It is a question that many children are asked as early as elementary school age: “What do you want to be one day?” The answers to these questions have changed surprisingly little for decades, says Peter Fischer, Professor of Industrial Psychology at the University of Regensburg. “Despite new technologies, most children tend to think of traditional professions.” This is also shown by a current one Forsa study On the dream jobs of children: Police officers and veterinarians are way ahead, jobs such as influencers do not appear at first. Gender stereotypes are still noticeable. “Girls are more likely to see themselves in helping professions such as nurses or doctors,” explains Fischer. “Boys are more likely to think of jobs where you have to take a risk, such as being a police officer.”
There are various reasons why children have very similar career aspirations then as they do now. The social environment plays a particularly important role: since children learn on the model, relatives and especially their own parents serve as role models, says the professor. “Parents have to be careful not to manipulate children consciously or unconsciously in a certain direction.” For example, by urging them to pursue a highly respected profession – or to avoid it because it is supposedly unattainable. “Certain occupational groups have a status that is particularly respected,” says Fischer. A Forsa study from the year 2021 shows which professions are involved: fire fighters, doctors, nurses, geriatric nurses and police officers enjoy the highest reputation in society. This corresponds to many professions that children want for their future.
Factors such as education or salary become more important with age
However, reality shows that these wishes are often not implemented – because they change over time or because the labor market follows different rules. According to the statistics portal Statista, based on a study by the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, 17.2 percent of Germans work in commercial professions, but only 9.5 percent in medicine. the Federal agency for work According to the vast majority of employees subject to social security contributions will be working in the office in 2020. From firefighter to businessman – how does this discrepancy between original wish and reality come about?
Stefanie Rektorschek, career advisor at the Employment Agency in Munich, sees the choice of career as an individual decision based on various motives: “As a student, you start to think: What am I good at, what do I enjoy?” But not only your own strengths and interests are important. “The current work and training situation also plays a role,” says Rektorschek. Because the following questions are also decisive: Is a job description even in demand or not? Who has a good chance on the job market? Partly transfigured ideas become with the years – at the latest in secondary school – not only more concrete, but also more realistic. This includes factors such as educational background or salary that were less important in childhood. But the social position of the family also influences the later job. Many studies show that working-class children and children with a migration background are more often disadvantaged in the education system and have fewer opportunities in the labor market.
“Parents should hold back so that career aspirations can develop.”
As a result, career aspirations in childhood often do not match the job that is actually carried out later. But that doesn’t have to lead to frustration. At least not always. “In the course of time you develop other values and ideas about jobs,” says Stefanie Rektorschek. She is of the opinion that career aspirations from childhood have great potential – even if they are not fulfilled. “If we think about what impressed us as a child, that can be an important guide for our later job.” The reasons for the enthusiasm are sometimes quite banal: “Maybe I just liked the fact that the firefighter was allowed to wear a uniform and that it gave off something special.” Nonetheless, this knowledge can be of help in choosing a career – the interest in uniforms could, for example, indicate the desire to convey security or authority in the job.
For many people, their own job is an essential part of their identity. In order for it to be perceived as fulfilling, according to Peter Fischer, one’s own strengths have to be linked with interests: “In the best case, what I’m good at matches what I enjoy,” says the professor. In order to find out what your own strengths and weaknesses are, you have to take enough time. This process in children and adolescents also affects parents: “So that career aspirations can develop, parents should hold back a little and be a mentor to the child instead of exerting pressure,” says Fischer. Choosing the right job is not only important for young people. Stefanie Rektorschek from the Employment Agency advises staying open even in working life: “It is a fallacy to believe that we have to choose a job and do it for the rest of our lives.” There is always the possibility of further training or reorientation. Maybe the dream from childhood will come true after all.