Let's discuss a job you hate

I know. What a negative way to start a conversation about careers. But hear me out.

Imagine, the young person who attends a guidance session with little motivation, low aspirations, lacking in self-confidence and ideas. You pull out your tools, you mind map, build pros and cons list, slide over the laptop for research and the responses are non-existent, non committal or dismissed with “I can’t do that because…”

Recently, I had a room full of post-16 learners for a careers session. A room with different needs, barriers to learning, personal challenges and fixed mindsets. I won’t lie; there was a lot of tumbleweeds when I asked open questions.

Until I asked the question; “What job would you hate to do?”... And they all had something to say. 

“I don’t want to work outside.”

“I want to work in a small team.”

“I don’t want to be told what to do. I want more independence in my job.”

“Really? I’d love to work with animals.”

It was not planned and I have never asked it before but I learned more about this new cohort with this question than any other activity. 

How could I make this question more valuable next time? Here are a few ideas I’ve jotted down:

• Cons list for what we don’t want so we can build a Pros list of what we do want

• Further questions on what it is about it that we really don’t like to see if there are any barriers to overcome

• Addressing any prejudices or stereotypes about the role

• Filling in any gaps of knowledge and learning about the job

Have you got any others to add to the list?