Heather Goldsmith, founder of Campus to Career, spent nearly 30 years hiring and leading teams before becoming a career coach. She joins us to write about the years between high school and a first real job.

One of the questions parents ask me most often isn’t about resumes, interviews or LinkedIn.

It’s much simpler.

“My teenager has no idea what they want to do after high school… and graduation is getting closer.”

Then they’ll look at me and ask,

“So… what do I do? How do I help without pushing too hard?”

Sometimes they ask with frustration. Sometimes they ask with worry. Sometimes they ask quietly, almost apologetically, as though they’re the only family feeling this way.

They’re not.

As a parent of three children and someone who spent more than 30 years interviewing, hiring, mentoring and onboarding people, I’ve learned this:

Most teenagers aren’t supposed to have their lives figured out. And honestly… Neither did I.

Parents usually smile when I say that because, deep down, they know their own careers probably didn’t follow a perfectly straight path either. Mine certainly didn’t.

I Thought I Had It All Figured Out

When I graduated from McGill, I was convinced I knew exactly where my career was headed.

I wanted to build a career in Human Resources. I had a plan. Like many graduates, I thought the plan I’d made was the plan I’d follow. At the time, I was teaching Organizational Behaviour at McGill while finishing my Bachelor’s degree, so pursuing Human Resources felt like the obvious next step.

Then I met someone who saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. She encouraged me to interview with her International Company for a sales position. To be honest, I had never imagined a career in sales. The commission structure intimidated me and I was looking for stability as I started building my career. But she encouraged me to keep an open mind.

So I did.

That one conversation changed everything. Instead of Human Resources, I accepted a position in marketing. What followed was a career I genuinely loved for more than 30 years. Looking back, I realize something.

I didn’t have it all figured out.

I simply stayed open to an opportunity I hadn’t expected. And if you had told me back then that one day I’d leave that career and build Campus to Career, I probably would have rolled my eyes and asked,

“Are you serious?”

Looking back now, I can see that every role I held, every interview I conducted, every student I hired and every person I mentored was quietly preparing me for the work I do today.

What If We’re Asking the Wrong Question?

One of the biggest mistakes I see is well-intentioned parents trying to help by asking questions their teenager simply can’t answer yet.

What do you want to be?

What are you going to study?

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

They’re good questions. They’re just being asked too early. At that age, exploration is far more valuable than certainty.

Instead, try asking questions that create curiosity instead of pressure.

  • What class have you enjoyed the most this year? 
  • What project made you feel proud? 
  • Is there a career you’ve always been curious about? 
  • If you could spend a day shadowing someone, who would it be? 
  • What would you like to try, even if you’re not sure you’ll like it? 

Those conversations often reveal far more than asking a teenager to decide what they want to do for the rest of their life.

Clarity Doesn’t Come From Thinking. It Comes From Doing.

Students often believe they’ll discover the perfect career by thinking about it long enough.

In my experience, that’s almost never how it happens.

Clarity comes from doing.

  • A part-time job.
  • Volunteering.
  • Joining a club.
  • Starting a small summer business.
  • Talking to someone over coffee.
  • Attending a career fair.
  • Trying something new.

Every experience teaches us something. Sometimes it confirms we’re on the right path. Sometimes it tells us we’re not. Both are valuable.

After reviewing hundreds of internships and early-career job postings, I’ve noticed something else. Employers aren’t expecting teenagers to have everything figured out.

  • They’re looking for students who are curious.
  • Students who take initiative.
  • Students who are eager to learn.
  • Students who ask thoughtful questions.
  • Students who say yes to opportunities.

Ironically, those same experiences that help students discover what they enjoy are often the ones that make them stronger candidates later.

What Your Teen Needs Most Right Now

If your teenager tells you they have no idea what they want to do… Take a deep breath.

They’re in good company. Don’t make the goal finding the perfect career. Make the goal helping them become comfortable exploring.

  • Encourage them to ask questions.
  • Introduce them to people with different careers.
  • Support a summer job.
  • Suggest volunteering.
  • Celebrate effort.
  • Celebrate curiosity.
  • Celebrate trying something new, because every experience becomes another clue.

One Conversation Can Change Everything

If there’s one thing I hope parents take away from this article, it’s this:

Your teenager doesn’t need to have their future mapped out today. They simply need to keep moving. To stay curious. To remain open to opportunities they haven’t even imagined yet.

After all, one conversation at a career fair completely changed the direction of my life. Who’s to say the next conversation won’t do the same for them?

As parents, we naturally want to protect our children from uncertainty. But uncertainty isn’t the enemy. It’s often where growth begins. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give our teenagers isn’t a roadmap.

It’s the confidence to explore.