Coaching 5 min read

Corporate Coaching

Corporate coaching adapts business coaching principles for teens, teaching professional skills, workplace readiness, and career development through internships and early work experiences.

Why early professional development helps

Research on career readiness shows that students exposed to professional skills during high school demonstrate better college and career outcomes. Early workplace exposure helps teens understand the connection between academic learning and professional application.

Studies indicate that teens with internship or work experience show improved time management, communication skills, and career clarity compared to peers without exposure. These experiences also build social capital and professional networks that benefit long-term career development.

Stone and Mortimer (1998) found that quality work experiences during adolescence predict better career outcomes and work values in adulthood. Blustein et al. (2011) demonstrated that career development interventions during high school significantly impact post-secondary success.

You're not alone

If your teen doesn't understand why they can't text their boss like their friends, or struggles with formal communication, you're facing a common challenge. Many parents realize their teens lack exposure to professional norms that previous generations learned gradually. The casual nature of modern communication leaves gaps in formal skills. Families incorporating professional skill development report teens feeling more confident in interviews, internships, and leadership roles.

What it looks like day to day

Student

Your teen learns to write professional emails to potential internship supervisors rather than avoiding opportunities due to not knowing how to reach out.

Parent

You help your teen prepare for their part-time job interview by practicing professional responses and appropriate workplace behavior discussions.

Tiny steps to try

Build corporate readiness through structured practice and real-world application.

1

Email templates

Create templates for common professional communications: requesting information, thanking someone, following up. Practice adapting for specific situations.
2

Meeting skills

Use family meetings to practice agenda-setting, note-taking, and action item tracking. These transfer directly to workplace meetings.
3

Project management basics

Apply corporate project management to school assignments. Use tools like Gantt charts for long-term projects.
4

Elevator pitches

Practice brief self-introductions for different contexts. Networking starts with confident self-presentation.
5

Professional observation

Arrange shadowing opportunities or informational interviews. Seeing workplace norms helps internalize professional behavior.

Why corporate skills matter for teens

Today's teens need professional skills earlier than previous generations, whether for internships, part-time jobs, or college applications requiring demonstrated leadership.

Corporate skills teens need:
• Professional communication and email etiquette
• Time management and deadline adherence
• Team collaboration and project management
• Presentation and public speaking abilities
• Networking and relationship building
• Professional problem-solving approaches

These skills advantage teens in academic settings and prepare them for future careers.

References

Blustein, D. L., Devenis, L. E., & Kidney, B. A. (2011). The development of career maturity and vocational decision-making. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 35(2), 151-170.

Stone, J. R., & Mortimer, J. T. (1998). The effect of adolescent employment on vocational development and career success. Career Development Quarterly, 47(1), 64-80.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Isn't corporate coaching too advanced for high schoolers?

Basic professional skills aren't too advanced; they're undertaught. Teens capable of complex social media management can learn professional communication. Starting early allows gradual development without pressure. These skills also improve academic performance through better teacher communication and group project management. Frame it as life skills rather than corporate training.

How do we find appropriate professional experiences for teens?

Start with family network for shadowing or informal internships. Many professionals enjoy mentoring motivated teens. Check school career centers for programs. Local businesses often need help with social media or basic tasks teens can handle. Volunteer organizations provide leadership opportunities with professional skill development. Focus on exposure and learning over prestigious placements.