Doha, Qatar: Parents should avoid putting pressure on teenagers who are uncertain about their university or career choices and instead help them turn that uncertainty into a structured process of exploration, a Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) specialist has said.
Senior Career Development Specialist at QCDC, Hamad Ali AlBadr said parents often feel compelled to provide immediate answers when their children are unsure about what they want to study, particularly as university applications, scholarships and deadlines approach.
However, a student saying “I don’t know” does not necessarily mean they are careless or unmotivated, he said.
“The parent’s role is not to have all the answers ready, but to help turn uncertainty into a clearer and more structured process,” AlBadr told The Peninsula in a statement.
He urged parents to create a calm environment for career discussions rather than allowing concern to turn into pressure. Statements such as “You must decide now”, comparisons with relatives or peers, or dismissing certain fields as having “no future” can discourage children from speaking openly about their concerns.
A more constructive response, he said, would be to reassure the child that it is acceptable not to have all the answers yet, while making clear that the options need to be explored seriously.
AlBadr also encouraged parents to move away from asking teenagers the broad and often intimidating question, “What do you want to become?”
Instead, they can begin with smaller questions that help identify interests, strengths and values.
Parents can ask their children which subjects they enjoy, what topics they explore independently and what types of problems they like solving. They can also explore whether the child prefers working with people, ideas, numbers, technology or practical tasks.
Understanding personal values is equally important, he said. Students may place different importance on stability, creativity, income, independence, leadership, social impact or flexibility, and these preferences can help shape suitable career options.
QCDC’s Career Guide can provide families with a useful starting point, introducing students and parents to career themes, labour market trends, future skills and experiences from professionals. Discussing the material together can help transform what might otherwise be a stressful conversation into a shared exploration.
AlBadr also highlighted the LISTEN approach as a practical way for parents to structure career conversations.
The approach encourages parents to Learn how their child views the situation; Inquire through open-ended questions; Synthesise interests and strengths; Translate broad aspirations into possible educational and career paths; and Empathise with the difficulty of making such decisions and focus on the Next step, not a final answer.
“The next step could be reading the Career Guide together, consulting experts, or booking a session in the Al-Dileela counselling programme,” he said.
AlBadr stressed that career decisions should balance passion with practicality. A sound career decision should take into account “interest, ability, values, academic performance, labour market relevance, and future growth,” he said. Parents can therefore encourage students to look beyond the name of a degree and consider the skills it develops, the sectors that require those skills and the professional or postgraduate pathways available afterwards.
This approach is particularly relevant in Qatar, where national development requires young people who are not only qualified but also adaptable, motivated and prepared to contribute to evolving sectors. AlBadr said parents should also recognise when professional support is needed. A qualified career counsellor can offer students a structured and neutral space to reflect on their options.
