I have been thinking about this more since my oldest is 12 and does not know what to do in his future. I really think we need to start discussing job positions as we come about them in our daily lives. A trip to the grocery store can bring about discussion of jobs there like the owner, manager, checker, bagger as well as jobs at the farm, factory, transportation, banking, accounting, lawyers, janitorial, insurance, advertising, etc. A trip to the doctor can open up discussions of many healthcare options including emergency responders, pharmaceutical, natural health, nutrition, and fitness, as well as receptionist, secretary, lab tech., nurses, suppliers, etc. Mailing a package: USPS, UPS, FedEX, etc. transportation, offices, supplies, etc. You could watch the tv show called Dirty Jobs and then discuss afterwards. Look in the job Classifieds ads. Once he finds something, see if he can job shadow for a day, or do a long-term internship. Then check with college guidance departments for education requirements and maybe check the library for books on that specific career, to explore further.
Be sure to discuss:
Benefits
Risks (especially health/safety)
Responsibilities
Talents/skills/experience/interest
Education
Earnings potential: Entry level salary range vs. experienced, including benefits like insurance and retirement plans
Work hours (how many and when)/location (inside/outside and geographically)
Related jobs
These are things I plan to start discussing with my son. I don’t think a book could do near as much as observing and discussing in your daily conversations. Books can be a way to fill in gaps for careers you might not have thought of yet. Work ethic can be discussed too: what employers like/dislike in an employee. We have been reading and discussing Created for Work by Bob Schultz to discuss being a good worker according to Biblical standards. And don’t rule out an investment in hobbies as a great stress reliever after working hours and as a possible way to earn some money.