How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Job Searches

[Ed. note: Vanessa Van Petten is the teen author of the parenting book “You’re Grounded!”. She writes a parenting blog along with 12 other teen writers from the kid's perspective to help parents. Her work as a young family peacemaker have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, Fox 5, CBS 4 and much more!]

Parents often walk a fine line between wanting to help their kids find a job and making their child feel nagged and overwhelmed. There are few things to keep in mind when helping your child with the job search:

1) Know they are feeling scared too

I often hear parents complain that the reason they are helping their kids with the search is because they do not think their kid's are taking any initiative. This may or may not be true, but if you are feeling nervous and scared about them finding a job, then they are probably feeling it even worse. Be sensitive to the fact that they might not be showing you how vulnerable they really feel.

2) Approach Once

You can ask once or twice in a few day period if your child needs help. If they say no, back off, they might need their space, otherwise they might feel you are nagging them,

3) Remember what you do might not be what they do

What is or was best for you in the job search might be different for them. Try to be aware of their needs and interests when helping them search for a job so they can find something they are truly fulfilled with.

4) The Job Search Has Changed

I have heard many of my friends who are out of work complain that their parents think that job searching should be 'easier with the Internet' or it is the same as when they were younger. A lot has changed, the digital nation has changed the job search in good and bad ways. Remember when you are trying to help, not to compare it to your time or even an older siblings time, the job market is changing by the minute!

Overall, it is a good idea to let them know you love and support them no matter what, in this economy, job searches can be stressful on the whole family. Also see my article on how parents can be supportive of their kid entrepreneurs.