Helping Your Teen Discover What They Don’t Know About Career & Study Choices
When it comes to career and study choices, teens often live in a small bubble of what they know. Their world is shaped by school subjects, parents’ jobs, social media and the careers of people they meet every day. But the truth is, most career pathways are invisible to them. As parents, we want to guide them well but here’s the catch: we don’t know everything either. The real challenge lies in “we don’t know what we don’t know.”
The 3 Levels of Knowing
Let’s breakdown the pie chart with three slices:
We know what we know.
This is our comfort zone: our hobbies, skills and careers we’re familiar with. For a teen, this might be “I know I like art” or “I know teachers exist.”We know what we don’t know.
This is where awareness begins. For example: “I know I don’t know how to be a pilot” or “I know I don’t know what it takes to be a software engineer”We don’t know what we don’t know.
This is the biggest slice and the most powerful one. It holds every job, pathway and opportunity your teen hasn’t even heard of yet. Careers that could light them up, but simply aren’t on their radar.
Why This Matters for Teens
Most teens only see the first slice, what they know they know. It’s like looking at the world through a keyhole. The danger? They may feel limited in their choices or believe there are only a few paths they could take.
Parents often have a wider lens, we know a bit more about different industries or pathways, but even we don’t have the full picture. None of us do. That’s why the third slice, “we don’t know what we don’t know,” is so important. It’s a reminder that the world of work is vast and evolving.
How Parents Can Help Close the Gap
This is where curiosity and conversation become your greatest tools. You don’t need to have all the answers, you just need to help your teen ask better questions. Here are some ways to start:
Encourage curiosity. When your teen shows interest in something, help them dig deeper. Who does this for a job? How do people get started? What pathways exist?
Explore together. Look at online career resources, attend open days or explore industries neither of you know much about.
Normalise not knowing. Show your teen that it’s okay not to have all the answers and that exploration is part of the journey.
Connect with others. Help them talk to people in your network who have different jobs and encourage informational interviews.
By doing this, you’re helping your teen shift things from the “I don’t know what I don’t know” category into “I know what I know.” And that’s when doors start opening.
Where Empower Youth Comes In
At Empower Youth, we specialise in helping teens uncover their unique strengths, interests and career pathways, far beyond the narrow slice of what they currently know. Through guided exploration, interactive activities and one-on-one support, we help teens discover the opportunities that truly fit who they are.
And because parents play such a big role in this journey, Download your free online masterclass for parents: How to Talk to Your Teen About Career & Study Choices. In this session, you’ll learn practical strategies to spark meaningful conversations and support your teen in discovering the world of possibilities.
👉 Download your free parent masterclass here
Closing Thought
Your teen doesn’t need you to have all the answers. They need you to walk beside them, ask questions and be curious together. By closing the gap between “I don’t know what I don’t know” and “I know what I know,” you’re helping them step into a future that feels exciting, aligned, and full of opportunity.
👉 Enrol in Empower Youth
Spots are limited—and your teen’s future is too important to leave to chance.
Louise Crowe
Career Coach | Empower Youth
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