How to Make Career Decisions When You’re Unsure
Feeling unsure about your career is more common than people think, especially in your 20s. Whether you’re still in university, recently graduated, or stuck in a job that doesn’t feel right, it’s normal to feel lost or uncertain. But the longer you stay in that space without action, the more pressure builds. Overthinking leads to stress, self-doubt, and eventually, inaction.
The good news? You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a clear way to move forward.
This guide will show you how to make smart, low-pressure career decisions, even if you feel completely unsure right now.
1. Stop Waiting for Complete Clarity
Many people believe they need to know exactly what they want before they make a move. But in reality, clarity often comes after action not before it.
Instead of staying stuck, give yourself permission to experiment. You don’t need to make a lifelong decision just a small, smart step.
Try internships, part-time jobs, online courses, volunteering, or freelancing. These low-risk experiments give you real-world feedback.
Write down what you liked, disliked, or felt curious about. Build clarity through exposure.
Remember, careers are built through discovery, not perfection.
2. Focus on What Energises You
Most young people are taught to focus on salary, job security, or prestige. But none of that matters if the work drains you every day.
A better approach is to focus on what energises you, the work that makes time pass quickly, that you want to get better at, or that you enjoy talking about.
Ask yourself: What type of tasks do I enjoy doing? Do I prefer working with people, ideas, tools, or systems? What would I want to learn more about even if I wasn’t being paid?
This mindset shift helps you spot career paths that align with your strengths and curiosity — not just what’s popular.
3. Understand Your Strengths and Values
You can't make good decisions without understanding who you are. That means knowing both your strengths and your values.
Strengths are what you’re naturally good at — communication, organisation, problem solving, creativity, or empathy. Values are what matter most to you — flexibility, impact, stability, recognition, or purpose.
Use tools like the VIA Character Strengths survey or CliftonStrengths to learn more about yourself.
Reflect on past experiences: When did you feel proud? When did you feel frustrated? These moments often reveal your values.
When you align your career with both strengths and values, work becomes more rewarding not just something you tolerate.
4. Stop Comparing Yourself to Everyone Else
Comparison is a major reason why people feel unsure. Social media, family expectations, and peer pressure can make you feel like you’re falling behind.
But careers don’t have one timeline. Everyone figures things out at their own pace. Many people change jobs, switch industries, or go back to education even in their 30s or 40s.
Unfollow accounts that make you feel inadequate. Spend time around people who support your growth.
Focus on your own goals, not someone else’s version of success.
Your path will make sense, just give it time and space to develop.
5. Explore, Then Decide
It’s hard to pick the right direction if you’ve never explored what’s out there. Too many people feel unsure because they’ve only been exposed to a narrow set of career options.
Set a goal to talk to 5 people in different industries. Ask how they got started, what they like, and what they’d do differently.
Try job shadowing, LinkedIn networking, or even watching “day in the life” videos on YouTube.
The more you learn, the easier it becomes to see what fits and what doesn’t.
6. Get Support from a Career Coach
You don’t need to figure this out on your own. A good career coach won’t tell you what to do they’ll help you:
Clarify your goals
Understand your options
Build a plan you actually want to follow
Coaching helps you move faster and avoid the common traps that leave people stuck for years.
Think of it as investing in your future, not fixing a problem.
Why This Matters
Staying in the wrong job, course, or path can hurt your confidence and delay your growth. But you don’t have to make perfect decisions. You just need to make progress.
Even if you don’t know the exact answer yet, there is always a next step.
If you’re feeling:
Confused about what to do next
Afraid of making the wrong decision
Pressured by expectations
…then it’s time to stop guessing and start exploring.
How Thinkbridge Consulting Can Help
At Thinkbridge Consulting, we specialise in helping young adults across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK find direction, even when they feel completely lost.
We’ve helped:
Students questioning their university course
Graduates unsure about their first job
Young professionals thinking of changing careers
Our career coaching process is simple and supportive. You’ll get:
Clarity about your goals and values
Confidence to take action
Guidance to explore the right path for you
📞 Book your free 20-minute discovery call now
You can email us at info@thinkbridge-consulting.com or call us at 07342 393 555 to learn more and take control of your future
🌐 Learn more at thinkbridge-consulting.com
There’s a better career path waiting for you, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.