Along with telling them your own personal career path story, I'd sell the personal challenges and non-monetary rewards of being in the profession. Maybe tell some quick funny, entertaining stories from the battlefields. Be sure to emphasize that if they want to move into management - that they need a plan for doing so. Also, how they don't know as much as they think they do. Good luck!<p>"If all you get from work is a paycheck, you're underpaid." -Jim Rohn
2 things:<p>a) Learn soft skills - that will contribute more than they think to career progress<p>b) Learn transferable skills.
If your chosen career doesn't work out, is there something you have that can be used by any industry? (e.g project management skills, marketing knowledge)