MORE than half of adults are in careers nothing like the ones they dreamed of as children, new research shows.
The poll of 2,000 people across the UK found 72 per cent didn’t understand what roles were out there when they were younger.
One in eight admitted there simply weren’t enough opportunities to follow the career path they once imagined[/caption]
Few Brits end up in their dream jobs[/caption]
And 68 per cent admitted they hadn’t even heard of the job they now do when they were still at school.
Almost half (44 per cent) said they wished they had been told about a wider range of career options.
Meanwhile, 49 per cent believe better careers advice would have made them feel more prepared for working life.
The study, carried out by charity programme Inspiring the Future, also revealed that parents are worried the same could happen to their kids.
A huge 57 per cent said they fear their children aren’t getting enough access to job information or guidance.
Nick Chambers, CEO of the charity, said: “When children are asked what they want to do when they grow up most focus on jobs like teacher, doctor, vet, pilot, actor or footballer.
“But the research shows very few will actually go on to do this job as an adult, with many working in fields they didn’t even know existed when they were starting to think about their future careers.
“It’s important we give young people as much information as possible about the careers and opportunities available to them to allow them to make informed decisions.
“Introducing children to more varied types of jobs and career routes help tackle the limited and ingrained stereotypical views children often have about the jobs people do based on their gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background.
“It allows them to start thinking about a wider, more exciting, range of options including many jobs where there is huge demand and where employers struggling to find people, often having to rely on recruiting from overseas.”
The survey also put children’s knowledge to the test by asking what their parents did for a living.
One boy confidently described his dad’s role as “telling people how to build a house” – when in fact he is a mechanical engineer.
Another child said their mum “bosses teachers around” – but she is actually a payroll officer at a school trust.
When asked what they themselves wanted to be, the most popular answers were doctor, nurse, teacher, footballer, scientist and pilot.
Six per cent dreamed of being an artist or even an archaeologist.
But for many, those ambitions never became reality.
One in eight admitted there simply weren’t enough opportunities to follow the career path they once imagined.
The study also showed that careers advice in schools is falling short.
Almost half (48 per cent) said it was poor or non-existent.
Only a quarter thought the guidance they got was good or excellent.
And it’s not just schools.
Nearly a third of parents (31 per cent) said they don’t think their children understand the range of career opportunities available to them.
Worryingly, almost half of mums and dads (47 per cent) admitted they rarely talk to their children about their own working life.
Nick Chambers added: “One of the most positive things we can do for the next generation is to open their eyes to the sheer variety of jobs and opportunities available.
“Showing children the wide range of careers – from environmental science to gaming design, from forensic linguistics to food innovation, helps them understand there’s more than one route to success and happiness.
“It also encourages them to explore their strengths and passions in different ways.”
The study also showed that careers advice in schools is falling short[/caption]