Watchmaking Profession for a Young Person?

Keeping up to date with qualifications and on top of the ever changing technology is the key to success.
If your daughter can keep up with the pack that will help her longevity in the game.

I reflect on the people that I have been involved with in watchmaking over the years.
They were nearly all old and happily trundling along at their own pace. One was a bit of an institution in this town.
Another was the president of the horological society in this state who worked from home in his later years.
There are different levels of operating in the game with some finding their niche working in the background from home and having no dealings with the public. Another that I know was particularly well suited to that way of doing things. He was basically "on the spectrum" and worked head down ass up. He had the nickname of "the machine" in that his throughput was so impressive.

For my money any job that can get the them started and established in life is good👍
Whether they stay with it is another thing entirely, but as long as they can use it as a foundation in gaining skills to take them forward and be happy then all good.

My old man said he thought I would be a great pilot.
Our old family friend who was a fighter pilot during the war said a similar thing.
I didn't go down that path because it costs $ to learn to fly and everything else that goes with it.
On reflection I made the right choice and I think I would've made a better Aircraft mechanic but knowing how to get them up and down again would've been an interesting aspect to it.
That's the career side of things covered.

But being able to take my own Spit or P51D up when ever I like and swan around a bit would be very nice. But that's an entirely different realm.

There in lies the crux of the matter.
Whenever it becomes a job where you're at the mercy of commercial considerations, it often becomes a drag. Especially when you've got to deal with the public😉

Please keep us informed how your girl is travelling?😀

I have found this a super interesting discussion - thanks to those in and around the industry for their comments, very insightful.

I do a lot of work in Australia speaking with high school students about their paths into university (College) or other educational pathways and it is something I am quite passionate about.

One thing to really carefully consider is the particular non-academic strengths and weaknesses of the individual. Personally, I am not a detail oriented person, and I find it very difficult to focus on things for an extended period of time. My career counsellor at school (along with my parents) recommended I study Accounting and Finance due to my good grades. I realised very quickly that yes, I could understand the content and passed my course quite easily, however, when I started working in the industry I realised I didn't have the right personality attributes to be able to actually do the job effectively. Nobody wants an accountant who get's it 80% right!

I now work in a senior role in a tech business (former startup I guess) in an operations role and it is perfect for me - lots of different challenges of all kinds, many quick decisions, not working in the finer detail of things.

University is a relatively short period in someones life, and it may be tough to get in, and tough to graduate, but the 40-ish years of work that comes after it is going to be hell if you are doing something that fundamentally doesn't fit your natural personality style.