In Russian families, there is a common belief that children will choose a profession when they are older and more mature. Yet a recent survey from Rebotica, an online school focused on IT careers, suggests that many parents prefer to give maximum support in the later stages of a child’s development to help them discover their path. The findings offer a nuanced view of how parents and children navigate the process of career choice in today’s Russia and how those patterns relate to broader questions about guidance in adolescence.
The study explored the age at which people first make career decisions. A third of respondents indicated they chose their field while still in high school, and another third said they did not end up working in the specialty they studied in university. A smaller segment, 13 percent, noted that their first higher education did not benefit their professional life, prompting them to pursue a second degree. Ten percent reported deciding on a career during their university years. These patterns show that early decisions are not fixed, and career paths often unfold through multiple stages of learning and adaptation.
When asked about the influence of parents in the career choice process, most respondents reported making the choice independently, even if their parents attempted to steer them toward different fields. Seventeen percent described themselves as trying to understand their parents’ interests and incorporate family perspectives while pursuing education. Only a tiny fraction, about one percent, felt that the decision was imposed on them by others, and another one percent followed in their parents’ footsteps in the same profession. This highlights a broad trend toward autonomy while preserving some respect for family input.
Interestingly, a majority of respondents, 67 percent, observed that their children are exploring several directions rather than settling on a final choice. This aligns with a growing emphasis on identifying a child’s genuine interests and abilities instead of relying on parental authority. In contrast, about one in five respondents already feels that their child has a clear sense of the professional direction they wish to pursue, signaling a shift toward early personal insight in some families.
Experts who surveyed parents also asked whether children are ready to make an informed career decision. A significant 80 percent said it is premature to expect a fully conscious choice because a young person cannot yet form a completely realistic view of any given profession. However, many stressed that supporting a child’s developing interests remains important at this stage. In contrast, 20 percent believed that their child could make an informed choice about their future path today, reflecting a more decisive stance within a portion of families.
The question of parental influence yielded similar conclusions. About 67 percent of participants responded that they do not want to pressure their children, preferring the child to arrive at a decision independently. A minority, roughly 19 percent, expressed a wish to guide the process more actively to safeguard their child from potential mistakes. This mirrors a broader cultural shift toward empowering young people to explore options while maintaining parental care and responsibility.
A key takeaway from the survey is the broad awareness among today’s parents of the modern world’s speed, variability, and the substantial differences from a generation or two ago. The dialogue between parents and children is moving away from a directive model toward a collaborative conversation. Instead of telling a child what to study, many families now ask what the child is interested in and how that interest could translate into a satisfying career. Observers suggest this may reflect parents rethinking their own experiences and learning to share decision-making in a way that encourages genuine engagement with future work, as stated by Boris Hovsepyan, a co-founder and product director of Rebotica. This more open approach aims to help children discover professions they can enjoy and excel in, rather than simply following a prescribed path. The findings underscore a shift in expectations around parental guidance in career development, aligning with broader discussions about lifelong learning and adaptability in the modern economy.
It should be noted that this survey also touches on trends in additional education for school-age children, underscoring the wider context in which families are making career-related decisions. The evolving landscape invites ongoing reflection on how best to support young people as they explore, experiment, and eventually commit to a professional direction that suits their evolving talents and interests.