Career Advice - Helping Your Adult Children Job Hunt

My

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

My son graduated from college in May and has been mostly moping around the house and sending out his resume every now and then. I'm hoping he'll snap out of it and get his act together after the initial shock of "becoming an adult" wears off, but I'm not sure. I've thought about networking for him, passing his resume to a few business contacts, but I don't want to either spoil my reputation by nepotism or deprive my son of learning how to effectively job hunt. How much help is too much?

Sincerely,

Meddling Mom

April Masini's advice:

Dear Meddling Mom,

It's no wonder there are so many 12 Step programs available -- enablers abound! When parents feel responsible for finding their adult children a job or a career, the term enabler leaps to mind.

It's one thing to give fatherly or motherly advice. It's another altogether to continue the helicopter parenting that disallows children the opportunity to live their own lives. At some point, the umbilical cord has to be cut so the child can have their own life.