Why So Many Indian Graduates Feel Lost in Career Decisions?
- Dr Sp Mishra
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
The Career Mistake Parents Make at Class 10–12 (ICC Blog # 154)
A real counselling experience that reveals how early career decisions shape confidence and future success
Recently, I counselled two young men in their mid-twenties in Hyderabad. Both came to the session with family members — worried fathers, and family members.
On the surface, their stories looked very different. One had completed engineering, the other an MBA.
But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that both were facing the same deeper problem.
And that problem had begun many years earlier — when they were students in Class 10–12, standing at the crossroads of choosing their career paths. What struck me most during the session was not their degrees.
It was their lack of clarity and confidence about the future.
And that raises an important question every parent, teacher, and student should pause to reflect on: Who should really decide a child’s career?
Story 1: The Engineer Who Never Wanted to Be One
The first young man had completed a degree in Computer Science Engineering from a tier-3 engineering college in Hyderabad.
When I asked him what career he wanted to pursue next, he paused for a moment and then said something very honest.
"Sir, I am not interested in engineering at all."
He had never really been interested in coding or software development.
So why did he choose engineering?
Because everyone around him believed it was the safest and most respectable option.
Friends were choosing engineering.
Relatives recommended engineering.
Teachers suggested engineering.
Even within his own family, comparisons played a role — his sister was already working in a software company in Hyderabad.
Engineering simply became the default choice.
But the truth is simple: A career cannot be built on social expectations alone.
After spending four years studying a subject he never truly connected with, he now finds himself uncertain about what direction to take next.
Story 2: The MBA Graduate Without Confidence
The second young man had completed an MBA with HR as his major and Marketing as his minor.
He graduated last year. Since then, he has not been able to secure a job.
He was not selected during campus placements and has been helping his father part-time in their small family business in a town in northern Telangana.
But something else stood out during the counselling session. He struggled to maintain eye contact while speaking.
Every time I asked him about his decisions, he instinctively looked towards his father before responding.
Eventually, he opened up, when I asked his father and his uncle to leave the room for both of us to have one-on-one conversation.
He admitted that most major decisions in his academic journey had been taken by his father.
Which course to study.
Which college to join.
Which specialization to choose.
He simply followed the path that had been decided for him.
This is not an isolated story.
In fact, it reflects a pattern that I see repeatedly in career counselling sessions.
The Biggest Career Mistake Many Indian Families Make
Most Indian parents care deeply about their children’s future. Their intentions are sincere.
They want stability.
They want respectability.
They want financial security.
But in trying to protect their children from uncertainty, many parents unknowingly make a critical mistake: They take the career decisions themselves.
Instead of discovering the child’s natural strengths and interests, the decision is often influenced by:
Popular career trends
Social prestige
Advice from relatives
Peer pressure
Or what worked for someone else’s child
As a result, many students enter fields where they have little genuine interest or aptitude.
For some students, the mismatch becomes visible during college.
For others, it becomes painfully clear only after graduation.
The Hidden Damage: Loss of Confidence
Choosing the wrong degree is not the only problem.
The deeper issue is the loss of decision-making confidence.
When children are not allowed to make important choices about their education, they often grow up constantly seeking validation.
They look towards parents, teachers, relatives, or peers before making even small decisions.
This leads to:
Hesitation
Fear of making mistakes
Lack of ownership over their own career
Ironically, in today’s rapidly changing world, the most important skill is not choosing the “safest” career.
It is the ability to make informed decisions and adapt to change.
Why Career Decisions at Class 10–12 Matter So Much
The period between Class 10 and Class 12 is one of the most critical phases in a student’s life.
This is when students must decide:
Which stream to choose (Science, Commerce, Humanities)
Which subjects to focus on
Which career paths to explore
What skills to start building early
Unfortunately, many of these decisions are taken in haste.
Students follow friends.
Parents rely on outdated perceptions of careers.
Teachers sometimes recommend conventional paths without deeper exploration.
But the world of work is changing rapidly.
Today, opportunities extend far beyond traditional options like engineering, medicine, or government jobs.
Fields such as:
Data Science
Product Design
Digital Media
Behavioural Science
Sustainability
Sports Management
Entrepreneurship
are creating entirely new career opportunities.
What Parents Should Do Instead
Parents play an incredibly important role in shaping their child’s future.
But the role should be guidance, not control.
Instead of deciding the career for the child, parents should help the child discover:
What they are naturally good at
What subjects excite them
What type of work environment suits them
What skills they can develop over time
Encourage exploration.
Allow questions.
Let the child actively participate in the decision.
Even if the path is not perfect, ownership builds confidence.
And confidence is far more valuable than a degree chosen under pressure.
Career Decision Checklist for Class 10–12 Students and Parents
Before choosing a stream or career path, ask these 10 important questions.
Self Discovery
What subjects do I genuinely enjoy learning?
What activities make me lose track of time?
What are my natural strengths — analytical, creative, communication, or leadership?
Career Awareness
What careers exist beyond engineering, medicine, and government jobs?
What skills are required for those careers?
Which industries are likely to grow in the next 10–15 years?
Reality Check
Does this career match my personality and interests?
Am I choosing this path because of passion or pressure?
Long-Term Perspective
What kind of work environment would suit me?
Am I willing to continuously learn and adapt in this field?
A Final Thought for Parents, Teachers and Students
The role of parents and teachers is not to decide the future for young people.
It is to prepare them to navigate the future confidently.
Support your children.
Guide them with your experience.
But also trust them enough to take responsibility for their choices.
Because careers built with curiosity and ownership lead to growth. Careers built only on expectations and pressure often lead to regret.
And sometimes, the most powerful question we can ask a young person is simply this:
“What do you really want to become?”
If You Are Facing a Career Decision Right Now
If you or your child is currently at the Class 10–12 career decision stage, making the right choice early can prevent years of confusion later.
You can schedule a one-on-one career guidance session here:
You can also explore different career pathways using our AI Career Exploration Assistant:
Encourage your child to explore 46 different career options through Virtual Career Simulators.
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