Other ideas include:

	Encourage your child to become involved in extracurricular activities related to healthcare. Some examples are:
		A babysitting class at the Red Cross
		The Science or HOSA Club in High School
		A CPR class at the American Heart Association
		A Medical Explorers Post through the Boy Scouts of America
		Volunteering at the local hospital
	Take time to listen to what your child says they like to do... be careful not to influence them into "loving" what you like to do.
	Looking at interests is important - but abilities and temperament also play a role in career selection. Look at the big picture, taking into consideration each child's personal attributes.
	Help your child understand that work isn't always fun - therefore their career choice really needs to be something that they truly like to do.
	LISTEN, to what your child says they want to do! By listening, you can guide and influence them in making a career decision.
	Talk to your child about the kinds of classes they have done well in - math, science, public speaking - and remind them that these are important skills for a healthcare provider. Also, talk to them about how they like to spend their leisure time. Affirm what you know to be areas of interest, skill and abilities of your child.
	Know that whatever your child selects as their first job, it will most likely be the first of several jobs in their life time.
	Preparing your child for a career is not a one step process, carried out by one person. Many people influence career decisions - friends, family members, healthcare providers, teachers counselors, other students - it's a developmental process. Encourage informal conversations about career choices.
	Depend on the School Counselor at your child's school to give you and your child pointers on how to help you and your child begin the career decision process.
	Ask your child the questions - What do you want to do with your life?…What do you want to be?… What are the values you want to base your life on?…What kind of lifestyle do you want to live?

Check out our list of things your child may consider a passion, then explore the possible career opportunities, some of which are listed and described in detail at nchealthcareers.com (The North Carolina Area Health Education Center's healthcareers site). If you have additional questions about a particular job not listed on this site, please email us.

What Are Your Child's Passions?	Possible Career Opportunity
Loves to Baby-sit	Genetic Counselor, Pediatric Nurse, Child Life Specialist
Playing on the computer	Medical Coding Specialist, healthcare Information Technology
Chatting with friends online	Transcriptionist, Patient Family Services, Insurance verification, Hospital Telephone Operator
Talking on the phone	Unit Secretary, Patient Registrar, Recruiter, Poison Control Specialist
Math Genius	Pediatrician, Biostatistician, Health Physicist, Hospital Accountant
Science projects	Pathologist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomist, Medical Research Scientist
Talking all of the time	Medical Secretary, Medical Interpreter/Translator, Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Pathologist
My child's soccer coach says he/she is a good team player	Physician Assistant, Occupational Safety & Health Specialist, Perfusionist, Surgical Technologist
Helping his/her little brother learning to walk	Chiropractor, Prosthetist/Orthotist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Orthopedic Surgeon
Figuring out how things work	Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Optical Laboratory Mechanic, Business Planning
Helping other people	Health Information Technician, Medical Assistant, Hospital Chaplain, Pharmacy Technician, Receptionist
Taking care of the pets	Veterinarian, Veterinary Technician, Registered Nurse
Playing detective	Epidemiologist, Environmental Health Specialist, Cardiovascular Technologist
Teaching new things to the other children in the neighborhood	Health Sciences Librarian, Health Educator, In-service Educator
Problem solver	Psychologist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Mental Health Aide, Social Worker
Taking food to the elderly that can not get out to the grocery store	Dietitian, Nutritionist, Home Care Aide, Social Worker
Taking pictures and making scrap books	Medical Photographer, Radiologist, Radiological Technologist
Talented artist	Medical Illustrator, Art Therapist
Favorite subject is Biology	Physician, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pharmacist, Research Scientist
Actively involved with the yearbook committee and journalism club	Medical, Science or Technical writer, Speech/Language Pathologist
Volunteering at the YMCA last summer	Activities Therapist, Child Life Therapist
Volunteering with the football team and helping the trainers with the players	Podiatrist, Recreational Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, Volunteer Services
Helping out in the Nursery at church/ temple	Certified Nurse Midwife, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Watching E.R. and the other Emergency Television programs	Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Flight Team, Paramedic
Mr. Fix-it	Bio-Medical Technician, Respiratory Therapist