipated working in jobs that are susceptible to automation in their country.

The question of what one expects to become and how they perceive the future is profound. While it may not be entirely fair to pose this question to 15-year-old, these surveys highlight the need for more support to help them form their answers and make informed decisions about their future career paths.