4 Tips to Prepare Your Homeschooler for the Workforce

As our homeschoolers enter high school and prepare for their adult lives, this can increase parents’ fear. How can we prepare our high schoolers specifically for the workforce? What skills do they need to start working?

• Start with volunteer positions. 
• Research the job industry and how to prepare. 
• Study soft skills and learn.
• Study hard skills and learn. 

Confidence & Command

Start with volunteer positions. Your child can find a local job to build their skills. Your homeschooler can start working and learn about the working world through a volunteer opportunity. For instance, I worked at a horse barn and later worked at a library. Both of these experiences gave me insight into dealing with people and developing a strong work ethic. Discuss volunteer options and ideas with your homeschooler. 

Sit down with your homeschooler and research the job industry together. Look at the job market, salaries, positions, etc. Encourage them to take several personality/career tests to show them their skillset. Also, research interviewing strategies and tips. Discussing these themes now while your homeschooler is still in high school will greatly benefit them in life. 

Study soft skills with your homeschooler. Discuss how they can work on building empathy, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. Use life’s opportunities to help your homeschooler cultivate their soft skills. In our household, we openly discussed issues and how to navigate them. This helped me to have confidence and command of myself as an adult. 

Lastly, build hard skills. What is your homeschooler talented at doing? Do they enjoy using Canva or woodworking? Are they an excellent writer or skilled at solving math problems? Figure out their skill set and build on those skills. In addition, build on necessary skills, such as writing a resume or changing a tire. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can use these four tips to prepare your homeschooler for the workforce. Building on their experience and skills will not only benefit them in their lives but also grow them as individuals. It will give them confidence and capability because they know how to communicate and appear with the necessary skills. Homeschooling, after all, encourages families to build children who are ready for the real world. 

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- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)