Barbara Paterson: Parents can do the best job of career advice

What's more, these high-level discussions about careers guidance provision may have future benefits, but they are of little use to today's young people, including those awaiting their A-level results tomorrow.

Right now, the most pragmatic and effective way to help the class of 2010 and others who may not have taken a formal educational

route is for parents to develop their own skills and become their children's career coach. Making wise career decisions and supporting others are life skills that everybody can learn and should not be left to chance or neglected.

This summer, thousands have left universities. Sadly, for many, debt-laden and desperate to enter the world of work, it is a stressful, unsupported experience – one shared by many of last year's graduates and the millions still trying to find fulfilling employment.

This post-university limbo can be equally worrying and frustrating for parents, or other adults, who have invested time, money and energy supporting their children through the education process. "Get a

degree, get a better job" is the widespread belief.

It can be a shock when children end up back home, without work and directionless. There is, however, plenty parents can do to guide their children and help them land the job they want. Without doubt, parents are the biggest influence on a child's career aspirations and it's time both they – and the Government – recognise this.

Of course, a look in Jobcentre Plus shows that there is employment out there. It's tempting to tell young people to take anything – including that job flipping burgers – because "you are lucky to have a job at all". But unless hands-on experience of a burger is part of a bigger career plan, this advice is damaging and defeatist.

Another approach is to analyse growth industries and encourage career choices based purely on perceived prospects and pay. This method is superficial, of short-term benefit and doesn't take account of young people's aspirations and talents. Myths such as "there is only one job for you" or "the first thing to do is write a CV" also need to be dispelled.

At present, careers guidance is optional for undergraduates. However, revealingly, this year uptake has increased by 50 per cent. For new graduates who've just left full-time education, state provided career advice is confusing and lacks structure. Some information and advice is provided by Jobcentre Plus in partnership with their associates, or by

private providers.

There are also numerous online resources and tools. But all these pathways are targeted at the graduates themselves. It's also assumed these young people have a reasonably clear idea of who they are, what they're good at and what they want to do. Parents know this is seldom the case.

What parents don't know is the nitty gritty of today's complex and sophisticated job market. They can be out of touch and base their advice on when they left school or university. They simply don't know how to help their grown-up child navigate the patchy career guidance that is offered, or how it operates.

It's not their fault. They are seldom encouraged to become actively involved in their child's career development and job search even though they are usually the first port of call when their child needs help – and a financial bail-out.

It's time government actively sought to support and up-skill mum, dad or the other caring adults who are genuinely motivated to sort out what their child really wants to do and has a passion for. Parents who learn methods to mentor their child are able to pinpoint transferable skills, use the other tools and techniques to make good career choices and to help their child work out, find and land the job they want:

Crucially, this process helps both parent and child feel better by putting them more in control of the situation. Along the way, parents may also improve their own employment prospects and pass on their knowledge to others.

As such, parents are uniquely placed and motivated to help to generate this energy in their children – and they can do it over a longer timeframe than any government-funded agency will be able to in our current financial crisis.

Barbara Paterson is looking for up to 20 interested parents to join a discussion group in Wakefield on August 24 about a new "parent as career coach" pilot programme. See www.patersonconsultancy.com for further details.

Barbara Paterson is a Yorkshire-based career coach, consultant and parent of two post-university age children.