For most students, career guidance begins long before they ever set foot in their first job interview. Events like Careers Day, learning journeys and job shadowing have allowed students (even those in primary school) to be exposed to a wide range of jobs and the many skills needed to thrive in them.

These initiatives are the result of a strong partnership between schools and Parent Support Groups (PSGs). Working together, they have been instrumental to the growth and success of Education and Career Guidance (ECG) programmes for students.

Find out how three schools and their PSGs are collaborating to give students their first look into the working world, inspiring them to dream big for the future.

At Hougang Secondary School, Careers Day plays out like a mini convention

Hougang Secondary School PSG members and their children during a Nanyang Polytechnic engineering tour.

At Hougang Secondary School, the annual Careers Day plays out like an industry symposium. Students attend small-group sessions to engage with professionals across various fields ranging from media and human resources to technology and design.

The approach is a hit with students, but it also actively involves parents from the PSG, along with alumni and other partners, who step in to help in any way.

“Our PSG members have not only participated directly but also used their professional networks to bring in more speakers,” says Mrs Tan Wei Jing, Subject Head of Partnership & Outreach.

More than simply filling up speaking slots and creating authentic learning moments, parental involvement goes a long way towards inspiring young minds. “Parents are primary influencers in their children's career decisions and possess valuable real-world insights that can bridge the gap between academic learning and industry realities,” Mrs Tan shares.

Beyond school-based sharing, PSG members also joined students in a customised learning journey to Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) School of Engineering to better understand the courses offered and different career pathways in engineering. Since 2024, some 140 students from the school have benefitted from the tour.

PSG member Goh Yu Ling who accompanied her son on one such learning journey in 2024 shares, “I wanted to support my child’s’ post-secondary education and career exploration by learning with him,” she says.

The experience was transformative for Yu Ling’s son, who has always been fascinated by automobiles. The tour broadened his understanding of engineering applications, and led to deeper career discussions between the pair. “He’s now working hard towards pursuing engineering studies,” she adds.

The impact made on Yu Ling’s family is exactly what Mrs Tan and her colleagues hope to achieve with the ECG programme. Says Mrs Tan, “When parents are informed about career options and pathways, they can better support their children’s exploration and decisions, creating a stronger support system at home.”

At Xinmin Secondary School, the PSG plays a significant role in helping students find job-shadowing opportunities

Students paying rapt attention during a job-shadowing stint at Nirvana Memorial Garden in October 2024.

Xinmin Secondary School’s initiative to let their students get job-shadowing opportunities started in 2023 with 120 Secondary 4 students. From 2024, the programme has been open exclusively to Secondary 3 students. The two-day job programme mirrors a real-life job application process—students prepare resumes, indicate their preferred industries and are then assigned their stints. While everyone who applies is guaranteed a placement, whether they get matched with their industry of choice will depend on the strength of their application.

“Job shadowing helps students explore pathways, develop skills, and take ownership of their future. They also gain a bigger-picture view as they consider their post-secondary options,” shares Ms Carol Chong, Head of Department for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE).

When the programme first started, the school had to secure opportunities for their students by tapping on their alumni network and emailing companies. A year later, in 2024, parents expanded the programme by offering job shadowing placements at their own workplaces or connecting the school to industry partners. To date, Mr David Ng, chairperson of the school’s PSG, has hosted 20 students at the company he co-founded, One Smart Engineering. His Secondary 4 daughter has also spent time learning the ropes at his office when she was younger.

“The objective is to let students get early exposure and hopefully develop interest in civil engineering,” he says. At his firm, engineers would share with the students the work that they do and challenges they face, before allowing students to try their hand at selected tasks.

In addition, David has rallied other entrepreneur parents to do the same, opening doors in industries such as food and beverage, and retail.

PSG members have also supported the school’s ECG programme by conducting career talks and hands-on sessions, such as letting students try out accounting software. Ms Chong stresses that parents remain influential in shaping attitudes and beliefs in their children’s teenage years.

“They can share their career experiences and offer insights that enable students to make informed decisions about the future,” she adds. 

At New Town Primary School, hands-on workshops give young students a glimpse into working life

Ms Wang Yihan, a PSG member and contemporary artist guiding students to create 3D drawings during her engagement session.

It may be challenging to keep tweens engaged with traditional career talks, so New Town Primary School opted for a more interactive format to better appeal to them. Career-spiration, a programme started in 2024, allows Primary 6 students to select two small-group sessions to interact directly with professionals, many of them parents.

Sessions are hands-on in nature such as letting students create 3D drawings or apply design thinking to real-life problems. This keeps the engagement age-appropriate while giving the children a real look into working life.

Through hearing from their own parents and other speakers, students learn that every job calls for a range of skills. For instance, artists need to be adept at public speaking and know art history, and marketing is much more than just making content go viral. “It’s less about choosing a job now than about creating awareness of the possibilities ahead,” says Mrs Pearlie Lim, CCE Subject Head.

PSG members have been fervent participants in Career-spiration. They not only share about their own jobs, but also leverage their networks to bring in presenters from a wide range of industries, from healthcare and IT to the arts. Says PSG Chairperson Yakita Seth, “Many parents see it as a unique way to inspire not just their own child, but the whole cohort.”

“You don’t need a fancy job to inspire children,” adds Yakita, “What students remember most is the passion, stories and real-life examples. By volunteering for this event, parents enrich students’ learning and model community spirit for their own children.”

Photos courtesy of: Hougang Secondary School, Xinmin Secondary School and New Town Primary School