Now More Than Ever, Kids Need to Know 'Work' is Not a Four-Letter Word

Feb. 18, 2009 - PRLog -- Del Mar, CA  – Two former human resources marketing executives have published career exploration materials that are garnering attention from parents, teachers and youth-at-risk organizations concerned about kids' view of the employment world and their lack of preparation for entering it.

CareerWise Grow Up. Get a Job™. kids-to-careers materials (www.GetCareerWise.com) make it creative and easy for adults to engage kids in valuable discussions about their futures and the need to develop skills employers will pay for in the future.


“Kids today are bombarded with news about high unemployment figures and the tough competition job seekers face. They don't view having a job as something to aspire to, more often viewing ‘work’ as a four-letter word,” said CareerWise Co-Founder, Melissa Kerlin.  “Something has to change.  The reality is that kids will have to find employment someday and should start on an education path that leads them somewhere other than back to their parent's spare bedroom."

“But how can they discover what that is? And how can adults help them connect-the-dots between their schoolwork and getting the job of their dreams?  Nagging doesn't help. Kids need to discover for themselves the importance of  staying in school.

"Unfortunately, most adults don't know how to 'talk' careers or motivate kids. They can only share their own career path. And they might not feel very optimistic about the job market themselves right now. These are tough times.

Kerlin’s partner, Susan Schneider, continued, “ Something has to change. We have to help kids see that having a job can be fulfilling and rewarding. This downturn won't last forever. More than ever, companies are going to need a skilled workforce to turn things around.''

Kerlin and Schneider published their Careerwise materials using their extensive behind-the-scenes experiences in the human resources arena.  For over twenty years, they were creative development executives who helped companies -- ranging from The Walt Disney Company to Nestle USA to Kaiser Permanente -- develop their employment brands.

Helping companies recruit and retain 'the best and the brightest' in their respective industries provided them with exposure to fascinating jobs that most people have never even heard about.  Their first product was a handsome poster with 1001 Job Titles that was used by  the Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Foundation. It really opens kids' eyes to their options and opportunities.  

CareerWise  materials are proving to be very timely.  People from all walks of public and private life -- including President Obama -- are calling for adults to step up and teach kids the basic, relevant skills they need to succeed in life. Educators know that career curriculum has to start at an early age to keep kids motivated in school.

But teachers can’t do it alone. Even though 'careers' is becoming a mandated subject in many schools throughout the country, the drop-out rate is at a crisis point nationwide. Many youth-at-risk and corporate outreach programs, such as General Colin Powell's America's Promise Alliance, are  joining in to focus on equipping kids with relevant life skills.

CareerWise helps adults, in and out of the classroom, become a career mentor. Using the wonderfully creative activities in the 96-page workbook, kids start to get excited about exploring their career options while they develop self-confidence and self-esteem about their innate talents and interests. They also start to connect-the-dots between their school work and achieving their dreams.

CareerWise products help everyone plan for the day when kids can leave their parent’s nest with the confidence and skills to go out and feather their own.

CareerWise products support National Standards in the Language Arts and Career Counciling and are posted as valuable resources by the American School Counselors Association, the Association for Career & Technical Education, America’s Promise Ready for the Real World program, The Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation, the California Association of Resource Specialists, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) San Diego, the National Indian Education Association and the New Jersey State Board of Education.

They can be purchased online at www.GetCareerWise.com and on Amazon.

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CareerWise by Tailwag Studio publishes career exploration materials that support Nat. Standards in the Language Arts & Career Counseling. Created by HR pro's for school, home, vocational training & youth-at-risk progs. Relevant/fun/affordable. Buy online.