Q: Why do parents send their children to career counsellors in the first place?
Because they’re anxious. They want reassurance that their child won’t “waste” their potential. The problem is, instead of encouraging their child to explore real-world options, parents outsource this responsibility to so-called “career experts” who promise clarity through tests and charts. It’s a convenient shortcut — but like most shortcuts, it rarely leads to the right destination.
Q: Don’t aptitude tests help students understand what they’re good at?
In theory, yes. In practice, not really.
These tests are based on narrow psychological frameworks and outdated job categories. They measure what can be tested easily — not what truly matters. A high score on “logical reasoning” doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy being an engineer; it just means you can solve puzzles on paper. Real success depends on curiosity, persistence, emotional intelligence, and creativity — none of which show up in a multiple-choice test.
Q: So are career counsellors a waste of money?
Let’s just say most of them sell expensive common sense. They offer “personalised” advice based on generic data, and parents lap it up because it feels scientific. But if you’ve ever read two reports from different counsellors, you’ll notice they all sound eerily similar: “You’re analytical, so consider engineering or finance.”
No kidding. You didn’t need a ₹10,000 test to learn that.
Q: If aptitude tests are useless, how should students figure out what they want to do?
By getting their hands dirty.
Instead of filling forms, shadow a practitioner — spend a week with a doctor, an architect, a designer, a lawyer, or a coder. Watch how they actually spend their day. See what excites you — and what bores you. Most teenagers discover more about themselves in one week of real-world exposure than from a hundred psychometric questions.
Q: Isn’t it risky to experiment without expert guidance?
No. What’s risky is blindly following someone else’s map.
The world is changing faster than any test can predict. Entire careers are being created and destroyed every few years. By the time a counsellor “matches” you to a profession, that job might be obsolete.
Learning by doing — exploring different roles, internships, online projects — builds the one skill that will never go out of style: adaptability.
Q: What role should parents play then?
Stop being helicopter pilots and start being mentors.
Encourage your child to explore, to fail, and to reflect on what they enjoy doing. Instead of asking, “What career do you want?” ask, “What problem do you want to solve?”
That one question shifts the focus from chasing degrees to discovering purpose.
Q: What about students preparing for exams like JEE? They don’t have time to “explore.”
That’s exactly the problem. Too many students are herded into coaching factories before they even know if they enjoy physics or math.
A smart alternative? Learn at your own pace using AI tutors and free resources. When students are given autonomy — the power to control how they learn — they not only perform better but also understand whether they actually enjoy the subject.
Studying should be a process of discovery, not punishment.
Q: But schools and parents expect students to have a “plan.” Isn’t that necessary?
Having a plan is fine — as long as you remember it’s not a prison sentence.
Most adults change their careers multiple times. The idea that a 16-year-old must decide their entire future is absurd. The best “plan” is to keep learning, stay curious, and build transferable skills: communication, critical thinking, digital literacy, and problem-solving.
Q: How can AI tutors help students find their passion?
AI tutors don’t lecture; they guide. They let students experiment, make mistakes, and ask unlimited questions — without judgment.
A student learning with an AI tutor can explore coding today, biology tomorrow, and economics next week — all at zero cost. This freedom to explore is what unlocks genuine interest. You don’t discover your passion through tests; you stumble upon it while learning.
Q: So what’s your advice to students standing at the career crossroads?
Don’t wait for permission to explore.
Shadow professionals. Volunteer. Create. Build something — a project, a website, a video, anything. Let the world be your classroom. The earlier you start exploring, the faster you’ll find what makes you come alive.
And parents — relax. Your child doesn’t need a “career counsellor.” They need opportunities, mentors, and trust.
Help us improve India’s first free AI Tutor for JEE students at app.jee.eklavya.io! We want students to become independent, self-directed lifelong learners.